Often moments may feel chaotic or destructive, but in the distance or future, there is the chance to heal. Mitchell Solomon's poem, "Birdsong," explores this notion, and is now available to read in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Mitchell's pages penned in pandemic.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
San Francisco, until now, had managed to keep rates low, but with a recent surge everything is starting to close again. It's been incredibly hard on our once phenomenal restaurant scene.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
Jericho Brown's The Tradition, Ted Chiang's Exhalation and Stories of Your Life, Drew Magary’s The Hike, and Ottessa Moshfegh’s McGlue.
If you haven't been reading, what are some books you're most looking forward to reading?
Station Eleveen by Mandel and Changing Planes by Le Guin.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
“The Dollop,” “Radiolab,” “Reply All,” “Hardcore History,” and of course lots of amazing shows. “The Boys” is my current addiction.
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
While my writing has gotten a bit darker, I've found much more time to do so despite working full time.
Are there any projects you are excited to keep working on? If so, can you give us any details (no spoilers please!) about your project?
The pandemic has actually been the catalyst for me to pursue publishing for the first time! So far, it's going surprisingly well!
If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?
Keep writing, keep submitting, and when you have nothing to write about, write about having nothing to write about!
Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?
Many encouraging readers! But no writers; (un)fortunately being in San Francisco my network is much more tech-oriented than creative writing.
Is there anything that excites you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?
I'm sad to see some publishers closing and taking hiatuses, but as someone with a non-existent writing peer network, the swap to digital (pubs, workshops, etc.) has opened up a lot of opportunities to me.
Is there anything that worries you about the changes being incited in the publishing world in light of recent events?
I mean of course, and that's said today on 11/16 long after some of the more... anxious moments of this pandemic. My hope that although horrific, the pandemic serves as an expediting agent towards progress.
Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?
Plotter, to a fault, and there's no obvious end in sight to that!
Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?
Running, jotting notes to myself as a take my now-daily run through SF streets.
If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?
Embarrassingly enough, too much Blink 182. Alongside some The Hold Steady, The National, and a touch of the Hamilton Soundtrack.
Without too many spoilers, what is your favorite scene / poem you've written since the pandemic began?
I have a very personal poem, still a work in progress but will submit during another window, about a man with a chisel staring at a wall. Very excited for the day I stop tinkering with it and let it out into the world.
While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?
A freshly made (not delivered/to-go!) pub-hamburger and a beer out with friends. A meal.
Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?
Don't stop writing or taking notes! One of my biggest mistakes was not doing so for a few years after school. You'll be thrilled, if you ever do decide to pursue writing and publishing seriously, to have a library of work and metaphors to go through.
ABOUT mitchell solomon
Mitchell Solomon studied Writing, Marketing, and Economics at Washington University in St. Louis, where he earned his B.S. in 2011. Since then he has been working in marketing in San Francisco and writing poetry and short stories.
To learn more, follow Mitchell and his writing journey on Twitter.
Thanks for chatting, Mitchell!
