For many, the distinction between personal life and writing life is doesn't exist. So how do we carry on with those lines blurred? Tania Runyan discusses just this and more in today's chat about her pages penned in pandemic.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
Right now, we are at pretty high levels of infection while transitioning into colder weather. It's worrisome, but people are adapting. I get together with a friend once a week to drink wine, socially distanced, in her open garage with space heaters.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
The Library Book, The Hilarious World of Depression, I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, Migrations, Hidden Valley Road, Know My Name, The Great Alone, Factfulness, Dog Medicine, The Hate U Give, The Most Fun We Ever Had, and Where the Crawdads Sing.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
“Malcolm in the Middle” is my go-to happy show these days.
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
It's been a little more challenging to write with everyone home. All the 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?
I completed my book How to Write a Form Poem earlier in the pandemic, and now I'm just waiting for all the permissions (for the sample poems) to be finalized.
If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?
It's okay to listen to yourself and do what you need to do emotionally. That can mean great spurts of writing for a period of time or great swaths of quiet as well.
Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?
Yes, I am part of a close-knit group of like-minded writers. We chat, post, and Zoom often to offer support in our personal lives and writing lives (not that those two can always be separated).
Where is your favorite place to write? Has this changed during the pandemic?
In order to get some space from the rest of the family Zooming all over the place, I have had to move upstairs to write in my bedroom window, all Emily Dickinson-like. I have gotten quite good at identifying Midwestern backyard birds.
If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?
1.) "I'm a Stranger Now" by the Tallest Man on Earth
2.) "Don't Worry" by Alright Alright
3.) "Little Mercies" by Von Bieker
4.) "2020 Vision" by Danny Schmidt
5.) "Orpheo Looks Back" by Andrew Bird
While the future is just as unknowable as ever, what is something you are most looking forward to this year?
Living mindfully.
Is there any advice you would give to young writers during this time?
Do whatever you need to get words on paper (or screen): lists, letters, journaling, blogs. It all counts!
ABOUT Tania Runyan
Tania Runyan is the author of the poetry collections: What Will Soon Take Place, Second Sky, A Thousand Vessels, Simple Weight, and Delicious Air. Her guides How to Read a Poem, How to Write a Poem, and How to Write a College Application Essay are used in classrooms across the country. Her poems have appeared in many publications, including Poetry, Image, Indiana Review, Atlanta Review, and The Christian Century. Tania was awarded an NEA Literature Fellowship in 2011.
To learn more, follow Tania and her writing journey at her website and on Facebook.
Thanks for chatting, Tania!
