Small Press Intravues:
Occasional Interviews with
writers working and publishing in the small press ecosystem
How did you get started writing?
Started writing seriously, although not very good, in mid 1960’s when I came to Lawrence, Kansas and met up with John Fowler who owned a small bookstore and was publishing a mimeo mag called Grist. Lawrence was home of Kansas University which was a hotbed of contemporary poetics, as compared to rest of midwest. Visiting writers included leftwing NYC poet David Ignatow who invited The Fugs, Ginsberg, Levertov, Creeley and others while here. Later in 70’s Ed Dorn was in residence. All this influence plus introduced to other ‘little mags’ and poets coming through town.
Why poetry instead of other forms?
It seemed to be the most free form of art that I could approach. I knew musicians and painters and knew I wasn't one of them. Due to undiagnosed dyslexia I couldn't spell or comprehend grammar so good…..early on Creeley a big influence. It was, I guess, an “I can do this” moment.
What other form do you see your work influenced by…….?
Certainly in the beginning, the sixties/seventies………...drugs was a big deal...LSD….alcohol...peyote. The community of poets in NYC, Lawrence, and the political movements….poets like Sam Abrams, Paul Blackburn, David Henderson, Ishmael Reed, Amiri Barika, Barbara Guest, Anne Sexton, Joanne Kyger to name a few. (Look, if you can, in Dorn’s collection of short stories Some Business Recently Transacted in the White World published by Frontier Press in 1971. I am a character in the one called The Sheriff of McTooth County,,,what life was in mid of dope years and early Gunslinger writ in Lawrence Ks by Ed. You wont have any trouble figuring out which I am). So influence of form from other poets. Later in Bay Area the influence of ‘new’ form in poetics of Rob Griener, David Bromige and Leslie Scalipino all of which I read closely and knew personally. I was wanting a form that encouraged penetration and engagement and acceptance of my words.
What infinitives best sum up your writing practice…?
I am not at all sure how to answer this question. Puzzled or perhaps overthinking. My writing seems so completely self involved at this time…..i have no one or no thing in mind other than what i am confronted with when i sit to write. Sometimes a concept appears (Year Book published by Shirt Pocket an example). Layered is something I hope I achieve. And I write for the page not so much spoken word….I want the work to be seen as layered and questionable and even the “mistakes” to be obvious. But to be seen in detail, not as vis po… I want the reader to spend time…….that is a goal. As well to see that the described is my conception of what is on page...always aware of what the last word entered is or was.
I remember reading an interview with Ed Dorn and he was asked: “Do you know the audience that your writing for?”..His, answer: “Yes, I know them all….personally.”.. That pretty much describes how I feel now. I have made very little attempt in the past years to expand or create an ecosystem or audience other than folks I’ve known over the years. Most of that comes from years studying with mentor David Bromige at Sonoma State University who said somewhere in print: “I know what I like and it is not Art! . I was a contributing editor in 1980’s/90’s for couple of magazines, Avec edited and published by Cydney Chadwick and First Intensity edited and published by Lee Chapman and Black Spring edited and published by Steve Tills. Plus a varied group of writers on Russian River and northern bay area. And I did a zine called Smelt Money for 13 issues which was ‘recommended’ by St Marks Poetry Newsletter, Exquisite Corpse and other obscure publications. It is available through Ohio State U special collections) That was then. Now, not so much. Local poetics community passed by...I exist online for the most part.If there is an eco system around it begins with what comes thru mail sent from various small press’s around the bigger eco system planetish stuff.
What are your current projects?
Working on a series called The Last Poems, or The Lost Poems or The Late Poems. Not sure which but just riffing on the fact that a lot of what is at the end of a lot of poets “collected works” can be pretty awful…..even those you thought were pretty swell. It will keep me focused for a while... maybe it is poetic journaling….sad as that may seem. I am not going to write about medical or health conditions...just finishing Anne Boyers The Undying and she has said everything there is to say about those subjects and she is, in my mind, the best non fiction writer in USA right now.. No doubt.
What stuff do you have out in the world right now…………?
Poems in latest edition of Otoliths Mag published in Australia by Mark Young, forthcoming in Sprung Formal mag from Art Institute of Kansas City. Recent. Chapbook from Shirt Pocket Press called Yearbook. Some videos on You Tube if you look for them.
What would you tell people just getting started in writing and publishing now…?
Just do it. Don't worry about what happens or who sees it…..you can control that if you want. Never enter a contest that costs money. Never enter a contest. Go to readings. Start a reading series in basement of a dive bar if you can. Create a safe place for poetry. Realize that you and everyone else will write crap a lot of the time...its okay…..part of the process….get through it. Ignore requests to ‘respond’ to anything other than that which pushes you. Avoid work. Make something you can laugh at when finished...because that feels good. Expect no response ever...if it come it is an unexpected joy. Rave on.
What media are you enjoying lately>
Sue and me binge watching noir British crime dramas like Shetland, Happy Valley, The Bridge (Danish version), Wallender. Hey, its been winter and that is what you do. Draw the shades, get out the quilts and a cat, buy the dog a new bed….everyone curl up. Local music scene did keep us going but not happening now with the virus stuff. We miss that a lot. Re-reading, again, Stein. Re-reading, again Didion. Re-reading again Scalapino. Looking for a way to put those three together that reflects my reaction to the words they put down. Film has not ever been much of influence to writing...no connection...only a couple...Ken Angers Sorpio Rising in 60’s and Jim Jarmusch Stranger in Paradise taught me that depressing is always better and funnier when implied rather than shoveled into lap of a reader. And any print media from middle western part of Lower Michigan has great healing powers these days.
