Drew Welborn was able to virtually (and safely) interview Abigail Fitzpatrick, our new Woodfin Fellow in Poetry, and get to know more about her writing journey and experience. When Abigail isn’t writing or studying, she enjoys hiking, camping, painting, crafting and drinking (chewing?) bubble tea.

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Where are you from, and where did you earn your undergraduate degree?

I am from a small town in Pennsylvania! I went to West Virginia University, where I earned my BA in philosophy with minors in sociology, political science and creative writing.

What made you want to pursue an MFA? What drew you to Charleston?

Pursuing an MFA was a last-minute decision for me, actually. I took the LSAT and began to start my applications to law schools when I thought an MFA program might be fun. So on a whim, I took my GRE and applied to a few programs. The College of Charleston was my dream graduate school location and I was lucky enough to get in (and get this scholarship)! I’m extremely grateful and thankful to have ended up here.

When did you get your start in poetry, and how did that come about?

I started loving poetry when I was very young, maybe six or seven, and I began to write poetry around the age of fourteen. I thoroughly enjoyed how it seemed to be the only way in formal-ish writing you could indulge in wordplay, manipulation of sounds and visuals. Additionally, I was always a bit of a creature growing up and never quite fit in, so exploration of writing and art helped me find the positives of my eccentricity and embrace that a little more. I think it takes character to write, and then writing continues to build that character and exploit parts of it you didn’t know were there. Some huge inspirations that drove me to write poetry were Charles Bukowski’s “a smile to remember,” Lewis Carroll’s “The Walrus and the Carpenter” and, don’t laugh, Dr. Seuss’s ability to incorporate valuable life and world lessons in playful rhythm and rhyme. I wanted to speak for the trees as a child (even still as an adult) much like the Lorax.

What do you find yourself writing about?

I like to write about the ugly in the world, and in myself, and try to flesh it out, maybe even turn it around. It’s not entirely impossible considering how wonderfully fun and positive language can be. I write about bugs, my mother (hi mom) and nature as well. You know, all the clichés. I also try to make some things humorous, but as it turns out I tend to be the only one laughing at my own jokes. Such is life.

If you could meet one author, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

David Sedaris, hands down. Not poetry, I know, but his ability to write encapsulating, funny and attention-keeping creative nonfiction essays is astounding. It takes talent to turn everyday life into published humor. If he couldn’t spare the time, I wish I could speak to David Foster Wallace, specifically to thank him for his posthumously published commencement speech, “This is Water” that I continue to read and love and cherish.

Any plans for after the program?

I’ll resume my initial plans to go to law school. Maybe pursue a career in politics. I’m sure I’ll continue to write in my spare time, whenever that may be, and certainly continue to read and study poetry—I’m sure it’ll be a necessary step away from US fiscal policy studies and searches for contract loopholes—or whatever you do in law school.

Abigail Fitzpatrick virtually (and safely) interviewed our newest Woodfin Fellow in Fiction, Drew Welborn, to ask him about his writing journey and experience. When Drew isn’t writing or studying, he enjoys being on the tennis court, watching scary movies, and, of course, playing with his labradoodle, Pearl.

Where are you from and what did you study for your undergraduate degree?

I’m from Anderson, SC—not far from Clemson and Greenville. I went to undergrad at Anderson University, where I earned my BA in English. Also, I finished my MA in English Literature at Clemson University before joining the MFA program at Charleston.

What sparked your interest in writing fiction?

I don’t know if there’s a specific thing that sparked it. I’ve just always enjoyed it and I tended to take a creative approach to writing just about any assignment. In elementary school, I wrote a story about a time machine for a contest and I even attempted to write a novel about a werewolf (which was sadly unfinished!), and I won a local short story contest in high school. So that interest has always been there, but I never thought about pursuing it seriously until I encountered the workshop scene at AU and Clemson. I had very encouraging professors that made me feel like I could really do this.

What’s your favorite fiction novel and why?

Honestly, I’m not sure I have a favorite novel. I feel like it changes with whatever I’m reading. So right now, Karen Russell’s Swamplandia! is on top. I love the way she plays with reality to enhance the very real, human experience of her characters. However, I definitely have a favorite short story: “In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson is Buried” by Amy Hempel. It’s the first story I read that made me feel like I needed to write. If I could move someone with my writing in just a fraction of the way that that story moved me, I’d consider myself a success.

If you could meet one author, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

This is a tough one! Of course, I have to say Amy Hempel just so I could thank her for writing my favorite story. But I’d also love to pick her brain about her writing process and style. Every line, down to each singular word, is so expertly crafted—it’s beyond impressive. I’d also love to host a round table of sorts with Stephen King, Karen Russell, Carmen Machado, and Mary Shelley where I could just take in the scope of their imaginations. Their storylines are, for lack of a better word, otherworldly.

What are some themes you find reoccurring in your writing?

I find myself focusing in on characters that have essentially reached their breaking point. They’ve been let down, often by those closest to them. But I want to go beyond that—the characters I write about play an equal, if not bigger, part in that undoing. They’re let down, ultimately, by themselves. Sometimes they recognize their role in their own undoing, sometimes they don’t. Disappointment is something we all know and are probably all too familiar with—which is where writing about these characters comes into play. That’s what I find so appealing about writing: all the ways it can help us work through those anxieties and tensions. Hopefully exploring the ways in which my characters cope with these moments doesn’t just help me as, but readers as well. At least I hope it will!

Where do you find inspiration for your writing?

Oh, man…anything and everything! I feel like that’s such a bad answer but it’s true! I used to think I could only write about things I’d experienced, although that tends to lead to a lot of sitting around. In the last few years, I just look for anything that sparks some sort of interest. It could be something I’m watching on TV, a song lyric, an ad in a magazine, a random comment from someone…truly anything. Recently, I wrote a short piece inspired by an entry on a Buzzfeed list. So—like everything else in 2020—anything goes these days!