Mary McCall interviewed Carson Oliver, our new Woodfin Fellow in Fiction

What first drew you to writing?

I can’t really point to one moment when I was drawn into writing because I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. As a bouncing-of-the-walls kid growing up in Mississippi, there was no greater escape than a good book. I read in the car while waiting for food to get microwaved, at night with the lights off, squinting. But when I was a kid, for whatever reason, I cared deeply about being a famous writer. Now, I just want to write at least one novel that I can be proud of, and that I think reflects my ambitions as an artist.

What writers/artists have helped to influence your writing?

When I first started to seriously write, I was drawn to first person reliant authors who wrote in a laissez-faire style like Jack Kerouac and JD Salinger. Those authors continue to color my work in various ways, but recently, I’ve been most inspired by a more variegated pool of authors. I feel that I’m most inspired by writers that I feel have a singular aesthetic. In this category, I’d offer Zadie Smith, Mary Gaitskill, and Haruki Murakami.

What’s your writing process like?

Chaotic. I wish it wasn’t but that’s how my brain works. My best writing typically comes at 1:00 am when I wake up in a fit of inspiration. One thing I’ve been working on is evening out my creative energy and working at set times because it seems to me that writing comes a lot easier when it’s consistent. In the words of Bret Lott, “writing is 90% grunt work.”

How would you describe your writing style?

One of my classmates in the program described my style as “amphetaminic,” and I think that fits perfectly. I tend to use short sentences that come in quick bursts. However, I hate to be predictable, so I’ll also include lush, ornate passages here and there. Thematically, I think I always grapple in the some way with the prospect of living in an absurd world. Recently, I’ve been particularly fond of writing about the internet and generations of kids growing up with the internet.

What’s the most difficult part of writing?

I always have so many ideas, but at some point, you have to pick an idea and stick with it. In that way, my process is wrought with self-doubt. A part of me always wants to abandon a scene midway through because I’ll think of an idea that might be more interesting or challenging. Going back to the process question, I think that’s why I want to make my process more measured. Yes, writing is a sort of divine channeling of potent creative energies. But it’s also sitting down at your desk and putting word to page.

What’s something you are working on right now?

 I’m working on a novel called Recreation. The novel is aimed mainly at the themes I talked about in question 4. I’d add to that my interest in writing for college aged kids, smart kids, who don’t seem interested any more in reading, especially in reading literary fiction. This book is trying to make literary fiction cool again.

Carson Oliver interviewed Mary McCall, our new Woodfin Fellow in Poetry

How would you characterize your writing process?

It definitely depends on the genre or form I’m writing in, but when I’m working on poetry, I usually start with an evocative title, concept, or image that becomes the core of the poem. From there, I expand on it through form, language, and space. Once I have a solid draft, I refine it by cutting everything that feels unintentional, unnecessary, or doesn’t contribute to the piece. Afterward, I share it with friends for their thoughts, interpretations, and suggestions to ensure my intentions come across clearly and align with my goals for the work. Finally, I revise it some more and arrive at a final draft!

What’s something that drives you to write when you find writing difficult?

Inspiration! I know it sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s true! When I hit writer’s block or feel stuck I take a step back, walk away from my writing, and start my search. I’ll sift through literature, cycling through movies or TV shows, and scrolling online until I find something that just itches that impossible itch and haunts my brain in just the right way. Then, once I do, I dive into the rabbit hole and use it as inspiration for whatever I’m trying to write or writing next. This is probably why I know and obsess over a lot of niche and obscure things– but hey, if it works, it works!

When did you realize that you were officially a “poet”?

I first started writing poetry in high school, but I think it was my third year of undergrad when I officially realized I was a poet. It was around that time that my Dad died and I wasn’t exactly sure how to process it because—surprise, surprise—grief is hard, especially for a nineteen-year-old. It was also during this time that, when I took my second-ever poetry workshop, everything just clicked. Poetry quickly became my way to explore and cope with my grief and from there it evolved until I became the poet I am today.

What is a form of art besides poetry and fiction that inspires your work?

Honestly, I don’t know what art form doesn’t inspire my work. I am pretty well-rounded when it comes to the arts, and I partake in quite a few in my spare time, some even more frequently than that. I’m an avid fan of theatre, film, music, photography, and traditional art so, for me, that means most of the time my writing is inspired by whichever passion project I’m consuming or creating amidst these varying artistic forms. Usually, though I will say film and music tend to be my go-to for this.

What’s something you’re working on right now?

I’m not officially working on anything right now. I’ve just mainly been refining my poetry and playing with forms, but I had a recurring theme amongst my work lately. I’ve been a bit obsessed with Greek mythology, so I’ve been reimaging and exploring the Greek myths in my poetry which has been a really fun experiment. I already tackled three poems in this vein. The first was an epic retelling of Eurydice and Orpheus, the second was a commentary on the different tellings of Medusa in the myths, and the third was an exploration of Echo and her love for Narcissus. All three of which I loved writing so its safe to say that these are just the start of this project and endeavor.