What’s a piece of writing advice that’s held true for you?
This is a really big paraphrase attempt but I think David Ritz once said something like this in an interview: “When I’m writing, I’m playing the keys. How can I get writer’s block when I’m playing the keys? When I’m invoking the spirits of the jazz greats? I’m playing. I’m playing.”
What’s the thing you read when you want to remember how to write?
I read my journals from when I was nine. And think about writing from a really pure place. I feel like our best art comes from the purest places. And what’s purer than the things we were creating when we were kids?
What’s a writing strategy you’ve developed that’s worked for you?
I have to write in the mornings. It’s really hard for me to write after 3 pm. I also have to go on a long walk or exercise before writing.
What’s your one tip (that doesn’t get discussed) for a writer trying to grow their audience in 2022?
I’m kind of on this anti-social media tip right now. And I know it’s hard because we have to promote what we work on. But I want to believe that the people who are supposed to engage with your art will find their way to it. So maybe write or create things with a single person in mind — not an audience.
What’s your one tip (that doesn’t get discussed) for a writer trying to improve in 2022?
I think we should be talking about how the notes section on our phones is really important. So many great things have come from our notes section. Write in your notes section.
Is there a thing you’ve written and have actually enjoyed going back and reading?
It’s hard for me to engage with things that I’ve created in the past. But one story was a big road trip series that I wrote for The New York Times
. I covered youth culture from San Diego to El Paso and it was one of the fondest experiences I’ve had as a writer. I think the story came out really nice, too.
