Writing those first pages, it’s hard to have faith that anyone will suspend disbelief—that the world can be made real enough for even the writer to believe in it.

Every “realistic” short story I write is a betrayal. Perversely, the short stories which seem to engage most readers are indeed these more — forgive me — realistic ones.

The poet discussion the exhilaration of exploration, the tension of creation, and one’s readiness to engage with content that is within.

The writer thinks about intention, chronological order and connection to a story.

Writing the poem changes me, and I welcome that. I don’t see that as a betrayal of myself or the work, but more of an evolution.

I see the stories as something I sorted out, something I worked through. A problem I solved.