12 or 20 (second series) questions with Michael B. Tager
Michael B. Tager is stardust currentlyin the form of the author of Pop Culture Poetry: The Definitive Edition(Akinoga Press, ’24), and Managing Editor of Mason Jar Press.1. How did yourfirst book change your life? How does your most recent work compare to yourprevious? How does it feel different? The first book I "really" readwas The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I was in 2nd grade and itwas like "oh, books can do this? They can transport me away entirely andmake me forget about everything else? Well I'm into that!" It was quite amoment and I never looked back. As for how it relates to my current writing?When I write prose, I often lean into magic and/or the unexplained. I'm a genreboy at heart. But I tend to write more poetry these days, and poetry about popculture as opposed to fantasy. Maybe I'll write a thing about Turkish Delight,or my deep confusion at Christian iconography (cause I'm Jewish and that wholeJesus parallel went woosh over my head!)
2. How did youcome to poetry first, as opposed to, say, fiction or non-fiction? I came to poetry wellafter prose! I have never taken a poetry course, either lit or writing. So thefact that my first book is poetry is an irony not lost on me. I came to poetrybecause it allows me to be weird more than prose. Maybe because I was nevertaught in poetry, I don't have any bad habits that I need to break, like I dowith prose. Plus I can be really vulnerable and hide it in imagery and funphrases, which is harder (for me) than in prose. In fiction, I layer myown self a bit too deep and in nonfiction I fight the vulnerability at everysingle step. Poetry is a happy medium for me!
3. How long doesit take to start any particular writing project? Does your writing initiallycome quickly, or is it a slow process? Do first drafts appear looking close totheir final shape, or does your work come out of copious notes? When I'm writing--whichisn't now--I have two ways I come to writing. The first is that I have a settime every day in which to write on current projects or on new ideas. The otherway is that when inspiration strikes, it doesn't matter what I'm doing, I haveto get a pen or a computer and just start writing as much as possible,because I've learned that if I ignore inspiration, it goes away. Shockingright? Now, when I get into a project, the writing comes fast-fast-fast. I'vebeen known to write a 5,000 word story or 10 poems in one sitting. Revising cantake longer, but first drafts? That's not slow at all.
4. Where does a poem or work of prose usually begin for you? Are youan author of short pieces that end up combining into a larger project, or areyou working on a "book" from the very beginning? Skipped
5. Are public readings part of or counter to your creative process?Are you the sort of writer who enjoys doing readings? I like performing! I haveminors in theater and speech communication, I have done dance performances anddebate, I've given presentations at conferences and trainings. I like karaokeand I've done weird experimental art exhibits. So, performing isn't a barrierto me. It isn't part of my process or anything, and I don't write for theperformance, but I enjoy giving readings. I don't like what leads up tothe reading (because stage fright and general introvertedness) but once I'm onstage, it's all downhill.
6. Do you have anytheoretical concerns behind your writing? What kinds of questions are you tryingto answer with your work? What do you even think the current questions are? I'mtrying to get back to the weirdo I was when I first began writing. That senseof fun and play that MFA and general adulthood beat out of me. It's why I amdrawn more to poetry these days; it's the genre I have the least experience inand by far the least training. I'm able to access that "fuck it"mentality that eludes me in prose. So while I don't have any particularconcerns or theoretical roots that I'm exploring, I do have a goal, which is tocapture that childhood uniqueness.
7. What do you see thecurrent role of the writer being in larger culture? Do they even have one? Whatdo you think the role of the writer should be? Writers are artists and artistsare the soul of culture. No one remembers Odysseus because of his awesomeness,we remember him because a dope ass book was written. Without artists, there'sno memory. You're welcome, world.
8. Do you find the processof working with an outside editor difficult or essential (or both)? I LOVEworking with an editor and I find it easy as pie. Possibly because I'm aneditor, but also because I love collaboration and I love people telling me howto make my stuff better. Improve me, daddy!
9. What is the best pieceof advice you've heard (not necessarily given to you directly)? I was at an SF&F panel when I was a baby writer and they were all smart genre writerstalking. One jabroni in the audience asked about money and you could feel thepanelists' eyes rolling. one of them said something along the lines of there'sthree reasons to me to write. The first is because you want to getpaid--in which case you should just follow the career paths and writing stylesof Stephen King or Jodi Picoult or something, or just write cookbooks. Thesecond is because you only feel the need to write and create--in which case whocares about money--or even being published. The last--and the reason I writeand probably my colleagues--is because you want people to read you and thinkabout what you think. We like money and we'd like to make a full living bythis, but it's not the main concern. So, my advice is to figure out why you'rewriting and go from there. Don't start at the money.
10. How easy has it been foryou to move between genres (poetry to prose)? What do you see as the appeal? Pretty easily! One thing leads to another and beingaround brilliant creative people gives ideas and thoughts that I want to try.Plus, I get bored and need to experiment or I lose my mind. But I also findthat one informs the other. My poetry makes my prose prettier, my fiction makesmy nonfiction (incidentally my least favorite genre and one I really only dothese days when paid) more interesting, my nonfiction helps me get to the pointin my fiction, and the prose helps me keep my head out of my ass with poetry.It's a circle.
11. What kind of writingroutine do you tend to keep, or do you even have one? How does a typical day(for you) begin? Well, I'm not writing at all now since I have kids and twojobs and a press but eventually that'll change. (answered routinequestion above)
12. When your writing getsstalled, where do you turn or return for (for lack of a better word)inspiration? Either physical activity in order toempty my brain of all the stuff clogging it: working out, walking, dancing,etc., or other forms of entertainment. By that I mean video games, movies, cardgames like Magic the Gathering, and stuff like that. I've written severalstories inspired by video games, for example. Get the inspiration from otherplaces!
13. What fragrance remindsyou of home? What fragrance reminds you of home? I'm more triggered by physicalsensations than smell, so also the weight of light jackets, warm sun and chillbreeze, walking for hours without sweating or shivering. Yeah, that's thestuff.
14. David W. McFadden oncesaid that books come from books, but are there any other forms that influenceyour work, whether nature, music, science or visual art? (see 12)
15. What other writers orwritings are important for your work, or simply your life outside of your work?What other writers or writings are important for your work, or simply your lifeoutside of your work? My favorite book is Startide Rising byDavid Brin, which is hard sci fi about space dolphins. I love pulpy fantasy anddetective stories. I cut my teeth on Dragonlance and earlyStephen King. in other words, given the choice between never reading literaryfiction or genre fiction again, I'd be like "fuck you lit fiction."Even though I primarily write lit fiction and poetry, I get most of myinspiration from other venues.
16. What would you like todo that you haven't yet done? skipped
17. If you could pick anyother occupation to attempt, what would it be? Or, alternately, what do youthink you would have ended up doing had you not been a writer? If and when Iswitch careers again, I'm going into hospitality. Being a concierge, or making eventsat a hotel (weddings, cons, whatever) would be my jam. I'm good at it!
18. What made you write, asopposed to doing something else? I don't know. Does anyone know? I'm justbiding my time on this earth until I die and writing makes me happy. I’man optimistic nihilist: nothing matters, so let’s have fun and make everythingbrighter and cheerier before the void swallows us whole. I like writing, I’mgood at it, I recognized that early so I guess fuck it let’s write some books?
19. What was the last greatbook you read? What was the last great film? I haven't read a book in two yearsbut the best storytelling I've read is the video games Hades. It's a rogue-likewherein each game is different, and it's designed to kill the hell out of you.In between deaths, you talk to characters from Greek myth like Thanatos,Persephone, Hades (duh), Cerberus, Achilles, the Furies, and so on. Thebackstories, romances, subversions of myth that are parsed out over 50-100hours are absolutely brilliant. Video games have become art. It's afact. As for film, you don't really want to open that can of worms. I cango on. But, ummmm, Hunt for Red October was pretty baller. I missed it when itcame out and so watched it. It was dope.
20. What are you currentlyworking on? NOTHING! I have two kids, my parents now live with me, two jobs, asemblance of a social life, a wife, and a press that I run (which satisfiesmost of my artistic cravings). When the baby goes to day care and my wifegoes back to (paid) work so I can decrease my hours, I'll probably write again.Until then, I have no guilt at not writing.
12 or 20 (second series) questions;
