12 or 20 (second series) questions with Julie Paul
Julie Paul’s
second book of poetry, Whiny Baby (2024),follows the 2017 release of the poetry collection
The Rules of the Kingdom
, both published with McGill-Queen’sUniversity Press. She is also the author of three short fiction collections,
The Jealousy Bone
(Emdash, 2008),
The Pull of the Moon
and
Meteorites
(both Touchwood Editions,2014 / 2019).Julie’spoetry, fiction and CNF have been widely published and recognized; The Pull of the Moon won the 2015Victoria Book Prize, The Rules of theKingdom was a finalist for both the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize and theGerald Lampert Memorial Award, and her personal essay “It Not Only Rises, ItShines” received TNQ’s Edna Staebler Personal Essay Award.
Unlessshe’s visiting her daughter in Montreal, Julie lives in Victoria BC, where, inaddition to writing and playing with paint, she works as a Registered MassageTherapist.
1- How did your first book or chapbook change your life? How does your mostrecent work compare to your previous? How does it feel different?
Myfirst book, The Jealousy Bone, was short fiction, and it taught me howto get behind my writing in a way I hadn’t before. Since then I’ve publishedtwo more books of short fiction as well as two poetry collections, includingthe brand new Whiny Baby. Both poetry collections are largely personal,confessional & intimate; the first one, The Rules of the Kingdom, feltscarier than this one, just because it was my first foray into truth-tellingwithin the covers of a book. I have, however, published a number of personalessays over the past decade, and those are even more revealing!
2- How did you come to fiction first, as opposed to, say, poetry or non-fiction?
Icame to poetry first, as a pre-teen, but then got pulled into the fictionalworld, enticed by the freedom of making stuff up and having more space to workwithin.
3- How long does it take to start any particular writing project? Does yourwriting initially come quickly, or is it a slow process? Do first drafts appearlooking close to their final shape, or does your work come out of copiousnotes?
Thestarting is the easy part—love me a fun first draft! Sometimes, the final draftcomes fast as lighting. Other times, years and years (I’m looking at you, novelmanuscript).
4- Where does a poem or work of fiction usually begin for you? Are you an authorof short pieces that end up combining into a larger project, or are you workingon a "book" from the very beginning?
Allof my books thus far have been conceived after I’m well into writing variouspieces; however, I’m currently working on a novel and a book of poems that havespecific parameters, so we’ll see how that goes.
5- Are public readings part of or counter to your creative process? Are you thesort of writer who enjoys doing readings?
Ido enjoy readings; it is always such a gift to hear any kind of response to mywork, esp. in “the real world.” I try to leave my imposter syndrome at home.
6- Do you have any theoretical concerns behind your writing? What kinds ofquestions are you trying to answer with your work? What do you even think thecurrent questions are?
Currentconcerns: How to live in the world despite the world. How to love. How towrestle with dissatisfaction and recognize privilege. How to make amends.
7– What do you see the current role of the writer being in larger culture? Dothey even have one? What do you think the role of the writer should be?
Reflectors.Mirrors. Comforters. Provokers. Entertainers. Not necessarily at the same time.
8- Do you find the process of working with an outside editor difficult oressential (or both)?
Ifind it essential, and overall, I’ve had very good experiences with editors,both informally in my writing circles and with my publishers. They see things Icannot, being too close to the work.
9- What is the best piece of advice you've heard (not necessarily given to youdirectly)?
Thisis one I give myself: There is room for everyone.
10- How easy has it been for you to move between genres (poetry to shortstories)? What do you see as the appeal?
Ilove variety in life; I’m a restless soul. So moving around in multiple genressuits me really well.
11- What kind of writing routine do you tend to keep, or do you even have one?How does a typical day (for you) begin?
I’mnot much of a routine follower, but I do try to write most days. Preferablywhen I’m the only human at home and the cats are napping. Cookies help.
12- When your writing gets stalled, where do you turn or return for (for lack ofa better word) inspiration?
Igo for a hike, or pick up a book and open it at random. Having the support ofvarious writing buddies really helps, and I’ve had the good fortune to havetaken two weekend retreats with them this year. Or I take a course; I’ve had somuch fun doing Yvonne Blomer’s fabulous online classes over the past couple ofyears, and they’ve helped me to generate plenty of poems. Currently it’sNational Poetry Writing Month, so those prompts can help get the juicesflowing, but right now they’re piling up, unexplored…
13- What was your last Hallowe'en costume?
I’mnot a big fan of this holiday, truth be told, so it’s been years. But myfavourite costume from when I was a kid was Boss Hogg from The Dukes ofHazzard, complete with plastic cigar. Now I’m showing my age…
14- David W. McFadden once said that books come from books, but are there anyother forms that influence your work, whether nature, music, science or visualart?
Knowingwhat I know of the body, from my training as a massage therapist, has made itinto my work in all genres. Nature is always an influence, and the nature ofbehaviour, both human and otherwise.
15- What other writers or writings are important for your work, or simply yourlife outside of your work?
Sucha hard question, to narrow things down. I’ll offer a list of recent inspiringworks: Snow Road Station by Elizabeth Hay—set in my original neck of the woods.Anything I’ve read so far of Maggie O’Farrell’s. Eula Biss is a fantastice ssayist. Claire Keegan’s quiet intense fiction. This Strange Garment, poetryby Nicole Callihan. Ellen Bass’s Indigo. Abigail Thomas’s books. The novelAstra by Cedar Bowers.
16- What would you like to do that you haven't yet done?
Makecroissants from scratch. Try oil painting. Publish a novel.
17- If you could pick any other occupation to attempt, what would it be? Or,alternately, what do you think you would have ended up doing had you not been awriter?
Visualartist, baker, café owner. I play around with paint a lot these days, as wellas baking, esp. sourdough (thanks, pandemic).
18- What made you write, as opposed to doing something else?
Ithink it’s an innate affinity for words. Or maybe a tendency to overshare. WhenI don’t write, I get really grumpy, so possibly it’s self-preservation aboveall.
19- What was the last great book you read? What was the last great film?
Iloved Maggie O’Farrell’s novel This Must Be the Place. And Poor Things—what a wild ride of a movie!
20- What are you currently working on?
I’mcurrently rewriting my novel, and slowly working on a collection of personalessays, as well as a book of poems. Oh, and there’s a loaf of bread proofing inthe kitchen.
