12 or 20 (second series) questions with Chuqiao Yang

Chuqiao Yang’s poems have appeared in magazine suchs as The Walrus, Arc PoetryMagazine, Prism, Grain, CV2, Room, and on CBC Radio. She was a finalist for theBronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers and her chapbook, Reunions in theYear of the Sheep , won the bpNichol Chapbook Award. The Last to the Party isher first full-length collection.

1 - How did your firstbook or chapbook change your life? How does your most recent work compare toyour previous? How does it feel different?

Hi rob! Thank you for inviting me to do this. It means a lot.

My first chapbook, Reunions in the Year of the Sheep won thebpNichol Chapbook Award which was a huge honour. I have that chapbook, andbaseline press (Karen Schindler, I am talking about you!), and the RBC Writers'Trust to thank as all of that led to my first collection, The Last to theParty with Goose Lane Editions' icehouse poetry imprint.

I am answering your questions immediately after the book's release so Ireally don't know how things will have changed yet. So far, my friends andfamily and community have been really supportive, which is wonderful especiallysince this is my first full-length book. Things feel a bit different because Iwrote a lot of the book in my 'youth' and early 20s and left the poems alonewhile I was in school. Revisiting them and reworking them now in my 30s andadding new poems to the collection felt a bit like I was greeting and biddingfarewell to who I used to be when I wrote them the first time. Editing and peerreview was bot fun and odd because it felt like I was low-key saying 'get overyourself' to myself which was pretty, pretty humbling.

2 - How did you come topoetry first, as opposed to, say, fiction or non-fiction?

I'm not really sure. Forme personally, at least in the beginning, it felt like there was moreopportunity to say something through poetry than fiction, non-fiction oranother genre. But I like to dabble.  

3 - How long does it taketo start any particular writing project? Does your writing initially comequickly, or is it a slow process? Do first drafts appear looking close to theirfinal shape, or does your work come out of copious notes?

As you hinted at in yourreview of my book (thank you again), it takes a very long time and it happensin spurts. I could be more disciplined. I notice that when I am reading a lot,I am more perceptive and open to writing.

4 - Where does a poem orwork of prose usually begin for you? Are you an author of short pieces that endup combining into a larger project, or are you working on a "book"from the very beginning?

I piece things togetherover time. I learned a lot of new things about myself through the editingprocess working with Goose Lane and my editor. I'm excited to see how I'vegrown or changed or stayed the same, and I am excited to apply those lessons toother projects in the future.  

5 - Are public readingspart of or counter to your creative process? Are you the sort of writer whoenjoys doing readings?

I like to go to readingsfrom time to time but I don't like reading. I know that it's a chance for me,reading it aloud, or someone hearing it, to experience or encounter newdimensions of the poem but I always worry I'm being gimmicky, pretentious, orboring. I will say though that it's very useful to hear your writing out loudwhen you are working on it, or to have someone read your work to you as youedit it.

7 – What do you see thecurrent role of the writer being in larger culture? Do they even have one?What do you think the role of the writer should be?

People write for all sortsof reasons and those reasons can change with time. I really think it depends onthe writer, their literary and/or personal goals, and what they hope toaccomplish in their work.

8 - Do you find theprocess of working with an outside editor difficult or essential (or both)?

Essential.

9 - What is the best pieceof advice you've heard (not necessarily given to you directly)?

Focus on the work.

12 - When your writinggets stalled, where do you turn or return for (for lack of a better word)inspiration?

I let it pass without judgment. I used to beat myself up about it. But I don'tthink a period of time away from writing means anything negative; life ishappening all the time and it can feel more damaging if your mindset is thatyou have to keep your momentum up in order to be prolific, purposeful orinspired. I really think it's more than okay to have long periods of time whereyou are just absorbing the world, or living in it, or even struggling to makesense of it or yourself. You aren't wasting time. You are just chilling out andtaking it easy on yourself.

Of course it can be hard, but in those times, I try to do mindfulnesstechniques. I read and spend time with family and friends. I watch comedy, I seemovies, or I just do nothing. I bide my time to take care of myself. It's all awork in progress even if you're not working!

15 - What other writers orwritings are important for your work, or simply your life outside of your work?

Li-Young Lee, East of Edenby John Steinbeck, Simple Recipes by Madeline Thien, T.S. Eliot. 

16 - What would you liketo do that you haven't yet done?

More sports.

19 - What was the lastgreat book you read? What was the last great film?

I've been reading someteachings by the Stoics lately. I find reading their reflections validating andreassuring.

Also, last year I readthis book called Luster by Raven Leilani in literally one sitting, itwas amazing. I just finished Based on a True Story by Delphine du Vigan(wow!). Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky (also wow). Homie by DanezSmith (more wow). The Good Women of Safe Harbour by Bobbi French (WOWand so, so devastating).

20 - What are youcurrently working on?

Nothing has takenform yet, but maybe some stories.

12 or 20 (second series) questions;