The IWC is happy to feature Sarah Gerkensmeyer in conversation about her 写作 life 和 her upcoming class with us, “An Eye for the Weird” Sunday March 3
Sarah Gerkensmeyer’s story collection, What You Are Now Enjoying, was selected by Stewart O’Nan as winner of the Autumn House Press Fiction Prize, longlisted for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, 和 chosen as winner of Late Night Library’s Debut-litzer Prize. A finalist for the Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction 和 the Italo Calvino Prize for Fabulist Fiction, Sarah’s stories 和 诗歌 have appeared in American Short Fiction, 格尔尼卡, 新卫士, The Massachusetts Review, Hayden’s Ferry Review, B:是的。, 和 霍巴特除其他外. Her story “Ramona” was featured in a Huffington Post piece on flash 小说 和 also selected by Lily Hoang for the 2014 Best of the Net Anthology. Sarah was a Pen Parentis Fellow 和 is the 2016 winner of the 印第安纳州 Authors Award in the emerging category.
What 写作 accomplishment are you most proud of?
While receiving news that my collection of stories had been accepted for publication was one of my top 写作 thrills, winning the 印第安纳州 Author’s Award (in the Emerging category) was a close second. The programming leading up to the awards reception was phenomenal. And as a hoosier, this particular honor was especially meaningful. I sometimes call the midwest the mid-weird, 和 I think that growing up in 印第安纳州 gave me a pretty magical view on some of the things I write about.
What is your personal motto, or something like a proverb that you live by (写作 related or not)?
I have a tattoo on one of my wrists from a note my father wrote me when I was very young. In his h和写作 it reads: 不要犹豫. Wonderful advice in general for a worrier who can expertly worry about literally anything. But also wonderful 写作 advice. A lesson I bring up in the classroom over 和 over again 和 need to practice more myself: just let those early drafts come out messy 和 wild. Do not hesitate at the beginning of a 写作 project. The mess is where the best discoveries are made.
What’s the best thing students can take away from this class?
Connected to my “don’t hesitate” advice above, my hope is that students who take my workshop will have the opportunity to create some wonderfully messy rough draft material that they can return to 和 further explore. I like to create a mix of both conversation 和 creative 写作 opportunities during my workshops, 和 I hope students will walk away with at least one exciting idea they might pursue.
What’s your favorite thing about the IWC?
Many 作家 are solitary creatures. And while the ability to shut yourself away 和 dwell inside your own mind for long stretches to create art is an important one, I think it can be easy for us to forget how important a sense of community can be. I love how effortlessly IWC creates opportunities for community-building. I always feel welcome.
Who are some of your favorite books on 写作 craft?
Flannery O’Connor’s book of essays Mystery 和 Manners has some great advice for charging into the unknown 和 trying to leave room in our 写作 for surprise 和 even shock when it comes to both our characters 和 the plot. Jeff V和erMeer’s Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction is also one of my absolute favorites. The essays are great 和 the artwork is gorgeous 和 inspiring.