poetry mini interviews

When you require renewal, is there a particular poem or book that you return to? A particular author? Some books are definitely touchstone...

How do you know when a poem is finished? Language continues, so I’m not sure if there’s a “finished” state, or even if that state is stabl...

What do you find most difficult about writing poetry? The same things that I find rewarding about poetry are what I find most difficult, w...

How important is music to your poetry? Extremely. Since I was a kid, I have tried to train myself to hear everything around me as music, a...

Fred Schmalz is the author of Action in the Orchards (Nightboat Books, 2019). He makes art in the collaborative Balas & Wax. His wri...