Molly Cross-Blanchard : part five

Why is poetry important?

Rather than comment on why poetry is important for the world and why everyone should read poetry (which they should, btw), I’m going to approach this question a bit selfishly. Poetry is important to me because it’s a way of turning my thoughts and feelings into nuggets of truth that I can digest. I was always intrigued by journaling as a kid. All my girlfriends journaled, drew hearts around their crushes’ names, slandered their parents with pink and green gel pens. And I did, too (this was often a sleepover activity), but something about it always felt false. I couldn’t connect to the words in my Lizzie Maguire diary like my friends seemed to; there was something about what I was feeling that just wouldn’t transfer to the page. When I started seriously writing poetry, it was like I’d discovered a life hack for working through my own shit without having to go to a therapist. Poetry is emotion magic.

Molly Cross-Blanchard : part four

What do you find most difficult about writing poetry?

The most difficult aspect of writing poetry, for me, is finding that productive sweet spot in which you’re energized enough to put your butt in the chair and type some words, but not so energized that you’re unable to be introspective. Introspection is my jam. I haven’t yet figured out how to rely on my process and craft to get me through a scheduled writing session, so for now I follow my own erratic inner poetry clock.

Molly Cross-Blanchard : part three

How does your work first enter the world? Do you have a social group or writers group that you work ideas and poems with?

If you don’t have a writers group to lean on, get one ASAP. Working with my group in Winnipeg (lookin’ at you, Hunters Writing Collective) taught me how to write poetry and how to navigate the literary business world. We still keep in touch and share our work even though we’re scattered across several continents. On top of this support group, as I’m sure many other writers can echo, I send my poems to my mother for expert, completely unbiased feedback. Though recently, my poems have been more and more about sex and vaginas, so Mom hasn’t seen much of the chapbook yet. Sorry in advance, Mom. And Dad. Oh no, Dad...

Molly Cross-Blanchard : part two

How do you know when a poem is finished?

A poem is never finished!... says every poetry professor ever.  Though there is some merit to this mode of thinking, I do believe you can get a poem very very very close to finished. I usually consider a poem ready for public consumption when I go back to it several months after the last time I tinkered with it and read the whole way through without cringing even once. Those are really good days.

Molly Cross-Blanchard : part one

Molly Cross-Blanchard is a Metis  writer from the prairies currently living as a guest on unceded Musqueam territory. She has an English BA from The University of Winnipeg and is now a Creative Writing MFA candidate at the University of British Columbia. Her work has appeared in Contemporary Verse 2, The Malahat Review, and In/Words. This Spring, she will take on the role of Circulation Editor at PRISM international.

Photo Credit: Rachel Scramstad

How did you first engage with poetry?

First, very briefly, when I was sixteen and considering breaking up with my boyfriend (there was a lot of onomatopoeia... “SPLAT goes his heart”). And again, five years later, when said boyfriend and I finally (dramatically) called it quits. The time in between these catalytic heartbreaks was a lot of short fiction, playwriting, and trying to be an actor.