Member Spotlight: Lisa Christina St John

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? Writing is ancestral; who we were, who we are, and who we become is in our storytelling. Poetry is especially important in today’s world because of its concise and precise form.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? I have to go with the framed quote above my desk from Stephen King: “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration. The rest of us just get up and go to work.” I free write until my hand hurts, and that usually leads to something worth following.

What is your favorite time to write? I like to write in the morning. It feels like a clean slate.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? Read everything. You can’t write if you don’t read.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? The many outlets for sharing work is a great thrill when you think about it. Technology is an amazing tool.

Lisa St. John’s Swallowing Stones is out now with Kelsay Books.