What writers have inspired you?
The first person who comes to mind is Audre Lorde. I remember picking up an anthology of her poems at my sister’s house when we were visiting for the holidays. At that point I had enjoyed writing as merely a casual, infrequent pastime. But over the course of that week, I read Lorde’s poems and it was as if a creative switch flipped in my brain. There is this “poet’s mindset” that kicks in every time I read exceptional poetry and urges me to emulate that level of quality in my own style—or at least try to. I think of reading Lorde’s poems as the first time I successfully used other writing as a gateway to my own. I had never realized how much of a difference reading right before writing can make in the quality of work one is able to produce. It was unbelievable how quickly my poetic ability skyrocketed that week in comparison to my earlier writing.
Now recognizing how important it is to activate my “poet’s mindset” before delving into writing, I have made a habit of reading poetry every single day from any magazine or journal I come across online—the well known publications as well as the more obscure ones. And so, in a way, I also view all of the many writers whose work I’ve read as vital contributors to my inspiration. They may not be famous in the literary sphere, but they were just as impactful for me because they were more or less random people, like myself, who had a passion for poetic expression and whose quality of work seemed challenging yet attainable.
What projects are you currently engaged in?
I am currently planning to transition from publishing individual pieces to a cumulative book. Most of the poems I’ve written this year have been about mental illness or linked to that topic, and I think the next step for me is compiling my individual published works into a cohesive collection and hopefully publishing my debut chapbook. I’m still tinkering with logistics, but right now the working title is Kaleidoscope Poison. I’ll be sending any updates about this project through my website, www.danaeyounge.com to anyone who is subscribed for emails.
How have you spent the year 2020?
Over the summer, my main goal was to get my writing published and start getting my name out there in the literary sphere. I was only just beginning to sink my teeth into publication and all of its inner workings, and I definitely made a lot of missteps starting off—not knowing how to identify realistic acceptance rates, submitting to magazines without reading a full issue of their previously published work, eagerly sending in a piece before allowing it to breathe and go through multiple revisions, etc. In short, the common mistakes made by new writers who don’t fully know what they’re doing. But now that 2020 is coming to a close, I have gained a much tighter grasp of the whole process and I’ve seen notable success, with work accepted by over 20 publications in the US, UK, and Canada in the past 6 months.
How have you maintained your artistic skills during lockdowns?
Lockdowns have actually made me more productive as a writer. There are so many activities that are now off limits, which means I often have to find something to do inside in my free time. I’m grateful for this part of the pandemic, because it pushed me to write more frequently. There were no excuses, no distractions, which is important if you're like me and have the hardest time motivating yourself to type out the first word. A high school English teacher of mine always said if you want to be a writer, you just have to sit down and write—seemingly obvious but retrospectively enlightening advice.
I’ve also come to know myself better as a writer. I used to teeter between fiction and poetry. Though it’s important to continue writing prose in order to stay in touch with that facet of literature, I’ve come to realize and accept my preference for verse. I love the way great poetry is briefly transportive—its ability to immerse people in a space (physical or emotional) outside of their own reality within minutes. Poems and other short forms of writing resculpt the way time relates to sensory existence. As a nerd, I admittedly find that fascinating.
Do you have any goals for the New Year?
I’m working on getting my sleep schedule back on track and maintaining a consistent routine. Coincidentally, writing is often the reason I end up staying up until early hours of the morning; I can’t seem to shake off an idea when it comes to me. This unfortunately means I often sacrifice sleep—sometimes even meals—for the sake of uninterrupted completion. Writing is my kryptonite, in that sense. In 2021, I want to make a conscious effort to carve out time for sleeping, eating, and exercising regularly. Another and much more stressful goal, I also hope to get through my freshman year of online college.
Is community important to your writing? Are there any magazines or small presses that you feel a strong attachment to?
I definitely have a strong attachment to the first publications that accepted my work: Mason Street Magazine, Rogue Agent Journal, Vita Brevis Magazine. These publications have relatively high acceptance rates, and the work I’ve submitted there is nowhere near the level and standards of my current writing. I can identify so many revisions that I would make were I to rewrite those poems now—some of which stick out like sore thumbs. And yet, I feel a bond with these pieces because they were my window into what has now become a daily practice: writing regularly and creating art that will be seen by others, words that will reach out and touch complete strangers by way of publication. I am excited to have more polished work to present in this upcoming Red Skies Anthology, and I will remember Splintered Disorder Press for giving me the opportunity to be interviewed for the first time in my career.