In this episode of The Write Mind, Professor Eli Ryder talks with poet and former Dallas Poet Laureate Mag Gabbert, author of Sex Depression Animals, about her path from music to poetry and the experiences that shaped her life as a writer. Their conversation explores mentorship and writing community, graduate study, revision, developing an individual voice through reading and imitation, and poetry as a practice of inquiry and discovery. Gabbert also discusses her writing process, making time for creative work, taking artistic risks, and the importance of continually pushing beyond the habits and techniques that have worked before.
Chapters
- (00:00:04) - Introduction and Guest Bio
- (00:02:13) - Icebreaker: Oreos and Snacks
- (00:07:14) - Karaoke and Music Fandom Tangent
- (00:11:33) - Discovering Poetry and Changing Majors
- (00:13:18) - Early Feedback and Learning to Revise
- (00:17:58) - Choosing an MFA Program
- (00:21:53) - From MFA to PhD Decision
- (00:25:39) - Community and Connection in Grad Programs
- (00:31:35) - Shaping an Approach to Craft
- (00:34:24) - Emulating Other Writers to Find Your Voice
- (00:38:47) - Best Writing Advice Received
- (00:44:09) - Finding Inspiration and Writing Process
- (00:47:08) - Poems Teaching Their Own Process
- (00:49:29) - Making Time to Write and Sacrifice
- (00:54:06) - Helping Students Understand Poetry
- (00:59:02) - Closing Remarks
