DAVID HANLON, AUTHOR OF SPECTRUM OF FLIGHT
The Light Bulb is an interview series by The Lumiere Review. We’ve interviewed several authors of chapbooks to shed some light on the process of finding inspiration, drafting, revising, and publishing a chapbook. We believe in amplifying a diverse range of writers in the ever-expanding literary scene through this series. For writers who have their eyes set on publishing a chapbook, we hope that these conversations can bring you one step closer to a completed manuscript or a home with a press.
This time round, we have David Hanlon, author of Spectrum of Flight (Animal Heart Press), which you can order a copy here. Check out this podcast and review of his book.
I. MOTIVATION
First thing’s first, what got you motivated to write your most recent chapbook, Spectrum of Flight?
Spectrum of Flight was born from my own exploration of my life history and of the struggles that I have been through that have deeply shaped who I am today and what I value in life. My entry into poetry emerged after coming out of a debilitating depression. The experience was so life-altering that I was compelled to write about it. I found the writing process cathartic and it helped me to make better sense of what I had been through and to work through my feelings surrounding it. Writing exhumed my verve and passion, energies that I had long-lost to that all-encompassing black cloud.
Writing about such personal subject matter was scary but healing, and it propelled me to explore other areas of my life that have impacted on my sense of self and personal development. My sexuality is another area of my life that has been fraught with difficulty. In relation to this, I began to explore past romantic relationships that have also been an important part of my ongoing journey of self-acceptance. My mentor pointed out that I had enough poems to put together a collection, and she encouraged me to do so. I collated the poems I had written, and the book became a story of my life from a child to an adult and all the hardships I had been through to reach a place of strength and acceptance.
Could you elaborate on the themes, arcs, and/or trajectories that define Spectrum of Flight?
The themes are of sexuality, of the damage that homophobia has on one’s sense of their identity, and the resulting psychological impact this has on a person’s mental health. Also, queer relationships, and how love is a saviour when one has experienced so much hate. The book goes on to explore my plunge into a dark depression, and how one’s self-esteem becomes precarious due to being the target of incessant bullying. Finally, the book is about hope and resilience. It doesn’t shy away from showing the depth of the pain these hardships inflicted, yet it also emphasises the resilience and inner strength that this unveils. The journey is one of self-acceptance, of finding one’s voice after it being silenced for so long.
II. EXECUTION
Tell us about the way you sequenced the poems in your chapbook. What are some tips on finding a satisfactory order?
As the book is the story of my life, it is sequenced in chronological order. However, underlying and overlapping themes and arcs are interwoven in the sequencing that tie the poems together in multiple ways. This is so that they speak to each other and unveil deeper meanings and complexities to the concepts.
What’s your writing process like?
My writing process is quite random and stream-of-consciousness-like. Usually a thought or an image will capture my attention and a germ of an idea will sprout in my mind’s eye. I then expand on this and a poem blossoms from the process. It all happens very fast, and I don’t always know what the poem will be about at the beginning, it changes and shifts constantly. I’ll bring in different themes and infuse them together in one piece. The writing process is fascinating, I’d love to slow my brain down to understand it better.
Do different poems play separate roles in your chapbook? Do they drive the storyline, serve as transitions, or converse directly with the audience?
They do. The sequence of “On blue”, “On calling ourselves men” and “A taste of showmanship” explores masculinity on both a personal level and a wider societal level, and how the latter affects the former. The following ‘stone’ triptych: “After reading gay sex will be punishable by stoning to death”, “If only my body was made of stone” and “Stone carving” uses this mineral matter to link the poems together and tie the political to the personal. Stone is a weapon to murder gay people in the first poem and then something desirable in the second, but desirable only to repress one’s sexuality, so as not to be persecuted. By the third poem it is something that can be carved and shaped, thus driving the storyline of resilience and the overcoming of hardship.
III. REVISION
Writing’s one thing, but editing is a whole other domain. Once the first draft is complete, what are some suggestions on transitioning into revision?
I used to hate editing my poems, it felt like taking a pair of scissors and cutting up all that hard work with the arduous and deflating job of putting it all back together again. However, I’ve learned just how important editing is. We must aim to be less precious when it comes to our writing, otherwise we risk stunting our growth and development as writers. Poems are incredibly intricate and made up of millions of strands of meaning. If we don’t edit our work, then we won’t end up teasing out all the beautiful and illuminating layers that exist beneath the first draft. A word change or a different line break can have a huge impact on the meaning that a poem conveys. We must tinker until we are sure we are saying what we really want to say, what the poem itself really wants to say. You may have written that first draft, but the poem has a life of its own, our job is to listen to it and let it guide our construction of it. I can’t believe I used to hate something so magical!
Could you share what your revision routine/process is like?
My revision process involves reading and reading and more reading, of every poem I write. I read it aloud to hear how it sounds on the tongue. If a poem doesn’t sound right, it probably needs editing. Rhythm and cadence are so important, and we can best hear these when we speak our work out loud. I listen to what each line is saying and think about the meaning behind ending a line with a certain word. I question it, why did I choose to break the line there? What am I trying to say by doing this? Is there a break that would be more evocative/powerful? How does that line break affect the meaning of the poem?
IV. PUBLICATION
Where can we start when looking for chapbook presses?
I was filled with both excitement and anxiety when my book was picked up for publication. It was to be my first ever book publication and I did not have a clue about how it all worked. I’d heard many stories of poets having bad experiences with presses, such as presses being non-responsive during the publishing process, not allowing the writer any artistic control, etc. But I can whole-heartedly say that my experience with Animal Heart Press was truly wonderful. They were so supportive throughout the process, very communicative, and so patient with all my tinkering and revisioning. I felt safe, held and supported at every step of the publishing process.
Do you have any words of advice on submitting manuscripts to these presses?
Not really, just make sure your manuscript is polished. Read it over and over before sending. Also, the first poem is very important, it is the first taste the press has of your book, make sure it is a strong one!
Following an acceptance from a press, what are the next steps?
The press should send you a publishing contract to sign, which will include how many copies they aim to print and what you’ll make from them selling your book. I’m sure presses work in different ways, but I’d be wary if there is no discussion of this. I was very lucky to have such a responsive and supportive team guiding me through the process. If this is your first time, just be sure to ask all the things you don’t know or are worried about. And don’t worry about saying if something doesn’t feel right, it is your book. I kept apologising for turning down numerous front cover ideas and title suggestions, but it must feel right for you. The team kept telling me this. Eventually you will get there, bouncing around lots of different ideas is a part of the process.
David Hanlon is a welsh poet living in Cardiff. He is a Best of the Net nominee. You can find his work online in over 50 magazines, including Rust & Moth, The Daily Drunk Mag & Into the Void. His first chapbook, Spectrum of Flight is available for purchase now at Animal Heart Press. You can follow him on twitter: @davidhanlon13 and/or on instagram @welshpoetd.
Interviewed by Jessica Kim.