Do What You Want: An Interview With Deirdre Coyle by Melissa McDaniel
Deirdre Coyle is a writer, librarian, and non-practicing mermaid. I interviewed her at Wendy’s Subway, a reading room and writing space in Brooklyn, New York.
What kind of child were you?
I was a really weird kid. I’d say I had early symptoms of gothiness. I’d have “black days” where I wore a black velvet skirt and this black hat, and I would consider the day a success if one of the other second graders asked me if I was going to a funeral. My plan was to be a sorceress when I grew up. I read a lot of books about casting spells.
Did you ever cast any spells?
Yeah, my best friend and I would sit in a corner of a playground and cast spells on people we didn’t like.
So, “How I Became the Most Punk Rock Moon Wizard” was inspired by this period in your life?
Yes. Some of them are actual memories, and some of them are stories my parents have told me. The story about listening to The Ramones when I was three is one my father still loves to tell.
Why did you decide to make this into a story?
I was making a playlist in iTunes, and I realized I wish I had a way to sort my life experiences by emotional impact. I thought, well, I could try to doing that in an Excel spreadsheet. I decided to focus on a set of experiences that fell into a certain trajectory rather than summarizing my entire life.
When did you first begin writing?
I think I was writing before I really knew how to write. When I was a kid I would make up stories with pictures I’d drawn and get my mom to transcribe them. So I’ve always done it, and I think it progressed naturally from there.
Who are some living writers you admire?
Aimee Bender, Kelly Link, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Rebecca Godfrey, Juliet Escoria, Mira Gonzalez, Kate Zambreno, Holly Black, Dia Reeves, and Karen Russell.
How would you describe your relationship with writing in a word?
Processing.
What’s it like being a writer in New York City?
I haven’t been here very long, but I already have a love/hate relationship with the idea of being a writer here. I do think it makes a difference in my writing…
Do you think that the term “NYC writer” is still relevant, considering that the internet has made everything so interconnected?
When I lived in Seattle, I never had a writing community — although they probably exist, I was never successful in finding one. I went to workshops and readings and it never felt right. When I came here, it all felt so easy, partially because I already knew people from the internet. But I do think there are a lot of stressful things about the literary community in New York.
What is so stressful about it?
There’s a sense of faux-exclusivity. It can be very competitive.
Do you think that’s strictly a New York thing?
No. I think I just haven’t really experienced it before. On the other hand, I have put out more work since I’ve been here. I’ve been much more productive. I think part of that is having a support system, being around so many people who get excited about literature. It motivates me to send things out instead of hoarding them. It’s really helped me to normalize the process of writing and submitting.
Can you send us a picture of your favorite place in New York?
My closet is probably my favorite place in New York. It contains my clothes and also functions as my writing space when I want to be alone. I’m a bit of a gremlin; I like to hide out occasionally. Sometimes you need to shut doors.
How did you become editor of Mixtape Methodology?
Mixtape Methodology is a website and literary journal that I created. My first published story was about music, but the journal went under. I wanted to republish it, so I looked everywhere to find journals with a music bent, but I couldn’t find any. Mixtape Methodology became that — it’s a collection of music-related fiction, poetry, essays, and interviews.
How has being an editor changed you as a writer?
I’m more sympathetic to form rejection letters now, but I still have a hard time writing them. It’s a small operation, so I don’t have a basic form rejection email yet, but I want to make one because I hate the process so much. I know that submitting is hard and rejection sucks, so it’s difficult to be on the other end of that.
What advice would you have for other writers?
I dislike all writing advice. The only thing I can say is: Don’t listen to any writing advice. Do what you want.
Finish the story: http://theeeel.com/do-what-you-want-deirdre-coyle/