#timothy willis sanders

[ethans]

[gordonrandallfunk-blog]

"You Have a Crush on Kellz" By Timothy Willis Sanders

[5questions]

TIMOTHY WILLIS SANDERS

Bio: Timothy Willis Sanders is the author of Orange Juice and Other Stories (Publishing Genius, 2010) and Matt Meets Vik (CCM, 2014). His work has appeared in Muumuu House, Hobart and VICE. He lives in Austin, Texas.

What writing are you working on currently?

A novel that takes place in the south in the late 90s about nine teenage boys who attend the same high school. Seems to be a lack of books that capture the 90s in an honest way.

You previously wrote a story collection called Orange Juice, which is funny and sparse and emotionally dramatic, all at the same time. You also released a novel (Matt and Vik), which details a relationship with a lot of references to digital technology and sex. How is your new work changing from or related to those stylistically or thematically?

The new work will feature more distinct characters and it won’t focus on one romantic relationship. As far as style, that’s really determined by the story for me, but it will still be mostly focused on the thoughts and actions of the characters, and contain little or no backstory. I like dropping people into other people’s lives.

When and where do you do writing most often? Who do you usually have read your writing?

I write in my little office at home, early in the morning from about 7-8am. I actually don’t let anyone read anything before I consider it done. Mostly because I’m too embarrassed (it’s like giving someone homework) but also, I think if I have to have someone else confirm how I feel about the work then I already know how I feel. I let people read when I know I won’t care what they think. That doesn’t mean I don’t respond, or don’t respond well, to feedback. It’s just my goal in writing is to move myself, not to move someone else. If that happens though, great.

What books have you read recently and liked a lot and why?

Sarah Manguso’s “Two Kinds of Decay”; Manguso is a clear, 21st century voice.  

What is your day-to-day “work life” like? Do you like it?

I do. But it’s a work life where I get to write, so it’s ok. I’d rather not work but I like having money for food, clothes, etc.

[cassiusdash2k22]

Timothy Willis Sanders

[muumuuhouse]

Brad Listi talks with author Timothy Willis Sanders, whose debut novel, MATT MEETS VIK, is available now from Civil Coping Mechanisms.

[anduworthington]

I don’t try to be funny, I just try to be honest and it turns out funny. I like to think about all the petty, vulgar, or dumb thoughts people have during a day. I feel like an hour of listening to the thoughts of someone alone in a bathroom will tell you more about a person than a 10,000 page biography.

Timothy Willis Sanders

interview I did at The Fanzine w/ Timothy Willis Sanders

[altlitgossip]

Nothing Works

When hungry, she fingers her open mouth and moans. I try to think of restaurants.  She snatches up a photograph slotted behind her jewelry box and pulls me to the bed. Her and I look at a picture of a girl and a boy drinking beer on a hill. She says she loved picnics with her brother. She says he brought beer, weed, and a CD player. We look at the photo some more, and then she slots it behind the jewelry box. She fingers her open mouth and moans. I try to think of a place with shrimp.  She slides the shrimp across her lips then teethes it from the fork. I wonder when I’ll see her naked again. She was naked when she said she didn’t want naked to become all we are. She said this on her side. I was staring at the tattoo on her neck. I wanted to lick the tattoo on her neck. She hated the tattoo on her neck and told me several times that the tattoo on her neck was a mistake.  Lately, she’s been cold. I’ve flowered her and fed her shrimp. I’ve emailed poems by Pablo Neruda. I’ve circled her whole body with my fingertips like the internet said. Nothing’s worked.  Now she’s kissing my neck. I touch her here, then there. She’s soft and warm and everything is nice until she begins backhanding tears. I stop touching her and try to cry too. I can’t cry or I can’t pretend to cry.  I turn out the light and put my hand on her shoulder. I feel her twitch and take my hand away. I stare into the dark and listen to her breathing to make sure it’s steady. I sneak downstairs and wake my computer.

_ Timothy Willis Sanders

from Pop Serial 5 click here to read the original web version

[muumuuhouse]

Matt took off his boxer briefs and looked at his stomach in the mirror. He turned and looked at his buttocks. He looked at his back and scratched at the blemish. He watched dead skin collect around the blemish. He swept away the dead skin with his finger. He faced the mirror and thought, "You're here. Just have fun."

excerpt of Matt Meets Vik by Timothy Willis Sanders