Instructor Clark McFerren has been teaching English for over 40 years and through all three editions of Hot Dish Magazine has pushed his students to submit their work. What drives Mr. McFerren to support his students and Hot Dish? We, the editors, asked ourselves this and finally decided to email these questions to Mr. McFerren. Down below are his responses. What classes do you teach and for what grades? This year I am only teaching seniors: two classes of British/Western Lit. and one section of AP Lit. and Comp. What drives you to have your students submit to Hot Dish? Hot Dish is valuable for at least three reasons:
How do you help your students when they wish to submit a poem or story? This year I focused on form fitting function, so Hot Dish editors were probably inundated with sonnets, villanelles and sestinas. These forms have well known set rules regarding format, rhyme, word placement and, in the case of the sonnet, meter. I had a few students who have written sestinas and villanelles far superior to any I have attempted. Unfortunately for Hot Dish they were required to send at least one of those forms and they could send others after that in free verse or another format of their choosing. In most cases the rigid forms taught them how to improve their "personal" poetry. Who is your favorite author or what are your favorite books? Among my favorite poets I count Emily Dickinson, e.e. cummings, Stephen Crane, T.S Eliot. Among my favorite authors I count Mark Twain. Dante, Kurt Vonnegut, Flannery O'Connor, Jane Austen, and C. S. Lewis. For old timers like me Shakespeare is a given in both categories. Do you have any words of wisdom for young and emerging authors? I got some advice from Kurt Vonnegut about writing. He had given a reading at the University of Iowa in the late 70s (my memory isn't precise). Afterwards he and a group of grad students went across the street to Joe's, a bar he had frequented when he was in the Writers' Workshop. I was stupid enough to ask his advice. He was drunk, but it was good advice--which I never took. He said, “Somebody always asks that g--damned question. It'll cost you the next round. If you want to be a writer, just write and nothing else." Now God bless you and get back to class, Clark "Mick" McFerren! P.S. That next round cost me $15. In today's money that's about $45!
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This week Hot Dish Magazine is excited to present High Schooler Mary Graff's thoughts on writing, being published two years in a row, and advice for emerging authors. How does it feel to be published in Hot Dish two years in a row? I am very grateful to be published in Hot Dish two years in a row. I have been able to share poems with a wide arrange of feelings, that I hope the readers are able to feel. What is your writing process? When I sit down to write my poems, I do not have a set writing process, but I do tend to prefer to write alone in silence. Where do you draw inspiration for your pieces? I like to channel common emotions that everyone can relate with and understand. Has there been anyone that has helped or inspired you with your writing? I am very thankful for my AP Literature and Composition class for giving me opportunities to work on my writing. My teacher, Mr. McFerren, allowed me to write with creative freedom, and create works I am truly proud of. Do you have any words of wisdom for other young and emerging authors? If I could give any words of wisdom for the youth and emerging authors, it would be to not rush your work and never write anything that feels forced, your inspiration will come to you and you will crate something amazing. Majerus Dulberg has been published in all three editions of Hot Dish Magazine including our latest edition Words Become Reality. And we took this opportunity to ask Majerus a little bit about his writing and what pushes him to write. What is your writing process? I like to figure out what I would like to write about and think of the best possible ending for that specific piece, then work around the ending so it makes sense. Since, in my opinion, without a decent ending the poem can be left on a cliffhanger or even rushed too much to seem truly done. Where do you draw inspiration for your pieces? I get inspired off of friends of mine, or songs I hear, Rapper "Slick Rick" has a son produced called Hey Young World where he spreads a similar message encouraging the youth to appreciate their life and not make silly mistakes. I liked that idea, as well as rapper J Cole's song 1985 (Intro to "The Fall Off") where he tells young and upcoming artists/rappers to spend their new wealth wisely yet enjoy being young. How does it feel to be published in Hot Dish three years in a row? It's satisfying to get an email, or my English teacher tell me I've been published, now for 3 years in a row. I feel I have grown in the process from my first publication "ABC's Poem". Has there been anyone that has helped or inspired you with your writing? My dad was a huge inspiration for my writings, since he is an amazing writer when he writes anything. I got my knack for writing from him, and he even critiqued my work before submission. However, I write all my pieces entirely on my own. Do you have any words of wisdom for other young and emerging authors? Words to the next generation. . .Keep at it, and never give up. I've been writing for years and only submitted my first poem as a challenge from my English teacher. Without thinking it was written well enough to actually be published. When she told me it was published I almost screamed in class as well as knew, finally, I might have had a real talent. I never gave up, and I know if anybody gives up, they can't get better. So, in order to get better you must challenge yourself. You may find out something you never knew about yourself. Alyssa Brockob has been published in every issue of Hot Dish Magazine, including our current issue "Words Become Reality". The Hot Dish Editors finally decided that it was time to figure out what drove Alyssa to write and submit said work to our magazine. Below is an excerpt from the email interview conducted with Alyssa. What is your writing process? I write what I feel, or see. I am rarely able to just sit down and think to myself "Okay, it's time to write." Personal experience, pain, and beauty in the things around me are what help me to be able to create poetry and stories. I write on impulse, and once that impulse starts, everything else just comes together. Where do you draw inspiration for your pieces? I found inspiration for both my pieces in my friends and the things we speak on and accomplish together. I have found that lately, I have taken many of my experiences with them and turned those experiences into poetry—it does help, however, that all of these people are artists in some shape or form. They are natural muses. How does it feel to be published in Hot Dish Magazine two years in a row? It feels very good; I remember the excitement I had when I received the email last year saying that I was getting published. It was my first published piece of writing and really helped me to expand my work, as well as get more confident with sharing it to the world. Has there been anyone that has helped or inspired you with your writing? Everyone. Without the people around me at school, home, and in the place I live, I would have nothing to write about. However, my two best friends have been so helpful in devoting themselves to create in me a better writer. They easily accept my late night requests to read some half-well-put-together poem or monologue. Both of them are wonderful givers of feedback and praise, and truly want for me to succeed. Do you have any words of wisdom for other young and emerging authors? Find something that pains you, something that makes you tear up. The passion that comes with pain, I have found, is nowhere near the passion that comes forth in excitement. Write with a bleeding heart— hold back nothing, and never stop writing. Writing is a pastime, an anti-depressant, and a companion. It's a beautiful thing all should experience. |
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