Ben Hyland
ORP: Do you write or create with an audience in mind? If so, how do you consider the relationship between that audience and your work throughout your creative process?
Ben Hyland: I always write with the audience in mind because my goal as a poet is to reach them. However, that creation process also serves as a means of approaching complex ideas and unanswered questions that weigh on my mind, so the end result is serving me, as well. One other consideration I've learned over the years is that some poems are much better in a live setting than others, so I take that into consideration when building setlists.
ORP: What does success as a writer or artist mean to you?
BH: When my poems are accepted in peer-reviewed journals, I see that as a sign of success -- that the art has value and weight with a larger audience. I'm interested in creative projects -- such as another chapbook, a group project, or maybe even a full-length -- but I'm not in a rush. At this stage in my artistic journey, I'm excited to continue writing, revising, and trying to find homes for my poems.
ORP: Does writing or creating energize or exhaust you? What aspects of your artistic process would you consider the most challenging or rewarding?
BH: When I nail a poem, I'm absolutely energized. That's the rewarding part: seeing all of the various themes, movements, imagery, and metaphors all come together. Stitching together a poem can be quite draining, emotionally, but I'm never exhausted. In fact, I often spend hours in the drafting process for each poem, and I love every minute.
ORP: What books have you read many times?
BH: Since it was published in 2022, I've read Ideas of Improvisation by Joel Dias-Porter many times because it challenges me to be a better poet. That's been my most recent go-to book. But beyond that, over my 20 years of writing, I've most often boomeranged back to Shadow Ball by Charles Harper Webb and American Rendering by Andrew Hudgins. Every time, I steal a few new tricks.
ORP: What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing or creating? What advice would you give to another writer or artist?
BH: David Wagoner (paraphrasing): “You can't be a writer and an editor in the same day.” That has helped me big time, many times, because I don't want to put pressure on myself or the creative process.
However, my best piece of advice to any poet who wants to sharpen their sword is to find a good workshop group with great poets who are laser-focused on getting peer-reviewed publications. You will accelerate your growth as a writer.
