Elizabeth Crowell

Oyster River Pages: Why do you write and/or create?

Elizabeth Crowell: I have never thought of not writing, I suppose. I seem to be plugged into words the way, say, musicians are plugged into music.

ORP: What do you think is the best way to improve writing and/or artistic skills?

EC: Reading is the best thing you can do to write better.

ORP: What books have you read more than once in your life?

EC: I return to The Great Gatsby , Beloved, Heart of Darkness, The Professor's House, too name a few.

ORP: How do children influence your art and/or writing? If you’re a parent, do your children like your art and/or writing?

EC: Once you have children, you see how much your life is not your own and how particular every person is in a new way.

ORP: Do habits help or hinder creativity? Why or why not?

EC: Yes, because they are what carve out time to write. I wish I had better writing habits!

Elizabeth Crowell grew up in northern New Jersey and has a B.A. from Smith College in English Literature and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing/Poetry from Columbia University. She taught college and high school English for many years. She lives outside of Boston with her wife and teenage children.

READ Elizabeth’s Poem “Umbra” FROM ISSUE 6.1 HERE.