Elizabeth Hall Magill
Oyster River Pages: What is the most challenging aspect of your artistic process?
Elizabeth Hall Magill: My plotting is recursive: I plot, then write, then return to plot. This way of plotting can be challenging, as I often find a plot element that works along with some that don’t, and need to discard what isn’t working before I can move forward.
ORP: What do you think is the best way to improve writing and/or artistic skills?
EHM: I think it’s important to identify your challenges and then work with someone—a mentor or teacher—to overcome them as you develop your strengths. Not everyone has the money or time for an MFA, but there are many options for working with a mentor, such as online courses and courses at your local writing center.
ORP: What does vulnerability mean to you as an artist and/or writer?
EHM: Vulnerability is a necessity for a writer; for me, faith is necessary to vulnerability. To be vulnerable on the page, I need to have faith in myself and in the divine, so that I can work with the divine in the creative process. When it is time to share my work, I need to have faith that it will be received and uplifted by encouraging readers. And I need to have faith that the work will do good in the world—that my vulnerability will support and sustain others, and encourage them to be vulnerable as well.
ORP: Do habits help or hinder creativity? Why or why not?
EHM: Habits help creativity if they encourage it. My habits include self-care (getting enough rest, exercising, and eating well); affirmations about writing, abundance, and happiness (I have an affirmation app on my phone); a flexible and balanced approach to my life; seeking joy in my relationships and beauty in my surroundings; and writing regularly. The first four habits support my writing, so that when I sit down to write, I feel ready to be creative.
