V. A. Bettencourt
ORP: What inspired you to begin writing or creating? Has that source of inspiration changed throughout your life?
V. A. Bettencourt: Since I was very little, I took refuge in books. I grew up moving across continents and cultures, which can be intimidating and make one feel one doesn't fit in at first. Books were my solace and always welcomed me. I also have an overactive imagination, and writing is a healthy outlet for it!
ORP: Does writing or creating energize or exhaust you? What aspects of your artistic process would you consider the most challenging or rewarding?
VAB: Writing creatively energizes me. The most challenging part is sitting down to start, and quieting the part of my mind that doubts I'll ever write again. Once that censor is tamed, I immerse myself in my imagination and world-build on the page. The sense of flow and discovery is immensely rewarding. Equally rewarding are revisions that allow the work to blossom.
ORP: Do you know more than one language? How does this influence your art and/or writing?
VAB: I spoke three languages by the time I was thirteen, and have lived in four countries. This influences my work primarily in two ways. First, musicality: being multilingual makes one inherently attuned to sounds, rhythms, and inflections of languages. I have to consciously tone down musicality in my poetry so it doesn't overwhelm the work. Second, perspective: each language is a slightly different lens on the world; thinking prismatically about material helps unlock my creativity.
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?
VAB: The most valuable advice I got is the same I'd give to others: let the poem guide you to discovery. Sometimes, you need to cut things you love because it doesn't serve the work.
