You can read “Her” here.
JOSH: Thanks for agreeing to do this interview, Nico. My first question is: what first got you into writing?
NICO: Of course! I got into writing when I was pretty young, so it’s pretty hard to remember. I guess I’d say it was a combination of my step-sister and my dad’s help and encouragement. They both seriously studied English in college at some point. My first story, as to expect from a five-year-old, was an absolute mess, but my sister helped me out with materials and sparks of ideas. Later, my dad and I would write stories together over the phone occasionally. That positivity and plain fun around writing was probably what kept me going at first. Still does honestly.
JOSH: Having that family connection with writing is really cool, I’m glad to hear that. My next question is, what kind of things are important for you to present in your own writing?
NICO: I find lots of things pretty important to show in my work, and sometimes it’s hard to pick which ones to focus on. I tend to go for the real, the emotional, the marginal, and the queer. Things that all people can relate to. Things (or people) that others tend to forget about. What I really want out there is something that people need; what they didn’t think they needed until right then–sometimes with a little heavy-heart-hitting flair.
JOSH: I really like that, I think you expxlain yourself very well.
JOSH: With regards to what you just mentioned, “Her” is a very real, emotional, and personal poem. Do you think that the medium of poetry makes it easier to discuss ideas like these?
NICO: Well, not exactly easier to discuss, no. Personal things will always be hard to write no matter what medium you do it in simply because it can be so emotionally taxing regardless if that emotion is positive or negative. If you look at it from a structural standpoint, perhaps it is, depending on the person, since it takes the little sparks of life, regret, happiness, what-have-you, and focuses on them so intently and critically. Poetry digs deep for some. Others, not so much, and that’s how poetry is hardly the only medium that works for personal topics. If you do it right, and with a good amount of well-intentioned effort, you could discuss these personal things in any medium you choose. I’d say it would depend on the person, first of all, but for me personally, I find poetry more of a “quick dopamine fix” for emotional catharsis than the other forms. That’s not to say poetry can’t be artful–it obviously can, and it can take days to weeks to write a good poem (or maybe even years if you’re going for epic proportions). Though, it is typically a quicker-to-complete way to get things out than, say, a novel, movie, or video game. For other people, poetry doesn’t quite click, and that’s absolutely fine! That’s why other artforms exist–to get the messy things out there and understood in new (and sometimes old) ways. All this to say, no, I don’t think poetry is an easier way to talk about personal topics, but also, yes, it definitely can be. It depends on whether or not the person “connects” to the artform and uses it well.
JOSH: That’s very fair, I appreciate such a well thought out answer.
JOSH: Given that “Her” is so personal, do you worry about sharing a piece of writing that is so vulnerable?
NICO: Oh, absolutely! Every time I share my work, I get an anxious, little spark in me ignite. Will they like it? Is it good? Will they judge me? Will they hate it? Stuff like that will always be around. Thing is, they’re all “what ifs.” What to do is to move on with it. Notice that spark. Acknowledge it. Say “Okay, I’m anxious about sharing this part of my soul to other people,” and then share it anyway. It takes real bravery to share things like that. Commend yourself for sharing it in the first place. Then, keep sharing. Some people will not like your work, yeah, but some people will really love it. Some people need it. You might need it. It being out there will help someone in some way even if it’s you and even if it only makes someone fleetingly happy. The “how” doesn’t really matter in most cases.
JOSH: That’s inspiring, thank you. I’m sure many writers need to hear that.
JOSH: For me, I find that putting my negative emotions and thoughts into poetry helps me to not keep it so bottled up. Do you feel the same way?
NICO: Yes. I’ve even heard from psychologists and therapists that writing is sometimes used as a therapeutic practice for some that is effective (journaling exercises comes to mind), so it’s got some scientific study going for it. This even applies to talking, even to yourself. Just getting things out of the head is helpful in that regard.
JOSH: I completely agree, writing poetry and journaling has been very helpful for me mentally and I think more people should make a habit of doing it.
JOSH: Anyway, I have one last question about your writing. As a writer, I see poetry as a medium to explore personal ideas, and prose as a medium to explore impersonal ideas and/or personal ideas in an impersonal manner. Do you feel the same, or is there less of a clear seperation for you?
NICO: I have to disagree there. There’s definitely a fuzzy line, if there is one at all, between the two. Not just in the case of the rising gem of prose poetry either. For one, everything can be personal in some way, and poetry can definitely be impersonal (or seemingly so). There’s a large tradition of poetry in the east (Chinese Tang poetry, early Japanese poetry) that focuses on nature and journeys, little moments in life, and even the seasons in a way that simply catalogs the experiences. In that way, poetry can be both. Though, I think everything can be personal to somebody. As for prose, it can also be just as personal. It really depends on how you write it–POV, voice, mood, themes, all those (and probably more) influence how personal the whole thing gets when writing. You get attached to the things you make, too. Poetry and prose are both tools in ways of doing in my eyes. They’re like the materials an artist or a mechanic uses to paint and picture or fix a car. Some may use a big paintbrush while others use a tiny one or use a wrench or a screwdriver to do what they do, and some writers use prose, others poetry, to do the same thing, which is to either paint a painting, fix a car, or communicate. The little differences are how we get style and flourish. They are doing the same thing, just putting it in different font.
JOSH: That’s very wise. I think that I have some difficulty using prose as a tool to tell personal stories, but as with most things, practice could help with that.
JOSH: Ok, just a few more questions. Are there any things you would like to see more of in the literary world?
NICO: Yes, there are. For one, I’d like to see more emotionally real stories. That’s not to say that they don’t already exist–of course they do. They have for millennia. Heck, The Epic of Gilgamesh is an emotionally real story, and it’s the first written story ever on record. What I mean when I say that is that I’m seeing and hearing quite a bit about lackluster writing nowadays, particularly from “booktok” books. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe there is a time and place for some of those books, but at the rate that they are being made and consumed, which is fast and ravishingly so with often questionable writing (and moral) quality, worries me. I typically write in the fantasy genre, and the ones I’m seeing being made and raved about are almost saddening to see. If one is to write, do it to your best ability and do it with the upmost sensibility.
JOSH: I can relate to that, I have been very into horror lately and have seen a lot of subpar horror being praised. Hopefully you can add some good emotionally real stories to the literary world.
JOSH: Speaking of that, what are your biggest goals for the next five years?
NICO: Ah, goals. They’re good to have. There are a few shorter works I’d like to get out there. As for bigger things, at the moment, I plan to finish a big project that a friend of mine and myself are working on that is still in the early stages. We’re both excited about it reaching the world even if it is to get a good-hearted chuckle or a low, heartfelt, “Oh.” It’s little different than “Her,” but it still has that heart and fantastical, somewhat dark, elements. I won’t reveal much yet, but let’s just say if you enjoy heartfelt scenes and a little chaotic, very questionable whimsy, you’re in for a treat.
JOSH: I’m excited for that, I hope it turns out well.
JOSH: I appreciate your time, Nico. If there’s anything else you’d like to share, feel free to share here.
NICO: One thing, if you are an up-and-coming writer, or just looking to get into writing, you can do it. It takes work, effort, and it can be scary sometimes, but you can do it. Everyone starts somewhere at some time, even if they’re forty and haven’t written a creative word in their life. Be patient with yourself. You’ll get there. You’ll grow. We’re all still growing and learning all the time. Sometimes you’ll get into ruts. That’s okay. It happens to everyone, even the best writers do. The most important thing is to be real to yourself and what you care about–even if it’s hard. That’s what will keep you going, and that’s what needs to be written.
JOSH: Thank you for these words of inspiration, again, I’m sure there are many young writers who need to hear this.
JOSH: Ok, one last question. If you are able to eat it, what’s your favorite kind of ice cream/gelato?
NICO: Ha ha, saved the best and hardest for last. I’d have to say my go-to is chocolate, but mango flavor is definitely up there, too.
JOSH: Awesome, thank you so much for your answers!
NICO: Of course! Very happy to lend my voice. Thank you for the interview.
Nico Behrens is an all-around creative writer and philosopher. They often can be found working on stories focusing on family relationships, queerness, and mental health. In their spare time, they enjoy listening to electronica, playing Pokémon, and bouncing ideas off their friends. They also love to hang out with their two cats at the end of the day. They have been published at Turtle Way under their deadname and hope to publish more works in the future, especially the novel and novelette they are currently working on. They can be found on Tumblr and, albeit currently inactively, on Instagram and Twitter (X).
Bill Geblato's Lotto Gelato Grotto 