Olivia: In my first foray into poetry, it was Richard Eberhart’s work that captivated me, especially because of our mutual love for Maine. When I was 13, I copied all of my favorite pieces from his Maine Poems, including “Indian Summer” and “Going to Maine”. I gave each poem an accompanying illustration too, and I think that this act of transcribing and interacting with his pieces inspired my own. Other poets I love include Rita Dove, Robert Lowell Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Charles Wright.
GS&NS: What advice would you give to emerging writers?
Olivia: I would encourage emerging writers to be confident in their work and being open to rejection, especially when it comes to publishing. What I have found most helpful is to not take criticism or rejection personally. Sometimes there are literary magazines who will not take your work and that’s okay. When I started submitting, I received many a rejection letter before being published (one hundred, in fact). The key is to not be discouraged, and to trust that you will find a place that appreciates your writing style. Literary magazines are building their publications based on themes or other factors, and it’s important to remember that sometimes your piece just might not fit at that moment-- and that’s not a reflection of ability.
Connect with Olivia:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-vande-woude-717018125/
Since I am also the Marketing Chair at The William and Mary Review, you can contact me (or follow our posts for fun!) by liking the page on Facebook or by following us on Instagram.
Evolution: An Anthology