How did you first come to poetry? What is it about the form that resonates?
I was originally drawn to fiction, because of the magic of the story. I love being drawn along by narrative – the compelling invention of creating new realities out of nothing. However, once my non-writing career and the many complexities of adult life kicked in, I found it increasingly difficult to carve out the time for dedicated novel-writing. Poetry works for me because you can say so much and pour out so much meaning and emotion, in such a short time and such a small space – a single morning and a single page. Poetry continues to resonate and has become my primary genre for these reasons, and because poetry has the unparallelled ability to combine the mundane minutiae of life with the surreal and quintessentially meaningful.
How does a poem begin?
Any number of ways! Usually with a word, a sentence, or a turn of phrase. However, an image or a concept can also kick me off. Really I would say that when I'm feeling alive, creative, and "tuned in," anything in life is fair game as a starting block.
Do you see your writing as a single, extended project, or a series of threads that occasionally weave together to form something else?
Both. I consider each poem I write as an individual, stand-alone creation. On the other hand, there are themes that I keep on exploring, drilling into, and coming back to – infidelity, athleticism, the vitality of the human body, the natural world. I'm working on a couple of manuscripts right now that pull these many individual poems together into what I hope makes a larger thematic/narrative whole.
Have you a daily schedule by which you work, or are you working to fit this in between other activities?
I have a strong regular practice, though alas it's not a daily one. I'm the CEO of a large regional library system, which makes for a dreadfully busy "day job" most weeks. Before having this job I wrote almost daily. I now have the practice of dedicating a full day – usually Saturday – each weekend to writing.
What are your favourite print or online literary journals?
Because I grew up in Victoria and graduated from the University of Victoria, I'll always hold The Malahat Review in extra-special esteem. They also publish fine work, so there's that too. That being said, I've gained a greater appreciation for smaller journals, such as strawberries, over the past several years. The labour of trying to find a publishing home for one's poetry can be so overwhelming and slow moving that I've really gained appreciation for online presses that often have shorter response times and a shorter window of time before accepted pieces move into print.
Who are some of the writers you are reading lately that most excite you?
Brenda Shaughnessy is one of my very favourites,
always! I've recently discovered Ken Babstock and have been really enjoying his
work.
Danielle Hubbard lives in Kelowna, BC, where she works as the CEO of the Okanagan Regional Library. Danielle's poetry has appeared in many literary journals, including The Malahat Review, Grain, Geist, and Best Canadian Poetry. She is the 2024 first-place winner of TNQ’s Nick Blatchford Occasional Verse Contest. When not writing or working, Danielle spends much of her time swimming, cycling, and exploring.
A selection of her poems appeared in the twelfth issue.