Tara Skurtu is an American poet and writer, writing coach, and public speaker. She speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about “Offering,” her poem from Issue 19 of The Common magazine. “Offering,” and many more of Skurtu’s poems, are set in Bucharest, Romania, where the poet has lived for several years. Skurtu discusses the inspiration and process behind the poem, her thoughts on teaching creative writing, and her time studying with poet Louise Glück. This conversation also includes the story behind the International Poetry Circle, an online poetry-reading initiative Skurtu started on Twitter in the early days of the pandemic.
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Podcast: David Moloney on “Counsel”
Writer David Moloney speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about his story “Counsel,” which appears in Issue 19 of The Common. “Counsel” is an excerpt from Moloney’s novel-in-stories, Barker House, set in a correctional facility in New Hampshire. The book follows nine correctional officers over the course of one year on the job. Moloney discusses his own experiences as a correctional officer in a New Hampshire facility, and the work of turning those complex experiences into stories for the novel. Barker House was published by Bloomsbury in April 2020, so this conversation also includes discussion of what it’s like to publish during a pandemic.
Contributors in Conversation: Ishion Hutchinson and Jonathan Gerhardson
In this episode of The Common’s Contributors in Conversation podcast, Issue 08 contributors Ishion Hutchinson and Jonathan Gerhardson read and discuss their poems “Trouble on the Road Again,” “Vers de Société,” and “Shy Mother.”
Contributors in Conversation: Masha Hamilton and Lori Ostlund
In this episode of The Common’s Contributors in Conversation podcast, Issue 09 contributors Masha Hamilton and Lori Ostlund read and discuss their stories “God’s Fingernail” and “Leaving Walter.”
Contributors in Conversation: Terese Svoboda and Ralph Sneeden
In this episode of The Common’s Contributors in Conversation podcast, Issue 08 contributors Terese Svoboda and Ralph Sneeden read and discuss their pieces “Dutch Joe” and “Stepping Off.”
Contributors in Conversation: Daniel Tobin and R. A. Villanueva
In this episode of The Common’s Contributors in Conversation podcast, Issue 08 contributors Daniel Tobin and R. A. Villanueva discuss their poems “The Origamist” and “Pareidolia.”
Contributors in Conversation: Richie Hofmann and Katherine Robinson
In this episode of The Common’s Contributors in Conversation podcast, Issue 07 contributors Katherine Robinson and Richie Hofmann discuss their poems “Birds of Rhiannon” and “Little Chapel.”
Contributors in Conversation: Elvis Bego and W. Ross Feeler
In this episode of The Common’s Contributors in Conversation podcast, Issue 07 contributors Elvis Bego and W. Ross Feeler read and discuss their stories “A World of Wonder” and “Spindrift.”
Contributors in Conversation: Valerie Duff and Leslie McGrath
In this episode of The Common’s Contributors in Conversation podcast, Issue 07 contributors Valerie Duff and Leslie McGrath read and discuss their poems “Folk Magic” and “In Praise of Prey.”
Contributors in Conversation: Jennifer Acker and Stephen O’Connor
In this episode of The Common’s Contributors in Conversation podcast, editor-in-chief Jennifer Acker and Stephen O’Connor discuss “The Common Statement” and “Con” from Issue 07.