Sunday, July 02, 2017

12 or 20 (second series) questions with Angela Lopes

Winnipeg-based Angela Lopes is a writer, and editor, and academic tutor of writing and philosophy. She divides her time between São Paulo, Brazil and Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she is an active member in the arts scene and recently worked with the Winnipeg Arts Council’s Creative Placemaking Challenge—an art installation project displayed in the alleys of the city’s West Exchange District. Lopes’s essays and poems have appeared in an array of publications. Bridge Retakes is her first novel.

1 - How did your first book change your life? How does your most recent work compare to your previous? How does it feel different?
The book hasn't changed my life too much just yet! But I'm elated i committed to it and finished it!

This work is more narrative than my previous work.

2 - How did you come to fiction first, as opposed to, say, poetry or non-fiction?
Actually, this project began as poetry!

Over 4 and a half years ago at the University of Manitoba I was tutoring students , and the book was born in poetic form in response to conversations with one of my dear friends who happened to be a professor there.

3 - How long does it take to start any particular writing project? Does your writing initially come quickly, or is it a slow process? Do first drafts appear looking close to their final shape, or does your work come out of copious notes?
I am a slow writer. My work involves intense interdisciplinary research and life experiences.

First drafts are drastically different from final copies . Once I reach the precipice, however, it all comes in a more easier way.

4 - Where does a work of fiction usually begin for you? Are you an author of short pieces that end up combining into a larger project, or are you working on a "book" from the very beginning?
I am a storyteller of short pieces.

5 - Are public readings part of or counter to your creative process? Are you the sort of writer who enjoys doing readings?

Hmmmm I think they are a part of the process. Good question !

6 - Do you have any theoretical concerns behind your writing? What kinds of questions are you trying to answer with your work? What do you even think the current questions are?
The work asks how does money confuse love, or how does love confuse money ?
 
7 – What do you see the current role of the writer being in larger culture? Does s/he even have one? What do you think the role of the writer should be?
The current role of a writer is to continue the ongoing dialogues on the streets and in the institutions . I saw a photo of a stunning woman protesting at a protest in São Paulo trying to give a police man a kiss. I like that. Showering so much love over machismo culture that it softens it. Or something like this.

To remake notions into non notions  .

8 - Do you find the process of working with an outside editor difficult or essential (or both)?
Both . I enjoy it.

9 - What is the best piece of advice you've heard (not necessarily given to you directly)?
Only listen to your intuition / God/ Universe .

10 - How easy has it been for you to move between genres (poetry to fiction to critical prose)? What do you see as the appeal?
I sometimes don't see the difference.

11 - What kind of writing routine do you tend to keep, or do you even have one? How does a typical day (for you) begin?

I don't have a routine . My day commences domestic , familial .

12 - When your writing gets stalled, where do you turn or return for (for lack of a better word) inspiration?
Life. Movement . Love. Action.

13 - What fragrance reminds you of home?
Onions  and lavender

14 - David W. McFadden once said that books come from books, but are there any other forms that influence your work, whether nature, music, science or visual art?
Music , conversations , visceral occurrences

15 - What other writers or writings are important for your work, or simply your life outside of your work?
Alain Badiou's " In Praise of Love"

Carolyn Bergvall's "Fig"

Paulina Chiziane's "Niketche"

Pauline Reage's "Histoire d'O"

Kwasi Wiredu

Lisa Robertson

16 - What would you like to do that you haven't yet done?
Learn Arabic

17 - If you could pick any other occupation to attempt, what would it be? Or, alternately, what do you think you would have ended up doing had you not been a writer?

18 - What made you write, as opposed to doing something else?

Being shy yet spontaneous and adventurous

19 - What was the last great book you read? What was the last great film?

20 - What are you currently working on?


12 or 20 (second series) questions;

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