Megan Stielstra's Blog

At the beginning of every semester, I ask my students to write me a quick letter, mostly about their writing process—challenges they’re having, ongoing material they’re working on, what they’re reading, etc.—bus also, anything else I might need to know (I get some great answers for that: “I have three kids and I’m tired.” “I commute from Wisconsin and I don’t have a muffler.” “I want a tattoo, where did you get yours?” “I’m a painter and I consider writing to be the same thing exactly as painting in the most abstract of terms,” and, my A#1 favorite (this was three weeks ago): “My band won this battle of the bands and we’re opening for the Misfits at Riot Fest, want to come?”)

I just got through reading a new batch of these letters, and one of them asked me some questions. Here they are, along with the answers:

*Do you like milkshakes?
Yes! preferably Oreo Blizzards (I’m a DQ girl)

*If you had to divide your life into five chapters, what would the chapter titles be?
She Didn’t Mean to REALLY Kiss a Frog!
Sylvia Plath Would Like Her Pencil Back
Some Girls Can’t Get Their Whites White
Muj Smely Zena
Pinch Me (but not too hard. I bruise easily)

*What’s been your favorite story/play you’ve written?
It’s usually whatever I’m working on at the time, because I’m all excited and jazzed, asking everybody, “Hey, do you want to listen to my story? There’s this girl, and … ”

*Top five musical heroes?
Nina Simone
PJ Harvey
Andrew Bird
Mozart
Scotty Karate (a kick-ass musician, yes, and a hero of mine because I’ve known him since we were ten and have seen, first hand, how hard he’s worked and how far he’s come, both as a songwriter and a technical guitarist. Hard work and determination are very inspiring, very heroic to me)

*Why did you decide to teach?
There’s nothing I love more than a good story. “This is how I fell in love … ” “This is what happened to me yesterday … ” “This is how I’m different from you … ” They’re how I learn about people, the world, myself, all of it. I’d like to be involved, in any way I can, in getting those stories on the page.

*Who would you rather be, John Lennon or Ella Fitzgerald?
Ella. In a heartbeat.

*What’s one thing you would call perfect?
Light in August, William Faulkner.