Dusty to Polished: Azaliyah Molina
What sparks your urge to write, is it always the same?
My inspiration comes from a collection of places. Although, when I first started writing poetry at 13 I was writing to process grief. I remember being at my Wela’s funeral and having this mental image of the long hallway of the funeral parlor and I just had to write about it. The form that I chose, or actually the form that chose me, was poetry. As my work has evolved so has my source of inspiration. I can be inspired by misheard song lyrics, paintings, sculptures, or experiences. I like the idea of finding the poetics in every aspect of my life and utilizing the act of being as an inspirational spark. I do love when I can’t get an image out of my head because it always reminds me of how and why I started writing.
Do you follow a specific process or set of steps when editing?
Editing is such a task! Some of the things I try to focus on are the opening and closing lines of my work. I find that when writing I kind of blab at the start and end of a piece, but that allows me to get the meat of the idea written down. I also look at my word choices and ask myself if the words I am using are relaying the exact message I want to portray. I’ll ask myself: is the speaker feeling peckish, like for a snack or starving, like for a feast. Both words communicate hunger, but at varying degrees. Those seemingly small word choices are very important to me. I also prioritize ensuring that the words at the end of each line are meaningful to the narrative of the work and can play with the way a piece is read. Poetry is usually short form so every single word has to be justified for it to be on the page.
How do you know when a piece is truly “done” and ready for publication?
Is anything ever truly done? I am constantly in a state of revision, but I know when a piece is “done” or ready to submit when I feel comfortable that my work is clear, there are no typos or accidental grammatical errors, and that the language that I use aligns with my message. I like performing my work as well because I prefer to hear my pieces out loud. I perform pieces-in-progress to allow myself to find any inconsistencies or awkward moments in the work. I could just read the poem out loud to myself in the comfort and privacy of my own home, but a part of me loves the validation of ooohs, aaahs and snaps from a crowd. I hate to say this, but I do get a feeling of completion when a work is done. It is simply a vibe. Once I have addressed all of the edits and fully retyped up the piece I can save it in my drive and pocket it away for future submissions.
How would you describe your writing process with an image?
My writing process is so hectic. I start off like Spongebob in that one episode where he takes hours to write “The” on a page, but once I’m locked in my thoughts go faster than I can even write or type. I may not always produce gold on these writing sprints, but my only goal is that I write enough to carve out something meaningful to me.
What do you think makes the writing community at The New School unique?
I have never taken a class where students and professors collaborate so much in the readings, discussions, and assignments. The professors at this institution are very flexible and are always open to hearing us out as grad students. I think the consideration for the individual helps foster a safer communal space. The students at The New School are also all so welcoming. I like being able to meet people in different concentrations and become inspired by their craft. My goal here, aside from the obvious, is to find my writing people. Writing does not have to be a solitary act and The New School is showing me that every day.
Bio: Azaliyah Molina (they/she) is an Afro-Boricua poet from The Bronx. Their writing spans topics such as disability, her Nuyorican identity, queerness, and more. Their work has been featured in the Latino Book Review, Free Verse Revolution Issue XII: Ancestors, Querencia Press’ anthology Not Ghosts, But Spirits—Volume V and will be in the upcoming Writers of the Week collection by BX Writers.
This interview series is produced by Hijab Ahmed