Dusty to Polished: Lana Meh
What sparks your urge to write, is it always the same?
Ever since I was little, I was obsessed with documenting things, always keeping a journal and writing down events, feelings, things I liked, things I hated, and all other sorts of seemingly unimportant things. I also always dreamed of being a writer, but never seriously considered it because it seemed impossible. Being a writer in Slovenia is quite a different experience from being one in New York, but once I realized I didn’t have to be a writer in Slovenia, things kind of opened up for me. What sparks my urge to write these days is essentially still the same–the need to document, to keep a written record of my life, to express whatever it is I’m feeling. I find it easier to write now than ever, mostly because I’m surrounded by so many amazing writers who really inspire me to get off my ass and do something. Also, what else could I possibly do but write?
Do you follow a specific process or set of steps when editing?
I’m not very big on edits, which probably sounds very bad, haha. I always consider the feedback I get in workshop, and change a few lines here and there, but any bigger edits usually turn into a different poem. I feel like making any big edits to a poem is ruining the poem’s essence. It came out like it did for a reason! Am I making sense? So no, I don’t have a specific process I follow; it’s very much vibes-based. Sometimes when I make edits, the poem starts feeling wrong to me, so I go back to the original.
How do you know when a piece is truly “done” and ready for publication?
I don’t. I never know! I don’t think I’ve ever written anything that felt “done”. It’s more of an “okay, I’m leaving it alone now, or I’ll ruin it” kind of thing. I guess a piece is done when I’m done with it! But like I said earlier, I’m not much of an editor, so take this with a grain of salt.
How would you describe your writing process with an image?
What do you think makes the writing community at The New School unique?
I haven’t had much experience with writing communities, so I can’t really say what makes it unique, but I can say what makes it special to me. I love the diversity–I met people from all over the world, from different backgrounds and cultures, and each of them is doing something utterly unique, which I think is so amazing. My horizons have been broadened big time. I also love the general atmosphere, and I really enjoy seeing and reading what my classmates are doing. I especially appreciate the creative freedom we’re given. It has made me branch out in many different directions, not just in writing but in the visual arts and music as well. And being in New York is nothing like anything I’ve ever experienced. I grew up in a tiny town, and now I live in a city whose population is four times the population of Slovenia! Isn’t that crazy? The opportunities are unmatched, and there’s always something new to try.
Bio: Lana Meh is a Slovenian poet based in Brooklyn. She writes about love, family, and the many disguises of vulnerability. She’s an MFA candidate in Creative Writing and a poetry editor at The Inquisitive Eater. In one of her favorite dreams, she ran a brothel with Liam Neeson in Nazi-occupied France.
This interview series is produced by Hijab Ahmed