Back Draft Interview Bodies & Nature Back Draft: Meghan O’Rourke By Meghan O’Rourke and Ben Purkert March 1, 2022 The memoirist talks about the limitations of “the traditional illness narrative” and what healing really means.
Back Draft Interview Lit World Back Draft: Hala Alyan By Ben Purkert and Hala Alyan January 31, 2022 The novelist discusses the strain of translating herself to others, and explains why she enjoys brainstorming more than editing.
Back Draft Interview Lit World Back Draft: Sterling HolyWhiteMountain By Sterling HolyWhiteMountain and Ben Purkert July 23, 2021 The fiction writer discusses Native art, breakup phone calls, and the line between politics and propaganda.
Back Draft Interview Lit World Back Draft: Bianca Stone and Ruth Stone By Bianca Stone, Ruth Stone, and Ben Purkert June 22, 2021 The poet discusses Emily Dickinson, strip clubs, and grieving over the loss of her grandmother.
Back Draft Interview Arts & CultureLit WorldRace Back Draft: Clint Smith By Clint Smith and Ben Purkert May 3, 2021 The writer and poet talks about novelistic nonfiction and why he thinks of his grandparents as monuments.
Back Draft Interview Arts & CultureLit World Back Draft: Lisa Dillman By Ben Purkert and Lisa Dillman January 13, 2021 The translator on selecting her subjects, discovering the work of Andrés Barba, and the dangers of cultural hegemony.
Back Draft Interview Arts & CultureLit World Back Draft: Danez Smith By Danez Smith and Ben Purkert December 3, 2020 The poet on a hard year for books, getting a rise out of an audience, and “Frankensteining” your archives.
Back Draft Interview Lit World Back Draft: Rachel Eliza Griffiths By Ben Purkert and Rachel Eliza Griffiths August 3, 2020 The poet on radical revision, our reflections, and photographing poets.
Back Draft Interview Arts & CultureLit World Back Draft: Emily Wilson By Ben Purkert and Emily Wilson February 24, 2020 The translator on being drawn to Homer, and the timelessness of toxic masculinity.
Back Draft Interview Lit World Back Draft: John Murillo By Ben Purkert and John Murillo October 21, 2019 The poet discusses chasing butterflies, and the perpetual relevance of political verse.
Back Draft Interview Lit World Back Draft: Martín Espada By Ben Purkert, Martín Espada, and Donald Hall August 12, 2019 The poet discusses his relationship with the late Donald Hall and the power of art, incarnate.
Back Draft Interview Lit World Back Draft: Edward Hirsch By Ben Purkert and Edward Hirsch April 5, 2019 The poet discusses insomnia, civility (or the lack thereof) in cities, and losing his sight.
Back Draft Interview Arts & CultureLit World Back Draft: Natasha Trethewey By Ben Purkert and Natasha Trethewey February 26, 2019 The acclaimed poet discusses a devastating fire, and the painterly in poetry.
Back Draft Interview Lit World Back Draft: Catherine Barnett By Ben Purkert and Catherine Barnett November 27, 2018 The poet discusses the separation of mind and body—literally and figuratively—the transformation of influence, and imagining an audience.
Back Draft Interview Lit World Back Draft: Cedar Sigo By Cedar Sigo and Ben Purkert September 28, 2018 The poet on escaping the confines of academia, striving for imperfection, and moving back home.
Back Draft Interview Lit World Back Draft: Cynthia Cruz By Ben Purkert and Cynthia Cruz August 23, 2018 The poet on perfectionism, surrendering control, and a poetry that reflects the practical realities of American life today.
Back Draft Interview Lit World Back Draft: Heather Christle By Ben Purkert and Heather Christle July 11, 2018 The poet discusses the spark of life in a poem and the intersection of the imaginative and the political.
Back Draft Interview Lit World Back Draft: Victoria Chang By Victoria Chang and Ben Purkert June 6, 2018 The poet on her revision process and coping with grief.
Back Draft Interview Arts & CultureLit World Back Draft: Carl Phillips By Carl Phillips and Ben Purkert May 3, 2018 The inaugural installment of a new series about the revision process in poetry. First up: Carl Phillips.
Back Draft Interview Lit World Back Draft By Ben Purkert March 2, 2018 An exploration of how poets, writers, and artists revise.
Review Arts & CultureLit World An Inspired Time for American Poetry By Ben Purkert October 19, 2017 Fifteen debut poetry collections that define the cultural moment.
Commentary Raising the Dead By Ben Purkert September 27, 2017 An author’s visitation seems, in my students' eyes, a resurrection.
Essay Family & RelationshipsReligionUSA Being Jewy By Ben Purkert March 9, 2017 What was "Jewy"? Was it me?