John Amen
(1983-1984)
How would you characterize the influence of your YWW experience in your life?
YWW was a seminal experience for me. It was the first time I felt kinship with like-minded people, and it was also the first time I had ever been in an environment where art—writing, in particular—was taken seriously. I would cite attending YWW, particularly the first year, as one of my most formative experiences, one that had longstanding impact.
What’s the best advice you can give a Young Writer (in general or in your specific genre)?
Make a commitment for the long haul; plan on writing consistently, every day if possible. If you want to pursue writing as a profession, there will be certain practical steps/options you’ll want to consider, but again, just commit to writing and thinking about writing for the rest of your life. Make it a life-practice.
What are your publications, performances, albums, and/or achievements that seem most important to you at this point in time?
I’m the author of four collections of poetry: Christening the Dancer, More of Me Disappears, At the Threshold of Alchemy, and The New Arcana. I’ve also released two folk/folk rock CDs: All I’ll Never Need and Ridiculous Empire. I founded and continue to edit The Pedestal Magazine.