Will Arbery
(2006)
How would you characterize the influence of your YWW experience in your life?
There’s no way to put it into words. All I know is that nothing was the same afterwards. I knew that I wanted to be a writer. I knew more about bravery. And community. And everything. I’m not done learning from YWW.
What’s the best advice you can give a Young Writer (in general or in your specific genre)?
You’re not just your clever mind. You have a body. Writing is a physical act. Turn off the internet. Stand up, meet people, and don’t let your writing exist in a vacuum. Write on your feet.
What do you find yourself most often reading or listening to lately and why?
I read on the subway. I’d recommend John D’Agata’s anthology The Next American Essay, which presents creative non-fiction at its fullest. I’ve also been reading Montaigne’s Essais. I like non-fiction these days. I’ve also been watching a lot of documentaries.