February 2010
Phillip Lopate is the author of a dozen books, including Being with Children ; Waterfront: A Journey Around Manhattan; the essay collections Bachelorhood, Against Joie de Vivre, and Portrait of My Body; and three books of fiction (Confessions of Summer, The Rug Merchant, Two Marriages).

How do you start a new piece?
If the new piece is commissioned, I generally start it as soon as possible, as I hate to have deadlines hanging over my head. What’s important is to get the first paragraph right; the rest usually follows from that, in terms of tone and structure.

What is more frightening: a blank page or a manuscript in need of a complete rewrite?
A blank page is definitely more frightening than a rewrite. I like rewriting, even a complete rewrite (that’s never happened, actually—if it’s in need of a complete and utter rewrite, I say drown that kitten).

In Richard Hugo’s essay “Writing Off the Subject,” he states, “When you start to write, you carry to the page one of two attitudes, though you may not be aware of it. One is that all music must conform to truth. The other, that all truth must conform to music.” In your writing practice, have you taken a position on this? In your teaching?
I would say that for me truth is more important than music. If I’m lucky, the music will come of its own accord, and of the pressure to be as honest as possible.

What’s your favorite in-class writing prompt?
A favorite in-class writing prompt is to write about a friendship that went sour, or an enmity that turned into a friendship. Or some sort of dynamic change that a relationship went through.

Are there any aspects of writing that you feel can’t be taught?
I’m not sure I can teach writing students to love reading on their own, or to sit alone for hours.

When you are teaching, what pet peeves do you come across frequently?
If you mean my pet peeves as a teacher, I would say students rushing to moralistic condemning conclusions or presenting an autobiographical story in which they are the totally injured party. As for their pet peeves about me as a teacher, you’ll have to ask them!