Crystal Shards, resident root administrator of Mercury Ice, has been writing fan-fiction, poetry, and short stories for quite some time. Mercury Ice decided to interview Crystal about her art and this is what we got.
Key: M:Mercury Ice, CS: Crystal Shards
M: What do you write the most?
CS: I'd have to say poetry. For me it's easiest. I get all these great ideas for stories but don't know how to organize them so they're still great once they're on paper. That doesn't really stop me from writing anything though. You name it and I've written it, or at least thought about it. Everything on Mercury Ice, though, is poetry. Maybe one day I'll write a short story worth putting up!
M: How long have you been writing?
CS: Well I've been able to read since about three years old. I guess I started writing then as well, and I've loved it ever since. I mean I'm planning on becoming an English teacher; that should tell you something!
M: How often do you write?
CS: Actually I've been working on a book that I started in about June 2006. It's a book of poetry, of course. I might write a few stories as well. I plan on trying to get the book published about the time I graduate from college, so in 2011. I'm going to write as much poetry as I can in that time, and then with a few trusted friends I am going to weed out the poems that aren't as good and submit my work then. But yeah, I'm always writing.
M: Have you been published before?
CS: Actually yes, a few times, at least according to my parents. The only place I remember being published from is Poetry.com, ha. I think every stupid adolescent writer has fallen for that one. (By the way, if you are a serious writer, don't even bother submitting your work to there. It's a scam for money. I mean you'll be published and it'll be cool and everything, but they'll try to sell you bath towels and stuff with your poem written on it. It's quite stupid.)
M: From whom/what do you draw inspiration?
CS: I draw from everyone and everything. If I hear a song I like, I think about why I like it and try to imitate that feeling or that style. I draw from life experiences, from myself or others or even people in books and movies. I try to feel what that person is feeling, try to imagine what it would be like and what would happen, and go from there.
M: What do you write about most?
CS: I don't really know. I guess love. It's just so essential to human life, you know? They do all these studies on how love affects childhood and everything, and I guess since I've lived in so many different places I've had so many different experiences with love—good or bad—that helped shape my fascination with the subject. When I'm really happy, I write happy poems, and when I'm upset I write more dramatic poems. But really any good artist can write about anything, given time to think about the actual impact the situation would have on human life.
M: People often say writing is the easiest job on earth. Do you agree?
CS: Not just no, but hell no. It's very hard. It's hard for me to even share my work, I'm so afraid of criticism and judgment. Finding inspiration is also a hell of a lot of work, and then if you're making your poetry or story fit a certain format or making sure your work has a certain theme, it's even more difficult. Word choice is key; so is organizing everything you say so it makes sense and has the impact you want it to. And making poems rhyme (which I personally hate) makes life hell sometimes. You want to say something different from any way anyone else could have said it; if not what makes you any different from anyone else?
M: You say you hate rhyming poems. What's your favorite kind then?
CS: Actually that was a bit misleading. I do have a severe disliking for poems that rhyme for the sake of rhyming, but I do love it when they rhyme and have an incredible effect. Songs often do this, and songs are basically poems to music. I love sonnets, actually, when they are written correctly, but really free verse is my personal favorite—to write and sometimes to read. A true author will of course be able to master several types of writing, but still, we all have our favorites.
M: Who are your favorite authors and/or poets?
CS: I have quite a few. I love to read. A few of my favorite book authors are J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling (with the exception of the fifth Harry Potter book), Tamora Pierce, Hermann Hesse, and Kurt Vonnegut. Oh, and Ray Bradbury is also an amazing author. Saul Williams is probably my favorite poet, though I also like Robert Frost, Edgar Allen Poe, and Shakespeare.
M: How about musical artists, then, since songs count as poetry?
CS: Oh, you had to ask, ha. I really admire so many bands, but I suppose I'll list a few of my favorites. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, the Postal Service, Goo Goo Dolls, Barenaked Ladies, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, the Gorillaz, the Cranberries, Snow Patrol, the Fray, and the Killers. Those aren't the only ones but they're the major bands. I have an eighty gig video iPod, ha, and it's going to be filled up very soon. I love music.
M: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
CS: Read. Read some more. Keep reading. It's imperative that you always read, because that's where your vocabulary comes from. You can also find out how other writers successfully get their message across and learn from the greats. Write down ideas you have; you think you'll remember them but chances are you won't, so keep that in mind. Keep writing. Even if your work is crap, maybe you'll write something worth keeping, even if it's only a phrase. Then you can put that into a later work and it'll enhance it. Keep a diary. It sounds dumb, but if you're looking for inspiration looking into the past often brings just that. You can recall old feelings and write with a new perspective, and then compare your work with what you wrote when you were in that situation. That helps if you're writing a story. Lastly, never give up hope. You must always keep going.
Crystal Shards plans to release her poetry book after college. Hopefully we see her book hit the shelves!
