Welcome to the first in "A chat with...", a series of interviews with the wonderful and talented contributors to Survival of the Hardworking. Find out what motivates them, how they write and what inspired their Survival of the Hardworking contributions!
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If you haven't bought your copy yet, support the writers and the cause by ordering online now through this link.
 | Jack Little (b. 1987) is based in Mexico City and he edits The Ofi Press. He is currently studying a Master’s degree in Education as well as doing an A-level in Spanish literature. In addition to being a poet and translator, Jack works as a primary school teacher with ten year olds and coaches a women’s cricket team. Please check out The Ofi Press at: www.ofipress.com. You can like us on Facebook by clicking here. |
Which writers inspire you?
My mum is a poet and her work inspires me a lot. She writes of the everyday in such a magical way that it inspires me to see the beautiful in the every day. I also love the work of Luljeta Lleshanaku and Rocío Cerón, all of whom I have had the honour of being able to publish in The Ofi Press.
What are your favourite works of literature and why?
I love the poem Adlestrop by Edward Thomas. My mum used to read this poem to me when I was very small and I loved the feeling of stillness but at the same time, all around is the possibility and feeling of adventure.
What are you reading now? What’s next?
Over the past year, I have read the Quran more and more. It doesn’t just sit at the top of my bookshelf anymore, but has become much more a part of my life. The poetry in the language has blown me away and surprised me so much! As part of my studies into Spanish literature, I will begin reading Gabriel García Márquez´ “The General in His Labyrinth” very soon to prepare for the final exam in June as well as a play and the poetry of Federico García Lorca. Although I have read and translated a reasonable amount of Spanish language poetry, I have a confession to make that I have never read a complete Spanish novel in its entirety! Hopefully, in sha Allah, this course will encourage me to achieve this goal (and not just this year but regularly).
What are your reasons for writing?
I write to explore my surroundings which help me in turn to explore my own identity. What does it mean to be me? How do I impact upon my environment? How does that environment impact upon me? What is faith? How does it feel? Does it have a smell? A taste? Where can beauty be found in the decaying, the rotten? I start a poem with a question in which I explore but very rarely end up with a definite answer.
My mum is a poet and her work inspires me a lot. She writes of the everyday in such a magical way that it inspires me to see the beautiful in the every day. I also love the work of Luljeta Lleshanaku and Rocío Cerón, all of whom I have had the honour of being able to publish in The Ofi Press.
What are your favourite works of literature and why?
I love the poem Adlestrop by Edward Thomas. My mum used to read this poem to me when I was very small and I loved the feeling of stillness but at the same time, all around is the possibility and feeling of adventure.
What are you reading now? What’s next?
Over the past year, I have read the Quran more and more. It doesn’t just sit at the top of my bookshelf anymore, but has become much more a part of my life. The poetry in the language has blown me away and surprised me so much! As part of my studies into Spanish literature, I will begin reading Gabriel García Márquez´ “The General in His Labyrinth” very soon to prepare for the final exam in June as well as a play and the poetry of Federico García Lorca. Although I have read and translated a reasonable amount of Spanish language poetry, I have a confession to make that I have never read a complete Spanish novel in its entirety! Hopefully, in sha Allah, this course will encourage me to achieve this goal (and not just this year but regularly).
What are your reasons for writing?
I write to explore my surroundings which help me in turn to explore my own identity. What does it mean to be me? How do I impact upon my environment? How does that environment impact upon me? What is faith? How does it feel? Does it have a smell? A taste? Where can beauty be found in the decaying, the rotten? I start a poem with a question in which I explore but very rarely end up with a definite answer.
"I write more now for my own pleasure and less for worldly success."
"This photo shows my family home in the North East of England. Although I am far away this remains a special place, always close to my heart." When and where do you like to write?
I have no set patterns for my writing and I haven’t written any poems for around two months now. However I carry a notepad around with me to make notes of thoughts, single words, themes which may become poems someday. I write at the end of the table, where I am sitting now, with the window next to me wide open so there is a fresh breeze and usually with a drink of fresh juice just to my left. I like to be alone when I am writing.
What is most challenging about writing for you?
I used to feel a lot of pressure to be “successful” with my writing - to publish books, to have my work selected for eminent publications - but now I feel much less of this pressure. I write more now for my own pleasure and less for worldly success. This has meant that the writing has become less challenging somewhat, and strangely, that I am having more of my work accepted by more magazines that I like!
Are you involved any other literary projects - past, present or future?
Since 2010, I have been running The Ofi Press which is a bimonthly ezine publishing poetry, fiction, essays, articles, reviews and interviews from around the world. For me, it is an excellent excuse to get in contact with poets and writers from around the world and to make connections with inspiring people. I have gained so many friends, skills and wonderful opportunities through this project that I shall always be grateful! I have now published thirty-eight editions of the Ofi and I hope to do many more in the future.
What inspired your piece in Survival of the Hardworking?
Throughout the past years, I have always tried to find and make connections to others. Connection makes us grow and, in these poems, I tried to empathise with the people of Syria and make a personal connection and, if it is correct to say, offer a prayer in the form of these short poems.
I have no set patterns for my writing and I haven’t written any poems for around two months now. However I carry a notepad around with me to make notes of thoughts, single words, themes which may become poems someday. I write at the end of the table, where I am sitting now, with the window next to me wide open so there is a fresh breeze and usually with a drink of fresh juice just to my left. I like to be alone when I am writing.
What is most challenging about writing for you?
I used to feel a lot of pressure to be “successful” with my writing - to publish books, to have my work selected for eminent publications - but now I feel much less of this pressure. I write more now for my own pleasure and less for worldly success. This has meant that the writing has become less challenging somewhat, and strangely, that I am having more of my work accepted by more magazines that I like!
Are you involved any other literary projects - past, present or future?
Since 2010, I have been running The Ofi Press which is a bimonthly ezine publishing poetry, fiction, essays, articles, reviews and interviews from around the world. For me, it is an excellent excuse to get in contact with poets and writers from around the world and to make connections with inspiring people. I have gained so many friends, skills and wonderful opportunities through this project that I shall always be grateful! I have now published thirty-eight editions of the Ofi and I hope to do many more in the future.
What inspired your piece in Survival of the Hardworking?
Throughout the past years, I have always tried to find and make connections to others. Connection makes us grow and, in these poems, I tried to empathise with the people of Syria and make a personal connection and, if it is correct to say, offer a prayer in the form of these short poems.
Do you have any questions for Jack? Perhaps you'd like to share your own reactions to his poems in Survival of the Hardworking? Show your appreciation in the comments below.
Please support this project by sharing this article with your friends, family and anyone who would be interested! Thank you.
Please support this project by sharing this article with your friends, family and anyone who would be interested! Thank you.
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