Lillian Fuglei
Why did you submit to trash to treasure lit?
I loved the idea of the litmag as soon as I saw it. There are so many poems I've written that ended up dumped in my "abandoned" folder for one reason or another, be they too emotional or too personal or not profound enough. I wanted to give one of those pieces a place in the light, because it still deserved to be seen.
How would you describe your writing practice?
I like to think a lot about my writing before I actually do it. Usually, I'll write down a line or two in my notebook when I really love the concept or words. Then I'll play it over in my head for a few days until I feel ready to write it. Once I sit down to get the words out, they're already there.
What is the biggest thing that stops you from submitting work to lit mags/journals/publications?
I'll often look at a poem I loved, that felt very personally profound, and realize its cliché. Especially with love poems or emotional poems, mine seem insignificant in comparison to so many beautiful poems. Even when I like my poems, it sometimes feels like they're meant to stay in a journal rather than be seen by others.
Do you think the writing industry has an impact on your confidence in your work (good or bad)? Why?
I think overall it made me a lot more confident in my work. I have a couple of publications, which felt really validating at the time. Especially in local litmags, getting to publish in my community felt really lovely. After having a couple pieces out there, it made the rejections sting a little less. I knew my work was good, it just wasn't going to be good for every publication.
When do you start to doubt a piece that you are working on?
I usually write really late at night. When I open it up the next morning and it feels just a little too raw, it usually ends up in my abandoned folder. It's an immediate yes or no; the more confessional it is, the more likely it is to be a no.
Once you trash one of your pieces, what makes you come back to it (if ever)?
I've almost never come back to a piece I abandoned. I do have a few set aside in my "abandoned" folder that I wrote in an attempt to process my feelings about something I was going through at the time, that I hope to come back to later, once I have some distance from it.
How many pieces do think you have currently in your 'abandoned' folder?
Somewhere around 15
What is the ultimate reason that you trash your work?
When I look at a poem and it doesn't feel worth coming back to. There are a few reasons for it, but often there's just something in my gut that tells me this poem isn't worth it.
Is there anything that would stop you from trashing your work? (More education in writing, more publications/less rejections, a change in the industry, etc)
I think that if I changed my own perspective on trashing work, I would trash it less. Not every piece needs to be published, but that doesn't mean it should be trash. Sometimes you can make a piece you love just for yourself, or just for a few people to see. Poetry can be a treasure even if it's only loved by a few.
What writing advice have you been given that has changed your perspective on how you treat/view your work?
One of my friends told me that not everyone is going to like my work, but that doesn't mean that it's bad. As long as it's good to someone, it's good writing. Every piece has it's audience, you just have to find it.
If you have any upcoming work (books, publications, features, art, etc), feel free to mention them here, so that we can support you!
My poem "ivy" will be published by Unstamatic soon, as a part of their unconditional acceptances project.
Lillian Fuglei is a queer poetess based in Denver, Colorado. She began writing poetry in High School, after a lifetime of attending open mics thanks to their mother. You can find them on Instagram at literary.lillian.