Mona Mehas
Why did you submit to trash to treasure lit?
My poem was of a particular moment in time. I tried getting it published but the moment had passed and it was rejected several times. I believe that was the reason.
How would you describe your writing practice?
I write every day, usually in the morning. I work on my novel for a couple of hours then switch to poetry later.
What is the biggest thing that stops you from submitting work to lit mags/journals/publications?
1) I write a lot of Viator poetry, a form no one has heard of. 2) Now that I've published several things without getting paid, I'm trying to find paying journals.
Do you think the writing industry has an impact on your confidence in your work (good or bad)? Why?
Yes for my novel. It's hard to get a foot in the door for trad publishing. Everything is extremely slow and subjective. For poetry, it's all subjective.
When do you start to doubt a piece that you are working on?
After too many rejections and revisions, I wonder if I should write the poem in a different form, say from viator to prose.
Once you trash one of your pieces, what makes you come back to it (if ever)?
I never truly trash a piece. I put it in my "abandoned poems" folder. I'll rewrite it later or use lines or words from it for something else.
How many pieces do think you have currently in your 'abandoned' folder?
maybe 10
What is the ultimate reason that you trash your work?
If I love the poem I keep it. When I submit a viator poem, I say, "a little known form invented by Robin Skelton" to educate the editors.
What writing advice have you been given that has changed your perspective on how you treat/view your work?
Someone told me I am heavy-handed on punctuation. I looked at all my poetry and they were right. Now I use very little, only where necessary.
If you have any upcoming work (books, publications, features, art, etc), feel free to mention them here, so that we can support you!
Dark Winter Lit and Sad Goose Coop in November; Heartbalm Lit, Bulb Culture, and Poetry Society of IN Anthology in December; Intangible Lit (date?); Bluebird Word and Loft Books Ltd in January; Musing Pubs (date?); Culinary Origami in February; Viridian Door in March.
Mona Mehas (she/her) writes about growing up poor, accumulating grief, and climate change. A retired, disabled teacher in Indiana, USA, she’s at her laptop most days with two old cats as chaperones. Previously, Mona used the pseudonym Patience Young. She’s published in Last Stanza Poetry Journal, Words & Whispers, Grim and Gilded, Militant Thistles, Ancestry Data Anthology, and others. In 2020, she watched every Star Trek show and movie in chronological order. Follow on Twitter @Patienc77732097 and linktr.ee/monaiv.