Scott Morgan, Interview

Scott Morgan | October 8th, 2015

Brooke: I can picture you in a dimly-lit room, sitting at a desk with stationary supplies and "Tales of the Crypt" playing in the background. What kind of environment helps you write?

Scott: Surprisingly, it varies. As opposed to the common cliché of me sitting in a dark room by candlelight with a roll of parchment, I could find inspiration in a lonely, dark room at night, or it could come to me randomly while I'm outside on a sunny day. I start writing wherever the inspiration strikes. 

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Brooke: Your poetry is recognized by its darker themes and strange details. What inspired you to stick with this genre? Any authors in particular that influenced you the most? 

Scott: I've always found that the sublime qualities within literature are more interesting than the ones in stories like "My Little Pony". I like the idea of the unexpected; as much as it terrifies me, I want to be surprised by the context. I try to project that to my readers and keep them on the edge of their seats. As far as influential authors, I go back to the classics, such as John Milton's "Paradise Lost" or the works of Edgar Allen Poe, of course. He defined "mystery" and revolutionized literature.

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Brooke: As a student, how do you break out of "study mode" and get in the mindset for writing? What advice would you give to other students that are trying to get back in touch with their creative side?

Scott: It took a lot for me to get back in the habit of writing while I'm in school. We go day after day thinking academically, so when I have a big project or paper that gives me the option of using "supernatural" literature or things of interest, I work that into the assignments. For example, I like Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper". I've written several scholastic papers on it. It's so weird and creepy. You can go any way with it. It balances the academic and creative sides of me.
 
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Brooke: If you could choose any fictitious character to take out to a pizzeria, who would it be and what would your toppings be? What do you think their toppings would be?

Scott: There is such a variety to choose from, but I would choose Pinhead from Hellraiser, particularly because I want to know his connotations of "yin" and "yang", "pain" and "pleasure". I'm interested in knowing how a person becomes "morally corrupt". I would say to him, "you are completely insane; I really don't want to know you, but you inspire me." I believe in rebellion. I believe in sticking out from the crowd and going against what is expected, so I'm wanting to know what compels people like him to do something shocking. We could discuss all of that over pizza. My toppings would be pepperoni and cheese. His toppings would probably be a lot of spikes, chocolate sauce, and blood. Anything that would stab the roof of your mouth. 

 

"Autothysis"

I hear Enceladus is very nice this time of year
Maybe I’ll crawl there after I decompose

I cut out letters from your bible to write this
so please excuse all the hemoglobin

What ills will you speak of me
now that my heart’s being pumped by
Nitroglycerin?

If you’re still reading this, you’re an asshole

I love you. Kbye.

"Solanaceae Symphony"

Life is a violin;
out of tune and sharp
I am eternally "evis cer ated"

I laugh at what I compose:
a piece entitled “Hope”

There is no melody for incessant lies
Only applause

[written by Scott Morgan]