Interview with Chia-Lun Chang

We’ve never interviewed a poet here at Pub Cheerleaders, and I’m excited our first is powerhouse Chia-Lun Chang. In addition to being a poet, she’s also a writer, artist, translator, performer, and educator. She’s the author of Prescribee, winner of the 2021 Nightboat Poetry Prize, as well as two chapbooks. Her work has received support from Jerome Foundation, Vermont Studio Center, Poets House, Tofte Lake Center, and Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and she teaches contemporary Taiwanese poetry and fiction at the Brooklyn Public Library. 

The poems in Prescribee are deeply affecting. They deal with the experience of being an immigrant in America: diving into feelings of alienation and loneliness, and the oscillating extremes of hypervisibility and invisibility. A poem’s strength often comes not just with the words, but the use of punctuation and form— and Chia-Lun’s utilization of all these things is spellbinding, making Prescribee a beautiful and notable collection.  

While I don’t know Chia-Lun, I can say through my interactions with her, she is someone who believes in and advocates for her work— which is what I want for all of us, so I’m very happy she agreed to this interview. 

Did you ever doubt this book would be published?

Because my motivation for getting publication was to support my artist visa, I hadn't anticipated ‌publishing a book. Luckily, I had the opportunity to publish poems, translations, and a chapbook. At the launch of my chapbook, I shared with poet Marcella Durand that I’ve pulled off more than I could imagine in this life. Plus, due to the overwhelming stress from the immigrant application process, I wouldn't plan anything else after my chapbook. She kindly advised: "You still need a book." I appreciate her encouragement, as well as the support from many friends who dared to believe in me to pursue book publication. Thanks to them, I decided to give it a try.

Perhaps this question would be more suitable for my situation, "Did you believe you had the ability to put together a book without letting readers down?" My answer would have been no, but I'm glad I overcame my fear.

Can you share any tips or tricks for staying motivated? 

I've been taking different types of classes, and I've discovered that discussing ideas with my peers has been helpful. Reading for sure contributes to my writing scope. It's also been beneficial to set small and precise goals, like writing one poem and seeking feedback, applying for a residency, sending two emails a day, or teaching a workshop. I also believe in setting a broader and longer-term goal. If my aspiration is to become a writer, there are many ways to achieve that and no institution should overshadow this dream.

Don't be too hard on yourself and try to celebrate any accomplishments along the way. Belief is an antidote. The glass will never be full so try to enjoy the water in your hands. 

Any reading recommendations? 

I’m reading Activities of Daily Living by Lisa Hsiao Chen. For poetry, fox woman get out! by India Lena González, and To the Boy Who Was Night by Rigoberto González. I recently finished the comic book series, Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto. 

Can you recommend a song (or songs) that ties into your collection in some way? 

I mostly listened to soundtracks while writing Prescribee, to name a few: Millennium Mambo and Drive My Car. I also listened to “My Carefree Life” by Ilid Kaolo and “Green” by Hiroshi Yoshimura. In my mind, I could hear cicadas singing in some of the poems.

Thank you, Chia-Lun!