Serene Vannoy Member Member since 2007

Bi poly white fat atheist poet/memoirist/essayist

Fiction Poetry Nonfiction

Serene's poems, essays, and short memoir pieces have been published in the US, in Canada, and online. She used to run both a literary magazine and a food blog, but these days she has less energy for a million projects.

Location:: NM
Birthdate:: 20 September
Social:: Facebook

Interview with Serene Vannoy

Where do you prefer to do your creative work?

My ideal is a moderately busy coffeeshop with comfortable chairs and good lighting. The reality is usually my desk (on the computer) or the recliner in my reading nook (paper and pen).

Do you read literary journals and magazines regularly? If so, which are your favorites?

Most of my reading time is spent reading fiction, especially since the pandemic, but before that, I read a lot of Tin House, Zyzzyva, Poetry, stuff like that.

Who are your literary (or artistic) heroes?

Toni Morrison, Nnedi Okorafor, Charlie Jane Anders, Barbara Kingsolver, Louise Erdrich, Maxine Hong Kingston, Zora Neale Hurston, Becky Chambers...

If you could only take one book on a ten-year voyage, what book would you choose?

Oh, wow, besides a book on how to survive a ten-year voyage? Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor.

How much of a typical day (or week) are you able to dedicate to your creative work?

I am working up to two hours a day as of October 2026. I'm managing it once or twice a week at this point.

What makes you procrastinate when you could be doing your creative work? What are your strategies for finding focus?

I am sometimes intellectually lazy, always tired, and often interested in other things. The thing that helps me (and may not help anyone else) is to remind me I'm usually not blocked; I just need to put my ass in the chair.

How do you celebrate your successes, such as acceptances? How do you handle rejections and other setbacks?

Acceptances create their own celebrations depending on the context/market/piece. Rejections are just proof that I'm putting my work out there, so I'm proud of those, as well, and I aim to get the piece back out there as quickly as possible!

How much time do you spend reading for pleasure or edification?

Reading is my main leisure activity. Hours a day, usually 100+ books a year.

What single creative achievement are you most proud of?

A sonnet I wrote in my first poetry class. The prompt was fairly mundane, but I spent every waking hour on that thing for two weeks, and I still really love how it turned out. I've never placed it anywhere, but it's still a personal favorite.

What advice would you give to a young, budding writer (or artist) with less experience than yourself?

Read a book on writing (some suggestions: Stephen King's On Writing, Steve Kowit's In the Palm of Your Hand, Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones), but then during and after reading it, DO THE EXERCISES. DO THE WRITING. Don't just read about writing. Do it.

For your first draft (or sketch), do you prefer analog or digital tools, or a mix?

I have chronic pain, so I vary this based on how my body is feeling on that day. Some days, sitting in an office chair and typing is not sustainable; other days, there's no way I can write longhand.

Do you incorporate generative AI/LLMs into your creative process? If so, how?

No. No. No. Never. No. Nyet.

What is your favorite word and why?

I'm polyamorous. I don't like choosing favorites.

What would you like your epitaph to say?

The world was better with her in it.

Are you an unreliable narrator?

To a degree, I think we all are.

Last Updated: 11 Oct 2026