I've never thought about the con of living in New York as a writer. Because I always think, Oh, what fun to be around so many writers. Because I've never been around so many writers. Victoria Chang More Quotes by Victoria Chang More Quotes From Victoria Chang I've always been intrigued with the male characters in novels like 'Pride and Prejudice' such as Mr. Darcy, and this poem is part of a series of poems that explore desire and obsessions. The poems have been sitting in a drawer for a few years, so I decided to dust them off and work on them again since I have not written a new poem in more than three years. I'm not sure anything will become of the series, but at least it gives me something to work on in a period where I feel very uncreative. Victoria Chang dustpridecharacter I was sort of obsessed about corporate people committing suicide. Victoria Chang obsessedsuicidepeople There's so much stuff being written! Every year, how many books come out? I can't keep up, and I read a lot. It's amazing. Victoria Chang stuffbookyears My gut was always that if I taught students poetry, I would give too much of myself to them and have nothing left. Victoria Chang taughttoo-muchgiving My life in general, orderly or not, it allows me more freedom in my own writing. Sometimes I wonder, though - I have friends that sit around and just write all day. And I think it's the coolest thing. Victoria Chang writingsometimesthinking My life all-around is really different than a lot of other poets. Not poets that are parents, too, but just that I can hardly find anyone who works in the industries that I've worked in. Victoria Chang poetdifferentparent Everyone always says that having kids is messy and sloppy. It's true, but you as a parent have to try to bring some boundaries and control over that experience, or you'd have out-of-control kids. Victoria Chang parenttryingkids I just didn't want any order in anything. I have to leave an ordered life for them - the kids - and my job. I have to be at my desk at a certain time, and I have to answer e-mails within a certain time period. Victoria Chang jobsorderkids Having children can be such a gift, but it can be a crushing experience for a certain kind of mom. And I am that certain kind of mom. Victoria Chang crushmomchildren We're all just a part of this large, spiraling, constantly fluid hierarchy and changing. At some points in your life, you feel crushed by that, depending on who you come in contact with. Victoria Chang hierarchycrushedfluid I feel like I give myself all day long to other people and other things, and I still seem like I have something to write once in awhile. Not often, though. Victoria Chang writinglongpeople I'm a total bottoms-up kind of person. I like things to bubble up. Victoria Chang bottomkindpersons I've always done things that were good for me, whether they were viewed as being as prestigious or whatever. Victoria Chang prestigiousdone I definitely have favorite books by favorite poets, but poets' books also vary. I could like some books, but not like another book. Victoria Chang favorite-bookpoetbook For the most part, it's a world of artists that are very in their own heads. Victoria Chang artistworld I love when I meet generous poets, and generous meaning nice people, who give to the poetry community, who do interviews, read other people's books, and talk about them, spread the...love, I guess. That means a lot to me. Victoria Chang nicemeanbook In general, I find that poets spend a lot of time thinking about themselves, and not a lot of time thinking about other poets, or other poetry. Unless they think about how it affects them, or how it could impact them. Victoria Chang impactpoetthinking I've read a lot more than most of the people that I know, except for one of my really close friends reads way more than I do. Victoria Chang close-friendspeopleway Sometimes I feel like I'm on top of the world, and other mornings I feel like crap. Victoria Chang morningsometimesworld I've always wanted editors that actually edited my poems. Victoria Chang editededitorswanted