What, Why, How: Jeff Vande Zande

What:

Well, as a writer, I work with poetry (rarely anymore), fiction, and screenplays. The screenwriting is the most recent development, and I both enjoy and am frustrated by the collaborative aspects of making short films. As any writer knows, the loneliness and isolation of writing can be difficult. On the other hand, when it comes to writing, you’re the only person you have to motivate. With filmmaking, you have to find people with whom you share a similar work ethic. That’s challenging to do!

In addition to writing, I teach and also work in my workshop on special projects. Of course, teaching is a creative craft. Carpentry and household projects can also be creative. Recently, I did my first dry walling project, which was fun (wouldn’t want to have to do it every day!). Also, I’ve built furniture and used a wheelchair and tripod to create a dolly camera setup for making films.

Why:

With the writing, I don’t have much choice. I don’t think many writers do. I’m driven by something within that wants to be creative with words. I suppose I want to share the way I view the world with others – try to connect with an audience. I learned though, thankfully, that writing isn’t the only way to create. Almost any endeavor can be creative. While working on furniture or painting or figuring out some household handiwork, I find myself tapping into those same creative juices. It can be just as satisfying as writing something, at least for me. If I’m creating, be it anything, I’m usually pretty happy. If I’m not creating for extended periods of time, I find myself getting cranky. I need to be working on and thinking through something to stay balanced.

How:

As a creator, I walk into the darkness and find a path. I know, sounds pretty pretentious. I just mean that I find my way through the project by finding my way. I don’t do a great deal of planning… at least not on paper. When I’m working on a project, I’m thinking about it all the time until it’s done. I tend to work fast and focused, whether that’s writing a draft of a novel in eight months or writing a short film screenplay in a night. I’m always very focused once the project is underway, and my girlfriend might even describe it as obsessive. I don’t tend to work on multiple projects. I work and work, and then rework and rework until I feel I’m finished. I sometimes share my work, but over the years, for better or for worse, I’ve moved away from sharing my work with others for critique.

Bio

Jeff Vande Zande teaches English at Delta College and writes poetry, fiction, and screenplays. His books of fiction include Emergency Stopping and Other Stories (Bottom Dog Press), the novel Into the Desperate Country (March Street Press), the novel Landscape with Fragmented Figures (Bottom Dog Press) and Threatened Species and Other Stories (Whistling Shade Press). His poetry has also been collected into a book, and one of his poems was selected by Ted Kooser to appear in Kooser’s syndicated newspaper column, American Life in Poetry. His most recent book is a novel entitled American Poet, which won the Stuart and Vernice Gross Award for Excellence in Writing by a Michigan Author, and a Michigan Notable Book Award (order American Poet from Barnes&Noble or Amazon)

Links:

website jeffvandezande.com
twitter @jcvandez

Linda K. Sienkiewicz is the author of the award-winning novel In the Context of Love, a gripping story about one woman’s need to tell the truth without shame.

Angelica Schirrick has been running from her past ever since the devastating discovery that her life is not what she thought.

Sarton Women’s Fiction Finalist
Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist
Readers’ Favorite Finalist
USA Book News Best Book Finalist
Great Midwest Book Fest Honorable Mention.

“…at once a love story, a cautionary tale, and an inspirational journey.” ~ Bonnie Jo Campbell, author of National Book Award Finalist, American Salvage, and critically acclaimed Once Upon a River,and Mothers, Tell Your Daughters