MEET POET TIMOTHY P. FLYNN
The HWA has a rich tradition of dark poetry even before the late Peter Adam Salomon founded both the acclaimed Poetry Showcase series and National Dark Poetry Day, celebrated every year on October 7, the day Edgar Allan Poe died. The HWA poetry blog is proud to share poets of all experience levels that write dark things with poetic flourish. From that rich vein, I’m proud to share an interview with Timothy P. Flynn, winner of of the 2021 HWA Dark Poetry Scholarship, as interviewed by Angela Yuriko Smith.
MEET POET TIMOTHY P. FLYNN
Timothy P. Flynn
What was your first exposure to poetry, and what effect did it have on you?
My first exposure to poetry was in middle school. The class had to memorize a poem given to us, then individually we recited in front of the class. Blake’s, “Tyger, Tyger,” is the most memorable to me. I had zero clue what it was about, but I loved the language of the poem. Years later I found Poe, Plath, Sexton, and Bukowski and really enjoyed reading poetry.
Can you share your first experience writing poetry? Who was it for and what was the reaction?
We’ll just skip the embarrassing romantic phase that I had as a young man whereas I wrote love poems to potential girlfriends. I mean seriously the “love with dove rhymes” still make me cringe to this day. I honestly don’t even think I know what the fuck a dove looks like. After meeting Linda Addison at Necon, she gave me her business card. She told me to send some of my work to her for feedback. This was the beginning of journey into speculative poetry. I sent her my lackluster work, and she was supportive, encouraging, and an all encompassing true being of light. If it wasn’t for her, I would never gotten past the dreaming of writing phase.
What form/s do you write now? What are some common themes in your work?
My favorite poetry forms are minimalism versions. Haiku, Scifaiku, Horrorku, Tanka, and others pack a lot of punch in such a small scale. My longer works tend to be of a free verse nature, but I am always interested in learning new forms. My themes delve into my fears. I fear many things in general from lobsters and the feel of grainy textures on my hands like sugar, basic fears like heights and loud sounds, to injuries, mental health, destruction, and dying. If I am afraid of it, I want my poetry to convey that fear and hopefully my readers will feel that.
What draws you to poetry as a form of expression?
Poe said it best, “Poetry is the rhythmic creation of beauty in words.” I am totally paraphrasing the quote but it went something like that. Poetry has the ability to create strong emotion in a brevity of words. And within that musicality and emotion are the hidden horrible truths the poet is expressing through metaphors. I can secretly be the true me in my poetry.
What are some of the things that have helped you as a poet?
Helpful books, classes etc. Reading other poets! For years I would go to the HWA website and look at the Stoker nominations list. Not just to see the winners, but to see everyone who was nominated. These are the poets that I needed to read. I explored and found poetry and poets that forever changed me. Linda Addison, Christina Sng, Marge Simon, Bruce Boston, Stephanie Wytovich, Mike Arnzen, Michelle Scalise, Tom Piccirilli, Sara Tantlinger, David Cowen, Cina Pelayo, John Lawson, Donna Lynch, and so many others.
Two books I would recommend is The Poetry Workshop and Beyond by Terrie Leigh Relf and Minimalism by Teri Santitoro. I am eagerly awaiting the Writing Poetry in the Dark Workbook edited by Stephanie Wytovich from Raw Dog Screaming Press coming out this fall. So far, I have had three poetry mentors that forever changed my work in different ways. Linda Addison is always there for me. She is inspiring, encouraging, and available whenever my dumb ass is doubting myself. Stephanie Wytovich encourages me to explore my dark side and has been a strong editorial hand for my poetry in our mentoring months. And recently, Angela Yuriko Smith is my HWA mentor this semester. So far in two months I will have three published works coming out, my poetry was read on her podcast, future readings of myself coming out, and we are working on my first chapbook for publication. Just writing that takes my breath away, it has been and continues to be an amazing journey with Angela. I am excited for what she has in store for me. So should you.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years as a poet? What are your goals?
My goal is continue writing poetry and submit more often to get my work published. I would love to create some collections and have my name on a physical book that I can hold. Above all else, I want to feel that sense of community with other poets and writers in the horror genre. To keep reading, writing, and learning the craft is where I want to be moving forward.
What are you working on right now, and where can we find you?
Currently I have a few poem acceptances that I cannot reveal. My HWA mentor, Angela Yuriko Smith, and I are working on creating a chapbook as my first project. Angela read a poem of mine, “Embrace the Madness,” on her June 2022 podcast Cake and Hyperbull. Our goal is to get myself out there in the community more, so the utter terror of reading my work is now on the table coming soon to the virtual social networks. Look for me on Twitter @TimothyPFlynn or Instagram @timothypflynnwriter. This year I went to Necon on Saturday only, and will be at the Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival hanging around as a fan.
Timothy P. Flynn is a dark poet from Massachusetts. His previous poetry resides in Space and Time magazine, Anthocon’s book collections: Anthology Years 1-3, Wicked Tales, Wicked Creatures, Scifaikuest, haikuniverse, Haiku Journal and the HWA Poetry Showcase Vol 5 & Vol 6. His most recent work will appear in Wicked Sick in April 2023, and in Scifaikuest in Nov. 2022. Flynn’s first chapbook, Embrace the Madness, is available via eBook on Amazon. He is a member of the New England Horror Writers, an Affiliate member of the HWA, and recipient of the 2021 HWA Dark Poetry Scholarship. Follow him on Twitter: @TimothyPFlynn or on Instagram: instagram.com/timothypflynnwriter
