Midnight Writing and Rejecting Influences with Liza Libes
Discover the late-night rituals, workspace habits, and original approach that fuel Liza Libes from Pens and Poison.
Hey, welcome to Methods—the series where we explore the creative habits of fellow Substack writers.
Today, I’m excited to have Liza Libes from Pens and Poison, a unique literary project that aims to promote literary education and restore the idea of literature as a work of art rather than as a political vehicle.
For a great starting point, check out her article: Leave Literature Alone
In this interview, Liza opens up about her creative process, from her midnight writing sessions to her thoughts on balancing art and social media influence.
Enjoy!
Know someone with a unique creative process? Drop their name in the comments—I’d love to feature them!
Midnight Writing and Creative Rituals
I write at strange times (mostly between the hours of 12am and 2am, though I have been trying to be better).
I always force myself to write a little bit of something every day, even if it's just scattered notes for an idea in the future.
Once I get into the writing "zone," I tend to write for hours uninterrupted, which is why I like to write at night when there are no further disturbances.
Do you follow any rituals or habits before you start working?
I just sort of go for it. I will brew a cup of tea, put on some music (usually classical or jazz for writing, as lyrics can interfere with my internal monologue), and go.
The Ever-Changing Workspace
What does your workspace look like?
I have my laptop, and I use it at whichever table is the least messiest for the day. I rotate between our office room and the dinner table. Sometimes the kitchen countertop.
For someone who loves aesthetics, I weirdly under-prioritize workspace presentation in my own life.
Are there any specific tools you use?
I flip between Apple Pages and Google Docs. Depends on what I'm working on.
My novel is in pages, my articles for Substack are typically in Google Docs (so my editor can access them easily).
Originality Over Influence
Who are your biggest influences?
I tend to reject this idea of "influences."
I have poetic influences (T.S. Eliot, Sylvia Plath, Samuel Taylor Coleridge), but when it comes to creating my brand and my Substack, I tend not to mimic anything that anyone else is doing because I find that such a mimetic approach stifles my own creativity.
I've only been on Substack for several months and have gotten a fair bit of attention I think because I just write my own thing and don't participate in any movements or subcultures. I think more writers should do this.
How Growing an Audience Changed Writing Habits
Developing a social media audience has certainly inspired me to write more. I have over 20k Instagram followers at this point, and knowing that there is someone out there who cares about reading what I wrote has definitely prompted me to write more often (as opposed to when I was in college and only my small circle of friends and family members read my stuff).
On Not Being Too Rigid and Getting Outside
I used to hate all writing that was not fiction or poetry. I think this approach stymied my writing career, and I was quite frustrated at the lack of attention any of my writing was getting. I wrote almost exclusively poetry and longer-form fiction (i.e. my novel) for several years and was quite stubborn about producing personal essays or expository pieces. The moment I tried these more accessible formats, I suddenly started to get published right and left and quickly developed an audience. I still love poetry and novel-writing the most, but I've become more open-minded when it comes to writing.
Do you have any habits that enhance your creativity?
I need to get out in the world. I am someone who takes "write what you know" to heart, and much of my writing is fueled from personal experience. I find that I am most creative after I leave my apartment, even though it is quite tempting for me (and I imagine many other writers) to stay at home cooped up in front of a laptop.
Thanks Liza!
Be sure to check out Pens and Poison, where she is refocusing literary study on the humanistic tradition.
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