On July 20, 2014, the final day of the summer residency,
the MFAC program will have a Graduate Recognition ceremony, honoring the men
and women who have just completed their studies and will receive an MFA from
Hamline University. Between now and then we'll be posting interviews with many of the
grads. Araceli Esparza is today's grad; she lives on the second floor on a
tree-shady lane in Monona, WI
What do you do when you’re not
working on packets?
I’m
a mother, Tia (auntie) wifey, nieta (grand-daughter) sister, friend
and local supporter. I teach for the local district. I also teach
creative writing and Spanish literacy class for young children at local
libraries.
How did you hear about the Hamline
MFAC Program?
I
had been looking for a MFA program that was unique and could fit into my
life-schedule. I still remember when I saw the essay question about diversity;
it was then that I knew—yep, this is the place.
What was your writing experience
prior to entering the program?
I’ve
written on walls and paper since my teens, and seriously performing for about 7
years--both slam and poems.
What do especially remember about your first residency?
[MFACAlum] Peter Pearson telling me about
Alexi Sherman’s NPR interview! I thought if this guy is in this program and
he’s super smart--well then I gotta do it! Basically, I’m a true believer of
osmosis.
The
veil had been pulled…and still I needed a view…
Yep,
first res left me twitching!
Have you focused on any one form (Picture
book, novel, nonfiction; graphic novel) or age group in your writing? Tried a
form you never thought you’d try?
First
semester, I went over my hands and feet and dove into a graphic novel. If Swati [Avasti] in her wisdom hadn’t pulled it from my bloody grip, I would be still
writing it! She suggested I do a picture book so that I could see through a
story to the end. I’ve been hooked since; 700 words have never been so hard and
fun to work with.
Tell us about your Creative Thesis.
All
of the pieces have some tie to Latino culture in one way or another. Some are
tied just by how I see the character, otherwise you might not get the connection.
One is Purple Leaves, which began as
a poem and grew into a story about self-confidence and speaking up/out about
what you know is true! The others are more obvious through language and
setting. I wanted to create family
stories in any setting: modern middle class home, urban barrio, airports,
gardens, jail, living room, school, and under a slide in a park. Any and every
place my own children have had to go to. The picture book about jail is a
personal one for me. In my research, I only found five picture books written
for children with parents in prison or jail. The best one was Visiting Day by Jacqueline Woodson. The
illustrator and author notes for that book encouraged me to write the story my
way.
What changes have you seen in your
writing during your studies?
It’s
like I’m empty. For years I have written to exorcise my daemons, and now I’m
empty enough to see and take a moment to describe fully what I see. I can tell that my writing is clear, my
poetry has elements of child’s play in them—which I love. Has it gotten easier
to write: No WAY! There’s still no time, I still scratch on little pink slips
from work, I still stay up way-late at night to get shit done. And my poems
still only come in the moment. I have become patient with myself and less
critical of my work and focused more on my killer taste (Thanks for the video!
Ira Glass!)
With packet deadlines removed as an
incentive, do you anticipate it will be harder to keep writing?
I will continue to write. In fact, my whole family finally understands this is my work. So if I stop now—I can’t stop. For my family, for other Latino children, for me--I can’t stop.
I will continue to write. In fact, my whole family finally understands this is my work. So if I stop now—I can’t stop. For my family, for other Latino children, for me--I can’t stop.
Any plans for your post-Hamline
writing life?
After
Hamline, I will cry and be sad and then probably go back to teaching my
community about Latino children’s books through the library programs that I
have started.
Any thoughts for entering students
or for people considering the program?
If
you are a writer of color, writing is hard. Coming to terms that you are a
writer wasn’t easy. Neither will this program be easy, but I promise you, there
will be nothing that you will value more than all the work you put into it. I
say that I didn’t choose writing, writing choose me, from all mi abuelita’s stories down to my
daughter’s imagination--I have a need to tell a great story, to hear the joy of
a poem. At Hamline I have been able to
do that.
***
The
public is welcome to attend the graduate recognition ceremony on Sunday, July
20, 3:30pm, (Anne Simley Theatre, Drew Fine Arts Building). Vera Williams is
the speaker.
