I think I view myself primarily as a fiction writer. Poetry is more of a "hobby," a time of rest from the hard work of writing fiction. — Yuriy Tarnawsky Copy Share Image
I always lived in a multilingual society (Polish-Ukrainian, German-Ukrainian, English-Ukrainian), and was open to outside linguistic influences. I think it was within three years of coming to the US that I started writing in English, although purely for myself, not… — Yuriy Tarnawsky Copy Share Image
It is true that I didn't write any poetry between 1995 and 2011. The reason for this was probably because I had stayed away… — Yuriy Tarnawsky Copy Share Image
That is one more reason why I write in English only right now. I prefer writing in the language I hear around me for… — Yuriy Tarnawsky Copy Share Image
I was always creatively stubborn, adverse to editing by others, and wanted to use the kind of Ukrainian we spoke among ourselves rather than… — Yuriy Tarnawsky Copy Share Image
Except for the usual house chores, doing income tax, etc., I am free to write whenever I want. — Yuriy Tarnawsky Copy Share Image
In fact, the very phrase "teaching creative writing" sounds to me oxymoronic. How can you teach someone to be creative? — Yuriy Tarnawsky Copy Share Image
I feel that other people's suggestions are very dangerous. Yet, I can't say that they are always destructive or not useful. Perhaps, rather than… — Yuriy Tarnawsky Copy Share Image
How can you teach someone to be creative? You have to create yourself. — Yuriy Tarnawsky Copy Share Image
I think I view myself primarily as a fiction writer. Poetry is more of a "hobby," a time of rest from the hard work… — Yuriy Tarnawsky Copy Share Image
I always lived in a multilingual society (Polish-Ukrainian, German-Ukrainian, English-Ukrainian), and was open to outside linguistic influences. I think it was within three years… — Yuriy Tarnawsky Copy Share Image
I find that biographical material holds me back, hampers my creative process, cramps my imagination. — Yuriy Tarnawsky Copy Share Image
