John P. Portelli, originally from Malta, is a professor emeritus in the Department of Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto. He has taught in Canadian universities since 1982. Besides 11 academic books, he has published ten collections of poetry (four in Maltese and English, one in English and French, three in Maltese, one in English (Here Was, available from Amazon) and one in Greek, The Loves of yesterday), two collections of short stories (one translated into English and published as Everyday Encounters), and a novel, Everyone but Faiza (Burlington, ON: Word and Deed, 2021). His literary work has been translated into Italian, Romanian, Greek, Farsi, Arabic, Korean, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Polish. His latest collection, Here Was has been translated and published in Romanian by Rocart Publishers in June 2023. Five of his books have been short-listed for the Malta Book Council Annual Literary Award. He now lives between Toronto and Malta, and beyond! See, www.johnpportelli.com
1 - How did your first book change your life? How does your most recent work compare to your previous? How does it feel different?
My first book, a poetry collection (2001), introduced me to a different audience than what I had been used to since by then I had published 7 academic books. It gave me a sense of freedom to express my emotions and thoughts without the restrictions of the academia. My most recent work, Here Was (poetry, 2023 published by Word and Deed Publishers in Canada, and Horizons in Malta), while still very personal, is deeper and more mature, and also more emotionally adventurous.
2 - How did you come to poetry first, as opposed to, say, fiction or non-fiction?
I started writing poetry at the age of 16. Most probably because I lack prolonged attention, and given that poetry allows for strong feelings, I swayed toward poetry.
3 - How long does it take to start any particular writing project? Does your writing initially come quickly, or is it a slow process? Do first drafts appear looking close to their final shape, or does your work come out of copious notes?
During the 40 years that I worked as a professor, given my academic focus, writing poetry and fiction did not come easy as it requires concentration, and I did not have that leisure. In the last 8 years or so, writing has become easier (but not easy) since I am able to dedicate time every day to writing non academic stuff (which now I find very boring). I have learnt that good writing usually requires lots of edits. I have been revising a 240-page novel for two years!
4 - Where does a poem or work of fiction usually begin for you? Are you an author of short pieces that end up combining into a larger project, or are you working on a "book" from the very beginning?
Usually writing begins with an existential experience of some sort, even a very mundane or at face value insignificant occurrence. I never really know where the first line will lead to! With regard to poetry, I have written mostly shorter pieces – although recently I composed a longer piece (about 40 pages) consisting of smaller pieces written in sequence (almost dialoguing with each other). With regard to prose fiction, I have written a published collection of flash fiction (Every Day Encounters), and a collection of full length short stories, and a novel (Everyone but Faiza). Writing the novel was a completely different experience than writing poetry or short stories. I had it all planned before I started writing. Of course, after the first draft was completed, I had lots and lots of revisions and changes.
5 - Are public readings part of or counter to your creative process? Are you the sort of writer who enjoys doing readings?
In my view, art is primarily a social event. There is no art without an audience that cares and engages. Hence, for me, public readings followed by genuine conversations are essential. I enjoy reading and also, of course, hearing others read.
6 - Do you have any theoretical concerns behind your writing? What kinds of questions are you trying to answer with your work? What do you even think the current questions are?
Writing is always a social/political activity, that is one that involves some sort of power relations (good and bad). It is never disembodied! Yet, I do not belief that good literature should be written to pass along a particular, specific message or moral. Literature primarily is meant to give pleasure both to authors and readers by creating a dialectic between text and textuality. Having said that, in my writing, as I critically reflect on it, certain themes emerge: migration and exile; belonging and lack of belonging, home/not home; the sea; existential encounters; anger toward injustices; death and memory. Writing (poetry and fiction) can be a form of social activism and also genuine research.
7 – What do you see the current role of the writer being in larger culture? Do they even have one? What do you think the role of the writer should be?
An astute/delicate observer and sympathetic critic of life through an expression of genuine feelings-thoughts which may give rise to usually unnoticed insights about the ordinary.
8 - Do you find the process of working with an outside editor difficult or essential (or both)?
Not difficult as I was lucky to always find a suitable editor who was not afraid to be critical of my work. For me, it is essential to have an experienced and courageous editor.
9 - What is the best piece of advice you've heard (not necessarily given to you directly)?
It is exactly in those moments when you think you are wasting time that, in fact, you are gaining it – an advice I encountered and cherished since I was an undergraduate when I read the Confessions of J.J. Rousseau.
10 - How easy has it been for you to move between genres (poetry to short stories to the novel to critical prose)? What do you see as the appeal?
Although I have moved from one genre to another, it is not easy to move from one to the other. Poetry takes a lot of very concentrated, relatively short spans of time – but it can be very exhausting. Even when I write prose, I get distracted with poetry. And I suffer from a short span of attention. In fact, I am surprised that I have written two novels.
11 - What kind of writing routine do you tend to keep, or do you even have one? How does a typical day (for you) begin?
Until I retired from full-time work in academia, I had to struggle to find time to write between meetings, between classes, in boring meetings etc. Now every morning, after praising the supreme being for giving me life, I meditate for just 5 minutes, drink lots of water and then 3 strong espressos, and then I write for an hour or two.
12 - When your writing gets stalled, where do you turn or return for (for lack of a better word) inspiration?
Re-reading of authors I love, meditate, and observe people in coffee shops. When I am in Malta I visit the sea and converse with it!
13 - What fragrance reminds you of home?
The smell of the Mediterranean Sea! And the orange blossoms.
14 - David W. McFadden once said that books come from books, but are there any other forms that influence your work, whether nature, music, science or visual art?
Definitely existential encounters, aspects of nature, and music.
15 - What other writers or writings are important for your work, or simply your life outside of your work?
Tahar Ben Jelloun, Laila Lalami, Suheir Hammad, Albert Camus, Mahmoud Darwish, Maria Grech Ganado, Elena Stefoi, George Seferis. Italo Calvino, Adonis.
16 - What would you like to do that you haven't yet done?
Visit Japan and Latin America.
17 - If you could pick any other occupation to attempt, what would it be? Or, alternately, what do you think you would have ended up doing had you not been a writer?
Pizza maker and owner of a pizza place.
18 - What made you write, as opposed to doing something else?
Dealing with the angst of life! I found freedom in writing; it allowed me to dialogue critically with myself.
19 - What was the last great book you read? What was the last great film?
The Present Tense of the World (poems) by Amina Said. Film: Babylon Berlin.
20 - What are you currently working on?
Two collections of poetry, a collection of short stories on the theme of sexuality, and the novel that I mentioned earlier.
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