Welcome Xander Bilyk as Assistant Editor of Fiction for Volume 29

I know you write poetry, fiction, stand up comedy, and songs. What is it that draws you to each of these genres? Do you have a favorite right now?

I talk to the Muses. Sometimes things come as an energy, and I have to decide what specific shape they want; are you a poem, are you a song, a stand up bit, a story? Sometimes it carries across all genres, and sometimes it’s like, “hey, I just like being played at the piano,” or, “I just want to make people laugh.”

I enjoy working in different genres, maybe out of procrastination because if I’m supposed to write a fiction story I find myself writing music or poetry, but I also tell people that’s the cure for writer’s block; if you can’t write a sestina, write a limerick, or paint a giraffe. Switch mediums and figure out where the muses are taking you. Currently, my focus is fiction because that’s where I need to learn the discipline to build something bigger, love something enough I can carry it for hundreds of pages, polish and revise until I can bring it into the world.

Also, I want to back up and say that everything is poetry.

I’ve had the pleasure of hearing you read some of your poetry. What inspires your poetry? What topics do you find yourself returning to in your writing?

Every single thing is inspiration. I really love a good writing prompt that challenges you to write something about insects, or squirrels, or shoes. I say if an inkling of an idea for a poem pops in your head: write it. I don’t shy away from topics; I write about a sack of potatoes as much as I write about love or death or queerness or politics. Writing with my own voice is what makes it art. I love bending mythology and retelling a story. It’s like storytelling is evolution and stories adapt and change with every generation, and now it’s my turn. 

Over the last few years, you’ve been a screener/reader for Water~Stone Review. What attracts you to a piece of writing?  What do you look for in the work that you read?

Something bold. Something has to happen that is memorable. If something sticks in your head after reading 20 more submissions, give it another look. I said it three times, so I believe the magic word I’m looking for is, “something.”

As an editor, what makes a piece of fiction stand out to you? What will you be looking for in the fiction submitted to Volume 29?

Well, Meghan didn’t give me the job because she wanted me to publish “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Maybe Mary has a thirst for vengeance. Maybe she was born with the head of a fish.

Where can readers find your work? (Include a link or two to things you’ve published if you like)

You’re likely to catch me at Unlikely Stories

Who are some of your favorite authors? Favorite books?

My poets are, like, Sylvia Plath. Anne Sexton. Sharon Olds. Patricia Smith, Patti Smith. If you read my work you probably wouldn’t guess my favorite poet is Syliva Plath, but once you see it you can’t unsee it.

My fiction crushes are NK Jemisin, Phillip Pullman, Octavia Butler, Tom Robbins, Queen Ursula.

What are you working on now?

I’m synthesizing a poetry collection called, “The Passion of the Fly” and a novel/speculative memoir titled, “The Fruit of the Month Club.” 

‘Xander Bilyk (he/they/whatchamacallit) is a third year MFA student at Hamline. They are a writer of fiction, poetry, music, and stand up comedy. They recently received the Deborah Keenan Poetry Award, and were voted top five queer performers in New Orleans FLAME magazine. Aside from being the assistant fiction editor for waterstone, were last year’s associate editor for Runestone Journal, a mentor for the Minnesota Prison Writers Workshop, a graduate assistant event coordinator for the creative writing program, and they work providing in home support to disabled adults.