The Back and Forth with Nature: An Interview with Poet Scott Davidson
In this interview, Davidson shares the essence of his writing background and the diverse experiences that have contributed to his poetic evolution. He reflects on the challenges and joys of the poetic process, emphasizing the ever-evolving nature of his relationship with writing. With candid reflections on his writing rituals and editing habits, Davidson provides valuable advice for those navigating the often complex landscape of the creative process.
Scott Davidson grew up in Montana, worked as a Poet in the Schools and lives with his wife in Missoula. His poems have appeared in Southwest Review and Bright Bones: Contemporary Montana Writing. His poem “More Complicated” was published in Issue One of Abraxas Review.
To the sparrows who think they run the yard, please / consult the website All About Birds where we learn / house sparrows survive only in the immediate vicinity / of people. - from “More Complicated” by Scott Davidson
Abraxas: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your writing background?
Davidson: I grew up in Montana, received my MFA from the University of Montana, and worked
as a poet in the schools for the state arts council. My writing background is varied—from poems to
blogs to catalog copy to radio commercials—but poems taught me how to write, and while I
haven’t written anything commercial in a while, I never stop writing poems.
Abraxas: What inspires you to write?
Davidson: As long as I’ve written, what continues to inspire me is the process itself, the act of
writing poems. Poems are the hardest thing I do or have done, and that, to some degree, keeps me
interested and coming back. Plus, each time is different, and nothing really replaces that.
Abraxas: Can you give us a brief insight into your writing philosophy? How do you define
your style?
Davidson: My style is very much a lyric narrative. I tend to write in regular stanzas with lines and
ideas that push at the regularity. My philosophy is pretty simple. I’m also a musician, and the
discipline of practicing for something like the guitar is a great example of something far less
tangible, like writing. Practice. Rehearsal. I keep writing.
Abraxas: Do you have any specific writing rituals or habits that help you write or edit?
Davidson: I don’t have “block” problems because my prime writing ritual when I sit down is to
start writing. I stress the composition phase a lot, which is something I taught and encouraged as
a poet in the schools. Don’t sit and think about what to write. Just start—one line, then the next
and the next until you feel like you’ve gotten somewhere and see what you have. That’s when
rewriting and editing come in.
“...those things our poems talk about—pay attention to—are not only important, also, but irreplaceable.”
Abraxas: Are there recurring themes or motifs in your writing? What draws you to these themes?
Davidson: Nature is a recurring theme, as it is with lots of Western poets. For me, the back and
forth with nature is a primary dynamic. I’ve been told there are many people in my poems, and
there are, relatively speaking I guess. They’re part of another theme/dynamic: how we foster and tend to our important relationships.
Abraxas: What are your long-term goals as a writer, and where do you see your writing
heading?
Davidson: At my age, and as long as I’ve been writing, I think I’m living my long-term goals—writing as much
as possible and zeroing in on publishing. I have a lot of individual publications but no collections, so on the
publications end, I’m focusing quite a bit on that.
Abraxas: Is there a specific message or impact you hope to achieve through your writing?
Davidson: Two things: that the act of writing poems itself, the individual voice, is an important thing, a significant act.
Also, those things our poems talk about—pay attention to—are not only important, also, but irreplaceable.
