PLU Open Mic Interviews: Rachel Kesselman

Rachel Kesselman will feature at Paris Lit Up Open Mic on Thursday 26th January 2023. Here, Rachel answers the PLU questions and tells us more about her as a writer.

Who are you and who do you write for?

I’m Rachel. I grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania, among rolling mountains and abandoned coal mines. I’ve lived in Paris for ten years and act as Workshop Director of La Muse Writers and Artists Retreat in the South of France. I write for people who have questions, like myself. When I’m writing, I’m inviting others to think with me.

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I think I first knew I wanted to be a writer around the age of twelve. I filled many a notebook with pages of (bad) poetry. There was a lot happening in my family at that time, and of course, at age twelve there is a lot happening regardless. As I grew older, the want to write solidified into a need. Somewhere along the line the poetry turned to prose.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Only you know what you need to make your work. The trick is finding what it is and figuring out how to get it. Some writers might need a quiet room, others an adventure. I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all answer, except maybe time. (P.S. if you do need a quiet room, we’d love to have you at La Muse!)

How do you react to criticism of your work?

It’s not always easy to receive criticism, but I try to see it as an opportunity for growth rather than a definitive sentence. I’m grateful if someone has a reaction to my work, especially if it’s a strong one. We can never really be readers of our own writing; criticism may be the closest we can get to the other side.

What do you miss most about the pre-pandemic world?

Living in France, it is a little disorienting now not knowing if you should greet someone with “la bise” or not. I suppose I miss not worrying about contaminating others.

How has your work developed over the last 12 months?

2022 was an exciting writing year. I’m working on a novel and decided to change the point of view last spring, so I’m still working through my new draft. I sent some work out into the world. One of my essays was accepted for publication in Appalachian Review and my memoir was long listed for the Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Awards. Of course, I got plenty of rejections, too! But some editors were kind enough to send encouragements and suggestions.

What does the future look like you to? 

I think the future will be bright if we can manage to take responsibility for our present and past.

What importance has other people’s art had for you and your creative process?

Other people’s work has always had a big influence on my creative process. I’m fortunate enough to have a talented group of writer friends who each have a unique voice and style. I’m inspired by their diverse tastes. They open possibilities for my own work I wouldn’t think of alone.

Have you looked at different ways of expressing yourself or taken on a new medium?

I’m an amateur soprano, and I’ve always thought of singing as part of my writing life—another expression of my voice. A lot of classical vocal repertoire is literature set to music: art songs use poems as lyrics, operas can be based on novels or plays. What could be better than the marriage of music and literature?

Tell us about someone’s work you admire.

I love so many artists, but my most recent obsession is Edith Wharton. Her work addresses questions that are central to me as a writer, about class and being an American woman. I love the elegance of her prose and her attention to detail, particularly in social interactions and their consequences. And of course, I love her connection to France. If I had to choose a favorite novel, The House of Mirth is probably it.