Rockville Alum and Published Author Meets with RHS Creative Writers

Emily Hockaday, a famous poet and editor for two sci-fi literary magazines, as well as a 2003 Rockville Graduate, came to visit the RHS Creative Writers on October 6th. She shared a number of poems to the young writers, including her current series of poetry where she is going on a “nostalgic road trip” and looking at her “angsty youth with a different perspective.”

According to Hockaday, she’s always been interested in writing, ever since she was a young girl. Her parents would give her literary magazines for children, and with something to read, she always felt the need to write. She mainly sticks to poetry as she is able to connect with it and it’s “great for time management.”

After Hockaday read a collection of poems, the RHS writers were able to ask the poet a few questions. One of them regarded rejection; “You just have to accept it. Some pieces just don’t fit the vibe of that particular magazine,” Hockaday explained. Another question asked was, “How do you deal with writer's block?” Hockaday’s response was, “Usually I just look up poetry prompts or I go grab a Science Times magazine and look for titles… there’s always something new happening in science.”

After the Q and A, Hockaday gave the writers a prompt. She told them to write down ten hard truths for five minutes. Then, she asked them to pick an animal and write down fourteen facts about that animal for ten minutes. Finally, she told them to pick one hard truth and add it into the animal facts.

At the end of the session, the writers lined up to get Hockaday’s book, Naming the Ghost, signed by the famous writer. Hockaday smiled at each student and wrote, “Keep Writing!”, encouraging the next generation of RHS writers.