GRWM (Get Ready With Me) is a new (and dare I say sexy!) segment where I'll be interviewing writers retro-style-- cute little questionnaires about what writers are wearing, listening to, snacking on, etc. We want to know what they're into and what gives them the ick. We want writing prompts based on their books. We want to know their favorite song, the worst writing advice they've ever received, and you better believe we want to know their brunch order.
It's time to stop asking writers the same boring questions and start getting REAL.
Gina Nutt is the author of the essay collection NIGHT ROOMS (Two Dollar Radio), as well as the poetry collection Wilderness Champion and two chapbooks—Here Is My Adventure I Call it Alone and Ars Herzogica (dancing girl press). Her poetry, fiction, and nonfiction have appeared in online and print journals, including Cosmonauts Avenue, Joyland, Ninth Letter, and Salt Hill. She is a graduate of Syracuse University’s MFA program in Creative Writing. She lives in Ithaca with her husband, the fiction writer David Nutt, their two cats, and dog.
Online, Gina tends a creative mood ring—Late to the Party—on Tumblr and sends out a weekly newsletter via Substack—Kitsch Ocean. Kitsch Ocean is summed up as a space for…Writing, books, music, film, home, nature, vibes
What does getting ready for writing look like for you?
Rolling out of bed is first. I’m usually up between 4:30 and 5 AM. I put on coffee, feed my cats, and go right to my desk.
What does the space look and feel like?
My office feels like a small, sweet tree fort. I’ve packed the space with books, journals, trinkets, post-its, and spider plants, plus a blazing bright happy lamp to summon artificial sunlight. A few of my favorite things: the rosy accent wall, a framed display of a pearl’s evolution, a picture of the Winchester Mystery House, the wooden box containing the ashes of a gone feline friend (Hester forever <3), a David Lynch prayer candle, some crystals, and cat whiskers I’ve found around the house and saved. Practical and cozy, with echoes of girlhood, nature, and mortality, is the overall vibe.
What’s your outfit of choice?
I like to be comfortable, so I love super-soft sweatpants and a tee shirt or a gigantic sweater. (Very glam, obviously!)
What are you listening to?
It depends. Sometimes, I’m really into writing with early morning sounds–birds outside, my cats purring, the quiet. When I do listen to music during writing time, it’s usually atmospheric stuff. There’s this great series from Irv Teibel called Environments, and that’s, like, 60s/70s field recordings of nature sounds. I’ll also listen to Duster, Blonde Redhead, and Dirty Three.
What are you snacking on and or drinking?
My beverages of choice are water and coffee. I like to snack on fruit–bananas, strawberries, and dates are my favorites. I’ve lately been into toast with hot honey and flaky salt. If I’ve baked the day before, there may be cinnamon rolls or a piece of cake.
What time of day do you write?
Mornings! Weekdays, I write 5ish to 7 and then sign on for Chelsea Hodson’s Morning Writing Club from 8 until I have to go to work. Weekends, it’s more like 5/6ish until I tap out, usually 9/10ish.
Subscribe to Gina’s newsletter!
I love this new series!
This resuscitated me after a stupid argument. Now I’m back alive in joy with these cozy, sweet, friend vibes. Can’t wait for more of these!