Interview with Diana M. Raab Reader Views interviewer, Juanita Watson welcomes Diana Rabb, author of the new poetry collection “Dear Anais: My Life in Poems for You.” Diana M. Raab, MFA is a memoirist, essayist and poet. She has been writing from an early age. As an only child of two working parents, she spent a lot of time crafting letters and keeping a daily journal. In university she studied journalism, health administration and nursing, all serving as platforms for her years as a medical and self-help writer. Juanita: Thanks for talking with us today Diana. Your new book “Dear Anaïs” is a beautiful tribute to the late Anaïs Nin. Would you tell us how you first came to know about this famous diarist, and how she has made such an indelible mark on your life?
Juanita: For many, Anaïs is only known for her erotica, but this was only a fraction of who she was as a writer. Diana:Yes indeed. Erotica was a small fraction of her accomplishment as a writer. Actually, she is most known for her four volumes of published journals. She also has a few published novels. One of her books, called ‘A Woman Speaks,’ is a collection of lectures she gave to various universities around the country. The book really summarizes many of her sensibilities and philosophies. Juanita: Would you tell us about “Dear Anaïs” and the poetry in this collection? Diana: Each poem in this collection is written from my heart. Each one is written in response to something, whether it be loss, love, my environment or a humorous observation in everyday life. Juanita: What was the experience like for you as you went back through old journals to conjure up the poems for this book? Diana: It was very easy for me. Some of the poems were written in their entirety in my journal, while others were crafted from what may have been an opening line poem title culled from my journal. Juanita: Were you surprised with any of the poems, or the feelings that this project opened up? Diana: Not really. I think what surprised me the most was how a real feeling sometimes led to a fantasy or allowed my imagination to blossom. It made me think that maybe I should try writing some fiction. Juanita: Why did you choose a poetry collection for “Dear Anaïs,” as opposed to short essays, or another form? Diana: It just felt like the right thing to do. Why do you decide to wear a certain outfit on a certain day? Call it intuition, call it mood. Writing poetry in honor of Nin just felt like a good fit. Juanita: Diana, will a poem flow through your pen all at one time, or do you go back to your words and rework them? Tell us a little about how you typically write poetry. Diana: Typically, my poems begin with a title which is either a feeling or an image. That is usually enough to get me going. They all begin in my notebook. I then allow the poem to simmer there for a few weeks before entering into my computer file. Sometimes during the transcription I might edit the poem, change a word here or there, but for the most part, I keep the gist of the poem in tact. I don’t edit my poems nearly as much as I edit my prose. Juanita: What were your early beginnings in journal writing? Diana: My mother gave me my first journal when I was ten and my grandmother and caretaker took her life in my childhood home. My mother was at a loss at what to do to help me cope. It was the 1960s and people did not really talk about their feelings as they do today. The only people referred to therapists were those who were really crazy. It was the era of electric shock treatment for depression. In a sense, my journal was my first therapist. I poured my grief onto its pages. My first journal had Khalil Gibran sayings on top of each page. I used them as prompts for my writing. Juanita: What great inspiration! How important is it for you to read the writings of others today? Does it still bring insight? Diana: I always tell my students that to be a good writer you have to be a good reader. I can always pinpoint the work of students who don’t read. The words and syntax are usually off. Writers should read every day. I like doing my reading in the evening between the hours of eight and ten. Reading the work of other writers inspires, but it also insidiously teaches us how to write. It’s important to read the all the works of authors you admire. Juanita: What did keeping a daily journal mean to you as young girl, and then as a young woman? Diana: My journal was my best friend and confidant. I was an only child of two working parents. I spent a lot of time home alone. The journal never spoke back. As a teenager, it was a place to share my angst and all the things I hated about my parents and loved about my friends. My journal was always there for me. Juanita: Today, what does keeping a journal look like for you? Do you have many that you write in, or just one that never leaves your side? Diana: Today, I carry what I call a ‘writer’s notebook.’ I call it this because the volume includes everything from story ideas, poem titles, favorite quotations, musings and books to be read. I used to have a few journals going at once, but it became very complicated so now I just carry one. When working on a longer and more involved book project, I keep one aside just for that. Juanita: There is something very romantic about keeping a journal, and writing one’s thoughts, observations, and myriad wanderings of the mind, and I’m sure everyone’s motivation is different. Why do you do it? Diana: The notebook is a way to preserve memories before they vanish. It is also a great tool because as we age we tend to forget. It serves as a memory jogger. Sometimes just one word or two can jog my memory about an image or an event which may be used for future works. Juanita: It sounds very much like a photo album. How many journals have you amassed over the years, and I imagine you would highly recommend that everyone have a diary or journal? Diana: Yes. That is a good analogy. I have truly lost count of the number of notebooks I have filled over the years. I have two big plastic boxes of journals. The more recent ones I keep on my book shelf because they sometimes contain nuggets of information which I can use I my present day work. Juanita: Your grandmother also kept journals, which was the basis of your memoir “Regina’s Closet.” In going back and reading about her life through her journals, did it change the way you approached journaling yourself, and if so, how? Diana: My grandmother kept many journals while growing up in Poland, but because her life was disrupted by World War I and also being orphaned at the age of 12, many of her journals got lost. The journal which I based my most recent memoir on, was a retrospective journal she wrote about the life in Europe. She wrote it after her arrival in the United States in 1939. Juanita: Diana, you’ve actually written many books in a variety of genres. Do you enjoy all writing equally, or do you have a preference? Diana: I am a writer at heart. I live to write and yes, I am compelled to write in multi-genres. I’ve actually moderated a few panels on the subject because today more and more writers are choosing to write in more than one genre. Poetry comes very naturally to me and many people encourage me to write more of it. Juanita: Do you feel that when writing poetry, you are tapping into a different source, or a different part of yourself, than when you are writing in other genres? Diana: Poetry is both pure and economical. Good poetry does not ramble. It gets to the core of the issue being discussed. Poetry has taught me how to focus, whereas in prose you have the liberty to ramble. In many ways poetry allows you to tap into the subconscious. Sometimes when writing poetry I enter a trance-like state. Something that is difficult to explain, but it’s almost meditative and it certainly feels good. Juanita: Would you tell us about the community work that you are involved with, as well as the UCLA Extension Writers Program? Diana: I teach journaling to high-risk teens in the community because I believe they harbor a great deal of angst. I am always amazed at how their teachers tell me that many of them detest writing, but when I come into the class and tell them to write without paying any attention to grammar or spelling, their words blossom on the page. They love writing about themselves and their feelings and feel so much better afterwards. I also teach writers in the Writers’ Program at UCLA Extension. I teach the art of keeping a notebook for the writer. I have also taught groups around the country. Juanita: Diana, your preface was written by contemporary journal writing pioneer, and friend of Anaïs Nin, Tristine Rainer. Would you tell us about your connection? Diana: One of my first books on diary writing was Tristine’s “The New Diary,” for which Nin wrote a preface. For years it’s been on my bookshelf. A few years ago my name landed on a mailing list for those who admired the work of Anaïs Nin. In February 2008 I was invited to the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. Many of her colleagues and former friends got up and spoke about her influence on them and what a wonderful person she was. I came away loving her more and was even more surprised by her sensibilities. I had already begun this poetry book dedicated to Anaïs. I introduced myself to Tristine Rainer and asked her if she was willing to take a look at the book and possibly write a preface. She agreed. I was absolutely honored and enthralled that she accepted the task. Juanita: Diana, are you working on any other projects? Diana: I am always working on a few projects at once. I work best this way. At the moment, I am just wrapping up another poetry book. I have also just completed editing an anthology called, “Writers and Their Notebooks,” which is forthcoming by the University of South Carolina Press in September 2009. In addition I am updating my first book because much of the information is outdated. It is called, ‘Your High Risk Pregnancy: A Practical and Supportive Guide.” It’s also due out in 2009. I’ve asked Dr. Errol Norwitz from Yale School of Medicine to assist me because I haven’t practiced nursing for more than 25 years. It’s really a different kind of writing. Less creative, but gratifying, nevertheless. Juanita: How can readers find out more about you and your work? Diana: These days it’s easy to learn about writers. You can visit my website, http://www.dianaraab.com/ and blog, “Diana’s Notebook,” at http://dianaraab.wordpress.com/. Both these sites are updated regularly. Juanita: Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with us today about your book, "Dear Anaïs: My Life in Poems for You." Many blessings to you, and all the best in your future endeavors. Read Review of Dear Anaïs
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