An Interview with Diane Bridges
Diane Bridges (she/her/they/them) is an independently published poet from Arkansas who loves all things gritty, raw, and broken. Her writing has been described as “like Deadpool working through feelings with poetry,” which is both accurate and one of the most flattering things she’s ever heard. Diane isn’t pretentious enough to be a “real” poet, though. She’s kind of vulgar and, frankly, not all that deep. Just a soft butch in cargo pants. No foggy mists or serene landscapes, only screeching feedback and sick guitar riffs. And, every once in a while, it sounds cool.
Diane’s early work, her three-volume Beneath the Surface collection, can be found on Amazon. She has been featured in Wishbone Words, the Radical Catalyst arts and literary journal, Page Gallery Journal, and Miscreant Anthology.
What inspired you to start writing this book?
Anger. Anger at the state of the world, the patriarchy, artificial intelligence, the government, late-stage capitalism, and abusers.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
Fun fact: it’s actually Beatles related, although very distantly. I was watching Across the Universe and had the subtitles on, as one does when they’re kind of deaf. I think it was on Tubi. JoJo started hitting these rebellious, infuriated little off-key riffs (if you’ve seen the movie, you know what I’m talking about), and the subtitle for them was [RIFFING DISCORDANTLY]. I knew immediately that was my title.
Describe your dream book cover.
I’d like to think I nailed it with this one! Grungy, dirty, and through my own lens. The cover for Riffing Discordantly is an edit of a picture I took through the windshield of my Subaru on a rainy day.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
About Us by Evanescence, and I’m still a bit annoyed this song didn’t drop until I was already editing! The entire Sanctuary album is the perfect soundtrack for this one. I Gave You Everything by Halestorm was played pretty heavily during the writing process, although I am a bit partial to them, so Halestorm is playing basically no matter what I’m doing. This might be easier if I listed albums hahaha.
What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?
The Self is an Ocean by Cypher, and SAVED by Prudence Brooks. Both of these women are incredible poets that I’m lucky to have discovered!
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I’m a lifelong service worker! Currently in janitorial, but I’ve also delivered auto parts, managed a pizza restaurant, worked retail, and cleaned hotel rooms.
I think my readers would be at least a little surprised that I’m a high school dropout with no formal education in writing. I’m just hyperlexic. Turns out all that “student reads above grade level” was worth something after all!
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
Kristina Mahr and Whitney Hanson’s writing heavily shaped my early work. I’ve been writing poetry off and on since eighth grade, but I connected with their work around the same time that I was processing some majorly unwanted romantic feelings and I fell right back into poetry. My focus has since shifted (thank goodness!) and now writers like Prudence Brooks are much more my style. Angry, biting, direct words that punch you right in the gut. I can only hope to be as talented as her one day!
Where is your favorite place to write?
Rotting in my bed, actually. Just me, my blankets, and my Google Docs against the world!
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
STOP WORRYING ABOUT MEN. Seriously. My first few books were so heavily male-centered it’s ridiculous. I’d like to grab younger me by the shoulders and shake her while screaming, “These boys ain’t sh*t! Get mad at the government! Get mad at the system that created these broken men! Stop crying and start raging!!”
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
I hope they’re thinking, “Wow, this girl sure is mad about injustice! Maybe I should be too.”
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