A Conversation with Renee Keele

Interviewed by Britt Trachtenberg Managing Poetry Editor at Chaotic Merge Britt Trachtenberg: Can you describe your writing process, starting with a draft? Renee Keele: To write poems I must be inspired, and often I go through long droughts where my muse is missing. When looking for inspiration I will read poetry, mainly from contemporary artists,…

A Conversation with James B. Nicola

Interviewed by Jasmine Ferrufino Editor in Chief at Chaotic Merge Jasmine Ferrufino: What would you love your audience to know about you that you might not express in your writing that often? James B. Nicola: Oh, I host the writer’s circle at the local library branch on 51st and 10th avenue, on the second and…

A Conversation with Synovia Roberts

Interviewed by Tabatha Miller a Fiction Editor at Chaotic Merge Tabatha Miller: What is the most difficult part of your writing process? Synovia Roberts: I think the most difficult part of my writing process is sitting down and writing. I have ideas all the time, and I try to keep them all in my notes…

A Conversation with Luise Mörke

Interviewed by Lassiter Jamison a Fiction Editor at Chaotic Merge Lassiter Jamison: “Memory Foam” is a beautiful mix of the relatable and the absurd (as if life). Has anything close to the events of this story happened to you personally? Luise Mörke: The best way I can answer this without getting close to the word…

A Conversation with Shome Dasgupta

Interviewed by Jasmine Ferrufino Editor in Chief at Chaotic Merge Jasmine Ferrufino: What would you love your audience to know about you that you might not express in your writing that often? Shome Dasgupta: Oh! I’m not quite sure—I’m afraid there’s not too much about me to know other than I love to read and…

The AFAB, QTBIPOC Artist as an Object: Commodified

by Ami (@HotWraithBones) CW: Mature Content (18+) My writing and art are worth less than my boobs. That’s a fact I’m quickly learning as I progress in my attempt at a creative career. Where brown skin is involved on the part of the creator, labor can only operate in a single direction: from the brown…

Eternally Gay

By Hannah Olesen WARNING: SPOILERS In 2021 the LGBTQ community was happy to see the first on-screen gay couple making headway in the Marvel movie titled, Eternals. Contrary to popular belief, this is not the first time a gay character has been introduced into the marvel universe. At the end of Avengers Endgame, there was…

The Love-Hate Relationship With Social Media

by SA Sneha It is 2 am. My eyes are tired and dragging themselves to shut down, but I push them to stay open for a few more minutes. I promise myself this will be the last reel I will see. Fifteen minutes later, I am still scrolling relentlessly through Bo Burnham’s “Jeff Bezos,” ‘Touch…

The Show Must Go On

By Hannah Olesen Many Newsie, Wicked, and Hamilton lovers were heartbroken when Broadway closed its doors for the foreseeable future, but now there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel.  We lost a great deal of things due to this everlasting nightmare starting back in 2020. This pandemic affected us: going…