Ask the Poet: Nathan Bergstedt

A short interview with Jen Knox

Nathan Bergstedt is a poet and playwright living in northern Minnesota. His stage work has been featured at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, The Great Northern Radio Show, and Twin Cities 24. Most recently, his poetry has been featured in publications by Pinky Thinker Press, Taint Taint Taint Magazine, and New Note Poetry. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Minnesota, where he focused on poetry.

Read his poems in Unleash here.

Jen Knox (JK): Hi, Nathan! Thanks for taking the time to speak with Unleash. Tell us a little about your journey as a creative person.

Nathan Bergstedt (NB): So let’s see, I was born, I grew up, started drawing… that’s a decent summation. I originally went to school for graphic design, but I found that instead of doodling between classes, I was mostly writing poetry. It didn’t take too long before I ended up quitting design school and enrolled in the University of Minnesota for a degree in English Literature. That was more or less the beginning of my long slog to becoming a writer.

Since then, despite largely focusing on poetry, I’ve had the most success as a playwright. After writing and producing a couple of short one-acts, I wrote an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” which was put on as a Shakespeare in the Park-style production (I played Petruchio in that show; I’m also an actor, which is what helped drive me to playwriting to begin with). That was my first full-length production. After that, I wrote and had produced three original full plays, plus another Shakespeare adaptation.

I’ve continued to write poetry, and have had several pieces picked up by publishers. It seems to be true what they say, how poetry is the easiest literary art to dabble in, but the hardest to master. I wrote poems for close to 20 years before getting my first acceptance letter. Not to say that this is a sign of mastery, but you get the point.

JK: You are a multifaceted artist, and we appreciate the poetic fortitude that led to work such as the poems we published here. Nathan, what is the best advice you've received (as a creative person or in life)?

NB: Probably variations of “just relax.” Oddly enough, it’s the pieces that I seem to toil over the least that end up being some of the best. I used to stress myself out trying to write what could be some kind of masterpiece, but once you figure out that a). that’s not how that works, and b). there’s no such thing as a “masterpiece” at the point that it’s written (that distinction just comes with time), then all you have left is just to do what you want to do. I dunno, just create the art that you want to see in the world. If it’s honest, it’ll speak to at least a few people.

There’s clearly more to it than that to create good art, but “chill out” is a good start.

JK: Can you share a few of your favorite lines, and explain what strikes you about the passage?

NB: One passage that stands out to me is from “Wild Geese by Mary Oliver” by New Zealand poet Hera Lindsay Bird.

“I love life

and I hate death

so when you try to describe to me

what it feels like to want to die

I can only look at you

Like you are a slow-burning planet

And I am pouring water through a telescope.”

There’s a plainness to the language that is just so attractive. So accessible. I’ve never heard such a profound communication between two people put so succinctly. I know what it’s like to be one of these people, and this interaction could, if you wanted, be an entire book. But all the pain, the desperation, it’s all summed up in 7 lines and ended with an almost humorous analogy. I wish I could’ve written this. 

JK: How did you find your first publication?

NB: Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (clmp.org). Always a great resource to find publishers looking for submissions.

JK: We agree - an excellent source. So tell us, what are you working on next? 

NB: I have a poetry book that seems in constant need of editing. One poem at a time is a hard enough task, but putting together a cohesive collection is something different entirely!

Aside from that, I’ve begun work on a new adaptation, this time for Macbeth. I don’t usually work on projects like this with directing on the mind, but I am for this one. It actually began with some ideas on how it would be produced, and I’ve been in communication with a local theater group about getting it on the stage. Very early stage so far, but I’m excited about seeing this process culminate before a live audience.

Thanks, Nathan!