Meet Dorian Winter, The Malu Zine’s issue 06 contributor and writer of “that time i built the night sky from scratch.”
SR: Could you give us a quick introduction to yourself?
Hi! My name is Dorian, I’m 19, and I’m an artist, writer, and all-round creative from Western Australia. I’m primarily a visual artist, but I have been dabbling in poetry and writing articles on my personal blog for the past few months. In my creative work, I like to try and create ‘dreamscapes’ that show the whimsical side of life, as well as the unexpected.
SR: Your poem, “that time i built the night sky from scratch,” got our whole team tearing up. We would love to know your thought process while writing the piece!
“that time i built the night sky from scratch” was originally a snippet from a larger poem, “to taxidermy the human heart” – but I got so engrossed in the marine imagery emerging from the first draft that I decided to split the work in two. The poem, intentionally open to interpretation (as I typically write with ambience in mind rather than a fixed meaning), draws inspiration from the profound desire to construct a life with someone you love deeply.
As a queer young adult navigating a world that can sometimes feel at odds with one's identity and lifestyle, there are moments when the challenges seem as palpable as bad weather on a bridge or the sensation of drowning underwater. However, everything shifts when you encounter someone with whom you share a connection, both feeling pulled by the social current. In such a situation, it becomes a choice to embrace and make the best of your circumstances. From this perspective, the concept of constructing your own night sky while submerged underwater emerged, serving as both a romantic notion and an act of defiance against external pressures.
SR: We heard that you are a psychology student! How does the content you study connect to your writings?
As a psychology student, my engagement with the subject extends into every aspect of my life, influencing my studies, professional endeavours, and artistic hobbies. In my current role as a research assistant in psychological research, it’s amusing how I transition from data-centric content during the day to the realm of dreamlike, psychoanalytic ideas when crafting my poetry in the evenings. I find the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and related disciplines to be incredibly rich in terms of imagery and philosophical concepts. My writing often explores themes of memory and nostalgia through the perspectives of neurogenesis and synaptic pruning—delving into the peculiar chemical processes occurring within our minds as we navigate the world. Even ideas that have faced empirical skepticism, such as Freudian psychoanalysis and Jungian archetypes, serve as abundant sources of narrative inspiration for me.
SR: As an Editor-in-Chief of the literary journal Antler Velvet, how did your work in the publication industry help you grow as a writer?
Antler Velvet is a huge passion project of mine, and my editorial team is currently working closely with me to produce our inaugural issue “Moult”. Working in the publication industry is interesting as a writer, because working through the ‘sludge pile’ (I kind of hate the term, I think everything has its own merit) shows you what work is immediately evocative, and which work isn’t. Working with fellow editors is also fascinating, as you get a myriad of perspectives – some work is a lot better on the second read, whereas some is just superficially interesting. It’s important to get multiple perspectives, not just while curating a magazine but also when producing your own work.
SR: What are your future plans as a writer?
I’ve written a little over 100 poems now and have edited and illustrated a debut poetry collection. I just have no idea where to put everything, and still need to dive deeper into the world of literary agents and that whole, arduous process. So I would say short term, I’d like to get my work out there, either as a smaller chapbook or as a full collection. Long term, I want to build an artistic community (through Antler Velvet or just my online accounts) and help foster creativity overall.
SR: Any advice for young writers wanting to expand their writing career?
Firstly, get used to rejection. Especially with regards to literary magazines, your work might be a terrible fit for some, but just right for others. There’s definitely a Goldilocks paradigm at work when it comes to getting published. Secondly, just keep writing. It sounds simpler than it is, but as a poet, write work as reflections, diary entries, ekphrastic responses to music or films – anything. Don’t be scared to use new words, strange imagery combinations, eclectic layout etc. Your poetry should look a little bit like your mind, and if it’s messy, then it’s messy! Finally, take advantage of publications like The Malu Zine who want to spotlight your work. Getting your work out there is important, and there are organisations dedicated to giving you a voice as a writer, so don’t hold back.