Twenty Questions with Leigh Stein

In her heartbreaking third book, Land of Enchantment, Leigh Stein transforms the experience of surviving an abusive relationship into a powerful work of art. This June, she’s returning to Catapult to teach a six-week nonfiction workshop that will help you turn your own obsessions into compelling literature.

We played a quick game of twenty questions with Leigh to get to know her a little better.

1. Where are you?

Jet-lagged in Connecticut

2. What did you forget to do this morning?

Will know by afternoon

3. What was the last book you read?

The Girls by Emma Cline (verdict: omg holy shit)

4. What makes you cringe?

Everyday garden-variety sexism

5. Do you have any writing rituals?

Emotional, minimalist music and snacks

6. How much coffee do you drink?

A lot, but only in the morning

7. Is there one book you can point out as the one that made you want to be a writer?

Going to acting school made me want to be a writer

8. What’s the last lie you told?

“I’m fine.”

9. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

When I think I’m a genius

10. What’s your worst habit?

Saying yes to things so people will like me

11. How do you know when a piece of writing is finished?

When I start crying at the end

12. What’s your most overused word?

I overuse colons (the punctuation, not the word)

13. Do you write with music playing?

Yes

14. Cookies or ice cream?

Ice cream because it appears infinite

15. What was the last vacation you took?

I just got back from Barcelona yesterday, my first vacation in two years since starting BinderCon

16. What’s your favorite color?

Pink

17. Do you like thunderstorms?

Obviously

18. What’s your favorite place to write?

In my home office

19. What are you writing now?

I am about to start a piece on love addiction

20. Who’s going to win this season of The Bachelorette?

Probably one of the male contestants (sorry, I don’t know! I’ve missed the first few episodes. I realize I am disappointing like three of my Twitter followers.)

There are still a couple of seats left in Leigh Stein’s nonfiction workshop, Obsession as Engine. Apply now.

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