In this episode of the Angle on Writing Podcast poet, novelist, playwright, educator, and former Santa Barbara Poet Laureate David Starkey discuses building a lifelong writing career.
David shares how he knew he wanted to become a writer as early as high school—typing stories on an old typewriter—and how that early commitment shaped a career that spans poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, music writing, and teaching.
This conversation explores the reality of sustaining a creative life: adapting to different forms, finding what you do best, earning a living as a writer, and staying open to new opportunities even decades into your career.
✍️ In this episode
Lisa and David discuss:
• how David knew he wanted to write early on—and never veered from that path
• transitioning from fiction writing into poetry and discovering his strengths
• how music influenced his writing across genres
• writing about artists like Bruce Springsteen and Talking Heads
• balancing creative work with teaching and textbook writing
• how he published novels without an agent
• the realities of rejection and persistence in publishing
• his experience as Santa Barbara Poet Laureate
• writing poetry inspired by community and real-world topics
• how to choose which books to review in today’s crowded publishing landscape
• the challenges and rewards of playwriting
• why dialogue is one of his strengths as a writer
🌟 Key Takeaways
Persistence is everything
David’s advice to his younger self—and to writers today—is simple:
Don’t give up.
A sustainable writing career comes from long-term commitment and passion.
Stay open to discovering your strengths
You may start in one genre and find your true voice in another. David began as a fiction writer but found early success in poetry—and later expanded into many forms.
Many ways exist to build a writing career
David’s career includes:
- poetry
- novels
- nonfiction books
- playwriting
- teaching
- textbook writing
Writers today often explore multiple paths.
Writing is both creative and practical
Teaching, textbook writing, and other writing-related work provide financial stability while supporting your creative life.
🧠 Practical Advice for Writers
1. Try different forms of writing
You may discover unexpected strengths—whether in poetry, nonfiction, dialogue, or teaching.
2. Let others see your work
Sharing your writing through readings, workshops, or feedback groups leads to essential growth.
3. Prepare for rejection
Not every project will find an audience right away. Even experienced writers file away unpublished work.
4. Stay flexible in your career
David moved between genres and opportunities throughout his career. That flexibility helped him sustain a long-term writing life.
5. Make your work as strong as possible before releasing it
Once your writing goes out in the world, you lose control over how it’s received, so make sure it’s your best.
🎭 A Career Across Creative Forms
David’s work spans an impressive range of creative outlets:
- Poetry including his time as Santa Barbara Poet Laureate
- Novels centered around music and musicians
- Nonfiction books analyzing major artists
- Playwriting, with productions staged across the country
- Songwriting and performing in local bands
This breadth reflects a key theme of the episode: writers don’t have to stay in one lane.
📚 Behind the Scenes of Book Reviewing
As co-editor of the California Review of Books, David shares insight into:
- Overwhelming number of book pitches
- why he focuses on reviewing books he genuinely likes
- how reviewers choose books based on their interests and expertise
- the importance of thoughtful, fair criticism
🎤 Poetry & Community
As Poet Laureate, David:
- wrote poems inspired by community suggestions
- explored topics beyond his personal experience
- created collaborative projects, including bilingual poetry performances
This experience highlights how writing connects deeply with a local audience.
✨ Memorable Insight
One of David’s most powerful messages:
You might think you know what kind of writer you are—but you won’t really know until you try different things.
👤 About David Starkey
David Starkey is a poet, novelist, playwright, educator, and former Santa Barbara Poet Laureate. He taught creative writing for over 30 years and is the author of numerous books across genres, including poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.
He is also co-editor of the California Review of Books and an instructor at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference.
Subscribe:
