Carter Myers is a student at Western Illinois University majoring in English Literature and Language and minoring in Creative Writing, Professional Writing, and General Music (non-teaching). Myers is also involved with WIU’s Department of English through working as a managing editor for The Mirror and the Lamp – a non-fiction literary publication documenting the lives and experiences of those involved with the English Department at WIU – as well as being president of Sigma Tau Delta, WIU’s chapter of the English Honor Society for English majors or minors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Myers also works part time at the University as an Alumni Engagement Associate and at the Western Illinois Museum as Program Assistant.

In 2025, Myers published the poem “Me” in Western Illinois University’s Elements, the Department of English’s literary annual, and it eventually went on to win second place for the Cordell Larner Award in Poetry. Myers also published another poem in the 2025 Elements publication titled “Hannah,” along with a creative nonfiction piece titled “Sensual Migraines.” Myers’ poetry explores the complexity of relationships and the search for self-identity all through the use of form, rhythm, and beautifully descriptive imagery. Myers’ creative nonfiction explores their connection to writing, the intricacy of living with migraines, and the emotional relationship of “being sick” to feeling loved all through the use of metaphors, vivid images, and a nonlinear narrative structure. On November 30th, 2025, Myers took time out of their day to answer some questions about their publication, what it means to be a writer, and their future for writing.

Anali Mendoza: How did you get into writing and eventually publishing some of your work?

Carter L. Myers: I’ve only published my work when asked to do so by others (either for a class or because a friend wanted me to) or for a specific niche writing contest. I often write for myself. I grew up wanting to publish vast swaths of my work (when I was very young, I wanted to be two things: a marine biologist and an author). I’ve always been writing. However, as I’ve grown older, the desire to publish has vanished.

AM: You’ve mentioned before that sometimes when you have published your work that you don’t feel that it’s 100% perfect. Would you say that’s one reason why you feel like your desire to publish has vanished?

CLM: I don’t think that anything is “100% perfect.” Maybe, though, that is super cynical of me. My favourite movies and television shows have blatant mistakes inline within them (actors wearing blue suits that were left in the final product). I’ve read many uber-successful novels and caught spelling mistakes. I still love these factually imperfect things. I don’t think that fear of being perfect is the reason for the change. I think my priorities in life have shifted. I prioritize vastly different things now as compared to a few years ago. This moment, being seen…being professionally published is just not something that I view as highly.

AM: I totally get it, writing for yourself but not feeling the desire to publish. But I was wondering, since you have met and had lunch with some published others [authors], if those opportunities have helped you grow as a writer?

CLM: At WIU, I’ve met and had lunch with Emily St. John Mandel, Javier Zamora, and Melissa Febos. I’ve met an incredible number of other ‘professional authors’ through the university and my personal life, too! If I had to denote a single takeaway from my encounters with “published authors,” I think it would be that everyone is incredibly human and that publication (if one wants it and is willing to fight for it) is incredibly achievable. These experiences have helped me to learn the importance of confidence in oneself. Read, too! Always read! Every author has their own unique experiences which cannot be generalized or summed up in an interaction and which must be read on a page!

AM: I totally agree with you, I think some of the best writing out there is inspired by the things we read. I think we can always be inspired by other writers! Speaking of inspiration, do you find yourself being inspired by other writers when it comes to your own work? I noticed for your poem titled “Me,” published in Elements 2025, that I could see a bit of inspiration from Rupi Kaur. Do you think, as a writer, that we should be motivated by what we admire about others’ writing?

CLM: I think that everything I write is inspired by something or someone else (even subconsciously). I think that nearly everything is inspired by something else. I have a poem in Elements 2025 that became titled “Hannah” out of a requirement for no untitled poems. “Hannah,” however, was originally inspired by Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey.

I think that inspiration in media is absolutely incredible. I think that we should lay bricks upon the foundation of those stories that we enjoy, and constantly build upon them. I think that adaptation and fanfiction are two of the most fascinating nodes of literature currently at play within the modern world.

AM: Since you brought up fanfiction, I’m a bit curious if you think that fanfiction could be a good building block for those who aspire to be writers?

CLM: I think that anything can be a good building block for individuals who ‘aspire to be writers.’ There is an aura of prestige surrounding writing; people are afraid to call themselves writers. But really, I think, to be a writer, all one has to do is write. Certainly to live writing only fiction full-time takes a lot more (that is a much more prestigious position [and it takes immense craft and creativity]). I don’t aspire to write fiction full-time, but I am a writer. I think that if one wants to be a writer, all one needs to do is write, and if one’s outlet for writing is to create fanfiction, that is great!

AM: I agree, I think fanfiction is a great start for aspiring writers especially if one fears criticism, since there is some anonymity with fanfiction. But criticism kinda comes with writing so I was wondering, how do you handle criticism as a writer?

CLM: I love constructive criticism. It is such a necessary part of improving one’s work. There are better and worse ways of delivering criticism, but generally, I adore receiving it. It may not be something that I want to hear, but it is often necessary and will very likely make my piece better. If I vehemently disagree with critique, though, then I will disregard it!

AM: Okay, okay, this is my last question since I don’t want to take up too much of your time and it is getting late. What is one thing you want to write, something that if you had the time to write, you would write? Rather if this is a book of poems or a memoir or a work of fiction, what is something that we might see (or maybe just for your eyes only) that you would like to write one day?

CLM: When I was seven, I wanted to write a series of realist novels. In the past, there was a part of me that believed that I was actually going to write it. Now, it lives in my mind as an idea-well, which I draw from when creating other stories and pieces of media.

There isn’t necessarily a single thing that I want to create, rather, there are things I want to do. There are people I want to work with, and there are changes I want to see made within the world. Once I finish my time within academia, I plan to set forth and work to create changes, using language to positively influence others. 

AM: Well, now I’m intrigued about these realistic fiction books! But, I wish you all the best for your future endeavors. I think you’ve already positively influenced others but I can also see you inspiring more people in the future, along with new generations. Thank you so much for letting me interview you today!!