Why I Write Wednesday: IUWC Intern Hannah Keeler

I am a senior at IU double-majoring in creative writing and theatre arts. I am primarily a playwright and a poet. I write because I literally can’t stop. If I lived on a desert island, I would write for myself. Of course I write to connect with other people, but ultimately I write for myself. 

I write dark comedy and satire heavily influenced by horror. Some authors that I draw inspiration from are Sarah Kane, Martin McDonagh, and weirdly enough–Chekhov. I love how he crafts a narrative filled with bleak humor and existential dread. I love Chekhov because he writes horror for the soul.

 I am interested in femininity and sexuality, the grotesque, and the intersection of media and theatre. I like to shine a light on the secret and nasty parts of life. I like writing about chipped nail polish, Marathon cups, and Trash People. I believe the future of literature depends upon avoiding pretension at all costs. I want my work to be accessible and intriguing to the everyday person. Crossing boundaries between the academic and the everyday is how literature remains in the public eye and includes people with diverse backgrounds. 

That isn’t to say my work isn’t subversive, because it is. Everyone has different preferences and tolerances when it comes to the grotesque and the unseemly. My goal is for my work to be accessible for those it appeals to.