The weirder, the better
An interview with Ally Gall
In this new interview series, we are sitting down with six Unfold alumni to learn more about their experiences writing in community throughout the month of April. Some of these alumni have been here since year, one day one; others only recently joined Unfold in 2024; and all have unique points of view and a passion for writing. Today, our interview is with Ally Gall!
Tell us a little about yourself / who you are as an artist
Hello friends! My name is Ally and I am a Midwest girly through and through. I have always been an avid reader (my first tattoo was an open book). I’ve been writing since I was young (helloooooooo Wattpad) and only in the last few years have transitioned to poetry. I love the different ways I can express myself in poetry and navigate complex emotions. I share musings on Substack, but other than that, I am a quiet writer. I’ve been trying to detach from social media, and so far, it’s been okay. I LOVE living in Minnesota. I have a part time job at a brewery that I love, and my friends mean the world to me. (this feels like a dating bio a little bit, maybe it is?)
How did you find Unfold?
Tristan was a campus mentor for me in college, so we first connected that way. I think it was year 2 of Unfold that I debated joining. I told Tristan, and she persuaded me. It was one of my favorite writing experiences ever, and I’m so glad I joined.
What about the Unfold community has kept you coming back?
The community is so inviting, warm, soft, and funny. Everyone will support and cheer you on, no matter what. It’s a great example of how community is built, and how that influences your friendships and writing.
What is your favorite week / session of Unfold?
I bet everyone is going to say Weird Week (and so am I). Weird Week is the BEST. If I know how to do math (I don’t) 4/20 falls in weird week and it’s always such a fun, bizarre, and goofy workshop. The weirder, the better.
What is your favorite thing you’ve written in Unfold? (if you’re saving this piece for publication, feel free to just describe it!)
There’s so many pieces, I don’t think I could choose. That also means i’d have to look through my work, and I don’t really do that (yes, I leave things to rest for a LONG time).
What in your life has changed since joining Unfold?
I have become so much more confident in why I write. I’ve learned that I write for me, and that others reading it is just a bonus. I want others to read my work, but I need to write for me. Unfold created the space that I could learn that.
What do you wish you knew before starting your Unfold Journey?
Nothing is bad! Nothing is wrong! Anything you write counts.
Any advice for new Unfolders/ folks considering joining?
If you’re like me, I am always scared to try new things. Unfold being online only, made it an easy way for me to show up without revealing too much about myself (at first). Now everyone gets to hear a lot of super personal things, but it’s because I feel safe enough to do so.
What are you most excited about for year 4?
I’m so excited to see everything new that happens. Last year, Unfold kind of exploded, and I’m so excited to see what happens with attendance and friends joining this year. I want so many new friends!
Thanks for joining us for an alumni interview! We hope you enjoyed learning about another poet’s experience with writing, in and out of Unfold. Registration is open now through March 25, and there are only 75 spots available (22 taken as of this writing!). We’d love to write with you! Explore our website here.
