Contributor Interview: Yvette Naden

Yvette Naden's "Confessing to Mrs. Dalloway Through a Bathroom Door" appears in the Winter 2026 issue of Broad Ripple Review.

What is your favorite punctuation and a literary hot take you have?

Favorite Punctuation: Parentheses because when used, it's as if the text takes on a life of its own, as if the narrative is interrupting itself to reveal a sense of uncertainty or vulnerability. I like the idea that even the book knows it's holding something back and wants to correct the record. 

Literary Hot-take: Awards culture often rewards trauma-porn literature, sensationalizing suffering instead of exploring its interior, lasting effects. See: A Little Life.

What inspired you to write “Confessing to Mrs. Dalloway Through a Bathroom Door?"

“Confessing to Mrs. Dalloway Through a Bathroom Door” grew out of my love for writing in conversation with existing texts, especially modernist ones. I wanted to imagine what it might mean to speak back to Mrs. Dalloway from a contemporary emotional landscape. The piece was also shaped by a relationship breakdown of sorts, not one that ended, but one that never began due to fear of rejection. I wanted to explore this relationship dynamic through a modern Clarissa Dalloway and Sally Seton, where Sally is more than a figure in Clarissa's memory. 

What’s one change you wish to see in the writing/publishing industry for 2026? 

I’d like to see the writing/publishing industry become less gate-kept and more open to risk. As an autistic woman from a working-class background, I’ve often noticed that opportunities are shaped more by who you know rather than what you know. Increasing transparency, supporting experimentation, and fostering honest dialogue about inclusion could make the industry more accessible.

I saw that you are from Europe. Have you noticed any significant differences between European and American publishing culture? Do you have a preference for one or the other?

I’ve found American publishing to be more open and accessible than the UK, which still feels quite gate-kept. During the pandemic for example, it was the American poetry community that gave me real support and kept me writing. While I can’t say I have a strict preference, I’ve been really struck by the accessibility and encouragement in the American literary world.

I also noted that you like to bake. Do you think your baking process has affected your writing process, or vice versa? If so, how?

I have ADHD, so I work best when I’m juggling multiple tasks. I often have my laptop on the kitchen table whilst I'm measuring ingredients; it looks very chaotic, but it helps me focus. 

Now that “Confessing to Mrs. Dalloway Through a Bathroom Door” has wrapped up, what’s next on the writing docket?

Currently, I’m working on a novel for the Discoveries Prize about a working-class woman in STEM. It examines the prejudice and isolation she experiences in academia, at a time when society was eager to get women into science but not prepared to support them once they were there.

Do you have any advice for upcoming writers looking to get their work published?

Write about what matters to you. Your work will find its audience.

---

About the Author

Yvette Naden was born in Mayenne France, in 2002, but moved to the UK in 2006 where she discovered she wanted to become a writer. She works as an English Tutor in York, and when she's not writing, she walks the Yorkshire Three Peaks and tries to bake.

---

About the Interviewer

Ollie Sikes (they/them) is an evolving queer writer, editor, and creator based in Dallas, TX. They completed a double BA in Creative Writing and Theatre at Butler University. Besides volunteering with Broad Ripple Review, they also serve as Content Creator for the little things literary magazine. Their poetry has been published with Synchronized Chaos. You can follow them on Instagram @ollie.sikes.