Los Angeles often gets described as a place where everything feels possible, but speaking with Anna Dorn, it becomes clear that the city is better understood as a stage for people who know how to perform themselves. Her writing circles ambition, desire, vanity, and collapse with an unbothered clarity that refuses sentiment. The women in her books move through the world with sharp self-awareness and a willingness to lean into their own contradictions. They search for meaning without pretending it will save them, and they pursue creation with the urgency of people who know the momentum can disappear at any moment. American Spirits continues that pattern. It feels less autobiographical but more revealing, driven by the tension between wanting to create and fearing the silence when the energy goes quiet.
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In this conversation with DSCENE Magazine’s Katarina Doric, Dorn speaks openly about pop stardom, grief, perfume, fandom, and the recurring women who drift through her novels like they recognize one another. She talks about the pull of music, the emptiness built into fame, the comfort of obsession, and the pleasure of writing characters who don’t seek absolution. Her honesty lands without theatrics, shaped by a kind of precision that mirrors the city she writes in. Performative, self-aware, and strangely sincere in the moments when the mask slips.
What is it about L.A. that breeds such feral honesty in women writers? – I didn’t know this was a phenomenon! Who are you thinking of? Also not sure I know what feral honesty means haha.
I mean that kind of raw, self-aware writing that doesn’t care about being likable. I’m thinking of Joan Didion, Eve Babitz, Ottessa Moshfegh, women who write with precision but without apology. Do you think that kind of honesty could only happen in a city like L.A., or does it just get louder here? – I don’t think I really associate LA with honesty, more with artifice and performance. I’m definitely performing. Joan Didion originally wanted to be an actress and so did I. Writing, I’ve always said, is acting for shy people.
I don’t think I really associate LA with honesty, more with artifice and performance.
You’ve said American Spirits came to you after watching Renaissance. What did Beyoncé summon in you? – Honestly, I was a little tipsy and it was on IMAX. I was like, why haven’t I written a pop star novel?! I guess my first novel Vagablonde was about an aspiring musician, but she was not particularly talented or successful. I was like: time to write about a musician who is actually good!
The book feels like a eulogy for pop music and a love story with it at the same time. What is pop to you? – That’s interesting you see it as a eulogy- how so? I definitely see the book as a love story to pop music. Music was my first love. I was obsessed with singing as a kid and still am. It’s always brought me a sense of unbridled pleasure. Unfortunately, I lack the talent and disposition to pursue it as a career, but I fantasize about singing on stage all the time. Music affects people viscerally in a way even the best writing can’t. And something about combining poignant lyrics with moving sound and stage presence is just magic to me. Religious, honestly.
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Maybe because there’s that sense of loss running underneath all the glamour. Do you think pop music and grief are connected in some way? – I think that makes sense. I’ve recently been listening to Robyn’s Honey a lot. That’s a beautiful pop album about grief; she wrote it in response to the loss of her best friend and collaborator. My favorite pop songs are always the sad ones.
Do you see fandom as a modern form of intimacy or as a symptom of loneliness? – Probably a symptom of loneliness. But I don’t think fandom is unhealthy, not necessarily. I think it can be a healthy cope. It can also be an unhealthy cope and one can peruse the #gaylor hashtag on TikTok to see that.
Writing, I’ve always said, is acting for shy people.
Have you ever been part of a fandom yourself, in a way that surprised you? – I’ve always been a fangirl. I’ve been a fan of the Olsen Twins for almost my entire life.
You write women who are self-aware to the point of self-destruction. Do you ever feel protective of them? – That’s interesting, I’d never thought of their self-awareness and self-destruction as being related. But I do feel protective of my characters. People will say things like “I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I really related to your main character.” I’m like, you can definitely admit it to me—I wrote the bitch!
Have you ever regretted how one of them ended up? – One of my characters?
Yes. – I’ve only regretted writing characters loosely based on loved ones who are hurt by the portrayal. Which has happened a few times, but I sincerely hope never again. I don’t know how Lena Dunham does it.
Do you ever worry you’ll run out of ways to make a breakdown feel beautiful? – No, because that’s never really something I’ve thought about doing. I do worry all the time that I’ll stop feeling creative, and I often do have months where I don’t and it’s intolerable and terrifying, but so far the creative spark always comes back. Riding those moments is really tough for me. I’m happiest when I’m feeling creative and writing a ton.
Music affects people viscerally in a way even the best writing can’t.
You’ve described American Spirits as your least autobiographical book but your most personal. What part of you did it take the most from? – I think like me, my main character Blue is happiest when she’s creating and terrified when she isn’t. Creating is her life force and it’s mine too.
Your characters often seem like they’ve all met before, even across different books. Do you feel like you’re writing one long story about the same woman in different disguises? – Well, I include overlap characters because I was inspired by Bret Easton Ellis. He isn’t the first person to include the same characters across non-serialized literary fiction novels, but he’s the first person I saw do it. Vagablonde who appears in American Spirits is obviously the star of my first novel, Vagablonde. Jax, her best friend in Vagablonde, appears in my novels Exalted and Perfume & Pain. Cinnamon, a side character in Exalted, is a main character in a book I’m writing now. I like to think I’m creating a cinematic universe in the same way Lana is, the same way Jimmy and the color blue and her sister Chuck appear repeatedly throughout her discography.
You once said, “I’ve finally convinced my parents not to read my books.” I love that. Have they actually stopped? And do you ever censor yourself knowing they might still peek? – I can’t really think about anyone I know reading my books. I wish I could censor myself, but unfortunately, I am Too Real.
You’re obsessed with scent, perfume, smoke, the trace someone leaves behind. What’s your earliest memory of smell that still lives rent-free in your head? – The smell of my mom’s Noxzema face wash in the 90s. That lovely medicinal eucalyptus. I can conjure it just by thinking about it.
I’m happiest when I’m feeling creative and writing a ton.
What perfume are you wearing right now and what does it say about you today? – Right now I’m wearing Nanban by Arquiste, a house I love. This one is pretty butch for me but I like it. It smells like leather and incense and coffee. It makes me feel confident and grounded.
If you met one of your own characters in real life would you date her? – God no.
What’s your favorite subreddit rabbit hole? – The Gaylor subreddit is fun in its delusion but I think they recently went private. I look at r/fragrance and r/lanadelrey occasionally. I got banned from the Southern Charm subreddit for suggesting a cast member was gay.
Who’s your favorite Kardashian, and be honest, because it says everything. – Kris!! She’s the only one who’s having fun.
What’s the worst compliment you’ve ever received about your writing? – There are certain phrases I see a lot and loathe: “Sapphic chaos.” “Unlikable female characters.” “Unhinged.” “Chaotic queer author.”
Five female writers everyone should be reading right now? – I think everyone should read whoever they want to be reading! But right now I’m enjoying Frieda McFadden, Donna Tartt, Maud Ventura, Anika Jade Levy, and Paula Bomer.
I can’t really think about anyone I know reading my books.
What’s on your playlist? – “Father Figure” from the latest Taylor album kills moi. “Relapse” by Lily Allen. A bunch of songs from the new Sudan Archives album. Robyn. Oklou. JADE. James K. Amaarae. I’m listening to so much music all the time it’s a problem. My girlfriend is always annoyed at my inability to tolerate silence.
Have you ever blamed a bad decision on Mercury retrograde and meant it? – No. I don’t really believe in Mercury retrograde. I feel like it’s always happening. I can’t be bothered.
Fair. So what’s your go-to excuse when things implode? – My period?
When you hear the phrase The New Disorder, what comes to mind first? – Addison Rae.
I always have another novel in the works but that’s all top secret.
What’s next for you? – I always have another novel in the works but that’s all top secret.
Originally published in DSCENE “The New Disorder” Issue.
