Interview with caffeinatedream

1) What prompted you to begin writing poetry?

I started writing poems because I liked how the marriage of words and combinations of thoughts could create a world of something that seemed to be magical. I loved to be able to pull something out of my memory and put it to paper.

2) How does a poem begin for you, with an idea, a form or an image?

A lot of times it is from an image. Sometimes I will be somewhere and a line will come inside my head. Other times if from the works of the others that I admire greatly such as Pablo Neruda, Maya Angelou, William Blake, Sylvia Plath, Sonia Sanchez, and Nikki Giovanni.

3) Are there any forms you haven't tried but you would like to?

I always wanted to experiment with: haiku, diamante,non-rhyming, riddle, limerick, and cinquain. I would love to be able do a shape poem. I read once someone actually shaped a poem to look like a swan. I thought that was remarkable, incredibly clever.

4) What is the theme of your poem 'Pisces Rising'?

It was about a man I was in love with. I didn't think I was good enough for him, and broke it off. He actually had "Pisces Rising" which is why I named the poem "Pisces Rising".

5) How much of your poem is personal than imagination or based on situations?

"Torments", "Crowds", "Motivation", "Pisces Rising", "Green Eyes", "Ally", "Struggles", "This", and "Do Not Return to Sender." Are all autobiographical these are things or people I have known went through. The rest of the poems are completely fictional created from my imagination.

6)What were you trying to achieve with "Pisces Rising"?

I wanted to create poems readers could easily relate too rather they be from my own life or just imagination.

7) What's your revision process like?

I write everything down on paper first. I will make tiny notes and corrections. Then, if I will move on to my computer. My mind is so critical that I can easily beat myself up over a tiny detail. But, I want to feel that I completely and utterly happy with the finish product. Sometimes something slips me, and let's just say I am not completely happy with that!

8) On average, how long does it usually take you to create a poem from thought to completion?

Depends on the creativity inside my head (I know that sounds weird but it is true) and happy I am overall with the poem. So it can be anywhere from one-two days or up to two weeks.

9) Your favorite poems from your collections and why?

I adore "Pisces Rising" the most because it the most personal one from "Pisces Rising". "Admirers" because it deals with someone whose only pleasure in life is giving pleasures to others. "Aspartame" because it deals the reality of addiction, "Night Watch" because it's talking about dealing with complicated emotions and wanting to thaw them out by spring. "Struggles" and "Do Not Return to Sender" they deal with the abuse and hardships I dealt with during my childhood.

10) What advice do you have for aspiring poets?

Write from things that can inspire you and what you have experienced. Inspirations can come from any and everywhere. Share your writings with other people, get their feedback. Always read the writings on other writers as well and give them feedback. You might not think your writing is good but, you might have reached someone you might not have been able if it was not for writing.

Lightning Round:

Poem/novel: This was a really hard choice from me since I loved them both so dearly. But, I am having to go with a poem because a lot of poems have inspired a lot of novels, plays, and etc.

ode/elegy: Ode to me is more beautiful because it tends to me completely song like. Sometimes I will have a tune inside my head while reading a long to an Ode.

Rhyme/free verse: Free verse gives you more room to work with because you do not have to rhyme the words all the time or be in meter. In Rhyme even though I write with that all the times. It is very constricting because you have to make the overall theme of the poem not only rhyme but tie together to rhyme.

Coffee/Tea: There is nothing like a good spot of tea! I just adore a great cup of lavender or lemon tea.

Garden/Bedroom: bedroom I like to take a great book with me, and just read it while in bed. That sounds weird but, it’s true.

Sunrise/Sunset: I like the colours of the sunset better than sunrise. You tend to be able to lose your breathe at the night of a great sunset. The mixture of colors, the assortments of sounds, the mingle of nature, and the simple enjoyment you can get from watching a sunset. You can get lost in it.

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Enjoy Reading!

Thank you.

Awwthentic~