Featured Poet: Annie Kenning
We recently had the opportunity to interview poet Annie Kenning about poetry and her approach to the craft.
Thank you for taking the time to talk with us about your journey as a poet! Can you describe your creative process?
I’d describe my process as haphazard, and at times a bit ‘bust-and-burn’.
I write when I have time (which isn’t often, thanks to parenthood and sleep deprivation) or when I have a deadline. However, there are those magical moments when the need to write a poem is so overwhelming and urgent that everything else in my life stops. These poems tend to be born out of emotional turbulence and the desire to make sense of my state of mind or situation.
A number of poets attribute their success to consistency, habit and hard work. With this in mind, my aim is to start a daily writing routine of around 30 minutes each day, five days a week. So far, this is yet to happen!
What does your workspace look like?
Poet Annie Kenning’s trusty writing partner, George.
For first drafts I like to sit on my bed to write. It’s soft and comfy, and has great views over Wellington’s hills and mountains. For the editing process I work at my dining room table, with my trusty West Highland terrier (George) lying at my feet. I prefer to write in silence, but have become accustomed to being serenaded by George’s snoring.
What is your motivation for writing?
To make sense of life. I am an anxious over-thinker and I've never quite left the developmental phase of constantly asking the question WHY?
I also love the creative process – the idea, the rough draft, the edits, and the final product. When I write, I imagine I'm a bit like a sculptor - chipping away at something plain, making it into something interesting.
How did you become a poet?
I’m not sure I can really answer this one, I reckon I’m still in the process of becoming a poet.
What does it mean to be a poet? If it's someone who has had a number of poems published – then no, I'm definitely not a poet (yet). But if it's someone who loves and needs to write poetry – then yes, count me in!
I have recently done two poetry courses through Massey University and Creative Writing Dunedin. Before I did these courses, my poetry toolkit was pretty bare. However, now my toolkit has transformed into something like Mary Poppin’s infinite bag. I think this is because I realised through the courses, that poetry has no rules, no bounds.
Has the coronavirus pandemic changed how you approach your craft?
Absolutely – in the last year my world has shrunk, and I find myself appreciating and admiring the mundane things in life. Life isn’t always whizzing by me anymore, and I am now using all my senses to experience the everydayness of my surroundings. This has helped me ‘show rather than tell’ in my poems.
Also, the pandemic has heightened my emotions. I somersault between fear, anger, sadness, contentedness, confusion, and longing – all of which provide fuel for my writing.
What does literary success look like to you?
Before I started submitting creative writing I would have said the mark of literary success was getting a book deal and being able to make a living from writing.
Now that I've been in the game a while, I'd say literary success is getting anything published, anywhere!
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Learn to deal with rejections. There will be many. Really celebrate your successes, no matter how small.
I have a folder at home with printouts of all my writing that has been published. I look at it often!