Featured Poet: Cassidy
WE RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW CASSIDY ABOUT HER NEW BOOK SEPTEMBER WAS YELLOW FLOWERS AND HER APPROACH TO POETRY.
Congratulations on publishing your debut book September Was Yellow Flowers! What inspired you to write this book?
I've been writing poetry since I was in high school and, shortly after I got the courage to start posting it online, I fell in love with the idea of putting it in a book. As I was putting all the poems for September Was Yellow Flowers together, I began reflecting a ton on my life and how my poetry has evolved throughout it all. That inspired me to give the book a theme centered on the topic of change.
Can you describe your creative process?
It's really hard to describe my creative process. I usually don't sit down and think, "I'm going to write a poem." I will just have an intense emotion and start writing down everything I'm feeling--which usually takes the form of a poem, or I'll get some lines stuck in my head and have to write them down.
What does your workspace look like?
Wherever words come to me is my workspace, so it's subject to change haha. But I usually find myself writing poetry on my bed in my poetry journal.
What is your motivation for writing?
My motivation to write is quite selfish. Writing poetry is how I process my emotions. My motivation to share what I write, though, is my readers. Since I've had my poetry account on Instagram, and especially since I got published, people have been sending me the sweetest messages, telling me how much my poetry has helped them. It means a ton to me because poetry has been there for me in my darkest moments and it means the world to know that my own words can be there for others. I want people to know that they're not alone, that their feelings are valid, that they are worth so much more than they give themselves credit for, and that they can do anything.
How did you become a poet?
When I was in high school, I experienced my first heartbreak. It was such an isolating feeling and I felt so wrong and pathetic about it for so long because it was over someone I never even had a relationship with. Then, by some miracle, I guess, I stumbled across free verse poetry online and it made me feel so validated. I knew that other people had felt similar feelings and that they were using these negative feelings to create such beautiful art. After reading it for a while, I just started writing it. I hope she doesn't mind the plug, but the poet who influenced me the most in my early stages was Sue Zhao (her Instagram is @s.m.zhao)
Has the coronavirus pandemic changed how you approach your craft?
Not really, but I have found myself writing about the "end of the world" a lot more.
What does literary success look like to you?
If my writing has touched or inspired someone, then that is success to me.
What are you looking forward to?
I'm looking forward to publishing my second book! Right now I'm in the process of gathering my poems together and trying to decide on a title and theme!
