Featured Poet: Kain O'Connor

We had the opportunity to interview kain o’connor about his creative process and body of work.

Thank you for letting us ask you some questions about your craft! How did you become a poet?

I can't pinpoint the exact moment when I became one, but I first started writing poetry when I fell into a deep slump of self-pity. I dropped out of law school by choice, and I fell into a pit of depression over the fact that I have yet to achieve anything in life whereas everyone else that I knew had already accomplished at least something that was on their lifelong bucket list. I began writing poetry as a form of healing; as a platform whereby I can channel my raw emotions and put them into words while I had no one else to turn to. I guess that's how I became a poet in the first place. By seeking a form of healing. In bittersweet poetry.

Can you describe your creative process?

I personally believe that the creative process is a complexity of its own. Mine happens to be so convoluted, that I had adopted Virginia Woolf's method of 'freewriting' and just let whatever that is in my mind to flow out on a piece of paper. There will be a lot of nonsensical scribbling on notepads, of course, and they won't make any sense in the first place. But when I feel like I have accumulated enough material through freewriting, I transcribe all of them into my laptop. That is when I piece all the words, phrases, and sentences together into something poetic.

What does your workspace look like?

It's not very imaginative. To better describe my workspace, it is minimalist at best. I have my laptop, a stationery holder, a small stack of multi-colored memo papers, and a plaque filled with positive daily affirmations. I get distracted very easily, so I really don't want it to be cluttered with books and the like. Though admittedly, I do have a personalized moodboard hanging on the wall in front of me. It is a collage of inspirational artwork and quotes that I scavenged from attending conventions. Moodboard is an aesthetic that I am very fond of.

What is your motivation for writing?

Sir Iain S. Thomas offered a great piece of advice that everyone should always be reminded of: "No one else will come and tell you to do something great in your life." This is very true. My motivation for writing comes from the fact that I feel like I owe it to myself and my readers to showcase more of my work out there for people to read. Be they in the form of slam poetry or printed publication, I believe readers can discover bits and pieces of themselves through other people's writing in order to better understand their own identity. Writing is like a smithed testimony. A testimony that you are not alone in whatever that you are currently going through, and there are many others out there too, who also happen to share your concerns and problems while working their way for the betterment of themselves and the future. I had readers come up to me in conventions and confided that they shed tears from reading my book in one sitting. They asked me if I was okay. I was very touched. In return, I simply said, “I am in a better place in life right now, and so will you.”

Has the coronavirus pandemic changed how you approach your craft?

My writing style has definitely changed a lot compared to what I have put out before. I write more short stories and prose in journal entries these days. There is a certain eloquence in narrating a story in the form of prose and short stories that captured my immediate attention. During the coronavirus pandemic, a writer friend of mine suggested a mindful method of journaling one's thoughts in order to keep our mental health in check during elaborate periods of quarantine. I find this method to not only be very effective in retaining one's sanity, but it also doubles as a writing platform to freely express oneself. There are a few young creatives who I follow on Instagram that deserve a shout-out because their colorful feeds motivate me to write even more during the coronavirus pandemic. This is for you: @tiara.less and @lostandstars. I wish you two the best.

What does literary success look like to you?

Literary success is ultimately defined by oneself, not by others. It all really boils down to this one important question: Why do you write in the first place? Is it for fame? The money? Or something else? If your intention or purpose to write is materialistic in the first place, then literary success to a person will most probably be about raking in a fortune or making it into the New York Times Bestseller List. For me, I write poetry in the first place because it is a form of healing. A form of telling stories when there is no one around to listen. So when my debut collection, Hidden Castle; Flower Crown, is embraced by readers from around the world—I feel appreciated. Someone listened to what I had to say. That is what literary success looks like to me—to have your words being read and listened to by just about anyone who is willing to lend a sympathetic ear. I cannot be more thankful than that. It is a blessing that not everyone in this world can necessarily have, and I cherish it very much.

What are you looking forward to?

I'm looking forward to publishing my next book, creating more merchandise, putting together a tasteful author portfolio, attending more conventions/exhibitions, and getting featured in more printed publications. I'm always very honored and humbled whenever my work is being featured and collated into anthologies. It coincides with my principle of showcasing more of my work out there. I've also been meaning to host writing and How-To-Publish workshops, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, this plan has been put on hold until further notice. Safety comes first, and once things have finally settled down for good, then I might carry out the plan into fruition. In the mean time, I'm focusing more on working closely together with other writers/authors over the Internet for a collaborative project of our own. Stay tuned.

Where can readers read more of your work?

Readers can read more of my work on Instagram by following @kaintastic. Copies of my debut collection of poetry and prose, Hidden Castle; Flower Crown, are now available on Amazon, Book Depository, and major book retailers including Barnes & Noble. I think readers would also be delighted to learn that I am actually working on establishing a better online presence by designing a website of my own. I will keep everyone updated once the website is live. Other than that, I would like to offer my deepest gratitude for those who have been with me throughout this journey and also to those who are willing to listen to what I have to say along the way. Thank you. Stay strong.