Featured Poet: Sonia
Sonia IS A NOTED POET ON INSTAGRAM AND WAS FEATURED IN A POET’S TOOLBOX. WE WERE DELIGHTED TO SHARE her INSIGHT AND ARE EXCITED TO SHARE MORE ABOUT HEr APPROACH TO THE CRAFT.
Can you describe your ideal cup of coffee?
My ideal cup of coffee starts at home! I’m extremely passionate about coffee, so I really enjoy making it myself and drinking it throughout the day. I usually buy my coffee grounds from a local cafe. Indonesian coffee beans are my favorite. They give this sort of rich, earthy taste to it that differs between every region! They’re very strong, too, which works wonders whenever I have to pull an all-nighter. I start by pouring my coffee grounds into a coffee filter, then I slowly pour hot water over it. The most euphoric part of making my own coffee is taking in that rich, beautiful smell early in the morning, which just makes me look forward to my day. Once it’s done, I finish by adding in a splash of milk and ice cubes. I pour it into a tumbler so it stays cold and take it with me throughout the day.
Whenever I’m in the mood to create, I feel that I write some of my best work when I have my coffee with me. Something about the adrenaline rush and the jolt of energy that gets my creative juices flowing. It forces me to focus on my current thoughts and feelings, and like magic, put them on paper and turn them into poetry.
How long have you been writing?
I started my Instagram account in November of 2019, so about four months now! It originally started as a one-time thing, but it was almost like it was destiny. I had developed the weirdest crush on this person, which caught me really off guard, but now what I think of it, seemed like divine timing. It ultimately acted as the fuel for me to finally start writing, something I’ve always dreamed of for years but never had the chance to actually start doing it. I had all these feelings that could only be channeled through poetry, and because I saw them as my “muse”, the words came together like magic. So, I started my account and posted the poem I wrote about them as my first post, thinking nobody would care about it. But before I knew it, people started to compliment my work and I started gaining followers, along with a small community of poets who support each other and myself! It really motivated me to keep writing, and now, I can’t imagine my life without it.
What’s your goal as a writer?
I love writing about ordinary things in life, universal topics and ideas everyone can relate to, and because of this, I always try to write about them from an extraordinary perspective, using everyday objects and sensations to convey sensitive emotions. I also want to become a voice for minorities like myself, such as the LGBTQ+ community and those suffering from mental illness like anxiety. I feel like shedding a light on topics like these are necessary for society, and I hope to connect with my readers emotionally on issues like these. Ultimately, the best part of writing is hearing about what your work has done for others, and that’s the main reason I love doing what I do. As I keep working on improving myself and this passion of mine, my ultimate goal is to keep pushing those boundaries and setting new standards for myself as a writer, by writing about challenging topics and experimenting with new writing styles.
Any accomplishments you’d like to share?
As a new writer, I’m really proud of having two of my poems published in Train River Publishing’s Spring 2020 Anthology! It meant a lot to me to have my work appreciated, especially as a new writer. I’m also really proud of reaching 500 followers recently and am so grateful for the poet community on Instagram who are all so supportive and insightful!
What are you looking forward to?
I’m really looking forward to growing my account and connecting with other poets and readers! I’m also excited to start experimenting with newer topics for my writing as well as for more opportunities to get published!
