Featured Poet: Vrinda V. K.
We recently had the opportunity to interview Vrinda V. K., a doctor living in South Asia, about her approach to writing and experiences as a poet.
Thank you for participating in our interview! We’re excited to feature you on our website and Instagram story.
Thank you for having me. I’m very pleased to have been chosen. This is my first interview and I’m exhilarated to be a part of this!
How did you become a poet?
I have been writing for as long as I can remember, though I didn’t start off with poetry.
As a child, it was mostly fantasy stories, world building, and scribbles. My father used to tell me epic stories before bed or on the way to school, so I suppose I could call him an influence. Later on, due to my musical education, I began to write songs. From there, I transitioned to writing poetry.
I love the work of Edgar Allan Poe and William Blake, and I resonate with their work and their themes very much. I wish to be able to write like them, some day. The poems that got me into enjoying / writing poetry are – The Raven (Poe) and The Tyger (Blake).
Can you describe your creative process?
Instinct, I suppose. I never sit down and make any conscious effort. I’ll be on the bus, staring into space, and suddenly I’ll write lines of poem about the most random thing... it’s fascinating. I often go, “Why? What does this mean? What’s my brain trying to tell me?”; When I write poetry, it’s like I get a glimpse of my brain working in the background, in the flesh, a bridge between the unconscious and the conscious.
But this gift (because that’s how I feel about it) comes at a price, it worries me constantly – what if I never write a single poem ever again? What if it just stops? What if this is my last one?
However, since joining Instagram in June 2020, I’ve been trying to make a conscious effort to studying the art of poetry and its intricacies and subtleties. I’m actually putting a lot into both reading and writing poetry.
What does your workspace look like?
I’m very organised. It’s important for me. If a pen is out of place, I cannot concentrate until I’ve fixed that. However, the only time I ever sit down to write is either for academics or for novels, thus it doesn’t affect my poetic process.
What is your motivation for writing?
I suppose I could say I have triggers rather than motivations. Usually, I’m compelled to write – a feeling that I have something to say, and cannot rest until I do so. My triggers would be – pain, fear, anger, frustration, music, nature, an occasion... but I don’t necessarily need them.
Has the coronavirus pandemic changed how you approach your craft?
Not at all. Only that I have written more poems than novellas / novels because I can convey more ideas in a shorter time. But the how doesn’t change.
What does literary success look like to you?
It’s a dual approach – There’s the qualitative aspect – I’m constantly trying to better myself. I actively seek feedback, read the work of great poets / authors, challenge myself to write things I don’t want to, write when I don’t feel like it, participate in contests and prompts. Basically reading a lot and writing a lot. That, in itself, is success. But I want to further add that I want to inspire people (in terms of both picking up poetry and otherwise), to add perspective to an idea, to uplift people and be a source of comfort in their moments of pain. Then there’s the quantitative aspect – I’ve always dreamed of getting my work published. But in school, they didn’t care for it because I had already established myself in a different area and they often turned to those who were already considered as being “into writing”. In college, I seriously considered being an editor for the magazine; however, I was too hesitant and by the time I had decided, they had already chosen! I want to be a published author (poetry and novels). I wish to be able to write for magazines and newspapers regularly, and build a solid readership. I intend to make my mark upon this world with my words, be it in a small or large scale. I know I have a long way to go, and I’m patient. I like to take things one step at a time, but more importantly, I want to make sure that I don’t miss out on any more opportunities!
What are you looking forward to?
Much of my life I’ve been criticized for being a dreamer. “Don’t think such big things”; they would say. Some in my own family frowned upon my eagerness to reach out to the world and wanted me to concentrate on my education instead because it was more important. I didn’t feel very supported. I felt isolated by my own thoughts, and could never really connect with people. Thus, I wish to connect with my people, my crowd, to have them know that they’re not alone in their thoughts, to never have them feel alone again. That I’m understood, and understand. I also enjoy meeting new people, listening to their stories and reading their work, and getting to know them. So, I’m always up for a conversation! And, about life in general, I look forward to a world of universal peace, equity, and literacy. I think the pandemic (COVID-19) has really put things into perspective about what’s truly important and made us aware of the finiteness and fragility of our existence. I do hope we adjust our priorities accordingly and learn to work in harmony and compassion, going forward. I think it’s possible.
Where can readers read more of your work?
I have only started putting up my work online since June 2020 on Instagram at @cinderconecrucible. I am also looking forward to expanding to multiple platforms. I understand that readers use different apps for a variety of purposes, and I want to be able to be there for them, wherever they are. However, Cinder Cone Crucible on Instagram is my main page and all announcements will be made on this page, including, and not limited to, updates on secondary pages, links, books, and blogs, so stay tuned! Note: I also occasionally post content written by my sister, Gia @giapoetry on my page.
Thank You Notes:
My parents and sibling have always been there for me. They’ve never said no to me regarding literature and writing, they’ve been helping me build my own little library; they are my first critics and my biggest supporters, and they stood by me against all the naysayers, so a big thank you to them! I’m forever indebted.
I find myself obligated to add this – Train River Publishing will always be an official and major milestone in my writing journey, considering I will see my work in print for the first time, and all thanks to them. I have tagged them in quite a few poems, and they have patiently gone through each of them, and for that, I’m very grateful. Such kindness and patience are truly inspiring, and can make a world of difference to a writer, especially one that’s just starting out (aka, like me). The day will forever be etched in my mind, about how I woke up to an email by Train River Publishing and nearly jumped! Thank you very much for making it possible! You never forget your first step, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to launch a writing project.
