Featured Poet: Jordan T. Swift
Jordan T. Swift recently published his debut of poetry, One Original Thought is Worth 100 Quotes. We had the opportunity to interview him about his creative process and new book.
Congratulations on releasing One Original Thought is Worth 100 Quotes! What does this book mean to you?
It means a ton, for real. I tried to hold back a little and not become too attached. I’ve heard sometimes that a writer’s first book is usually their most creative and best. My biggest fear is for that to happen. I created it with the mindset it was just another book. Which was hard because I had never done this before. But with that said, I approached it as if I had done this before. I didn’t want to become infatuated with it and become blind to its faults. I wanted this to be my debut, but nowhere near my best work. And I definitely don’t think it is. I’ve not even shown 1% of what I can do as a creative writer. On the flip side of all this I realize people like Danez Smith’s first book was basically a masterpiece. And I use that as motivation. But what I want people to understand is that I made this for fun and was not meant to be a full-length poem book like ones you see published from traditional houses. I’ve got more coming to be submitted / released, but I was just wanting to put out something lite for people to see what I am as a creative. So I guess to answer the question, yeah this means a lot as a first publication in the form of my own book. But I don’t want this to become something I’m holding onto for years and years. I published this set of poems because personally I wanted to get rid of them. I felt they were great for that period in life as a person and writer. But I’ve grown as both since and I am ready to take my creative up a notch. I want to improve and expand myself as a writer via poetry, short stories, and fiction books. I only want it to get better from here. And it will.
How did you decide what to title your book?
Funny story. Well, not that funny, but kind of cool. I didn’t have a title in mind whatsoever. I knew I wanted to have a book out for purchase. I knew I wanted it to be an indie poem book. One for fun. I had all the content but no title. So, I approached my best friend, Jordan Thomas who is a barber back in our hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky, about doing a cover for me. Still no title, but I thought that would come eventually. He’s an amazing artist so I told him to just send me a sketch he had or a drawing. Anything he wanted. And I told him I preferred it to be random. The first one he sends me is a cartoon graffiti-style sketch with Daffy Duck holding a spray paint can. He had written in graffiti- font, “One Original Thought is Worth 100 Quotes.” I fell in love immediately. That became the first cover idea as well as the title all in the same moment. I ran with it.
What does your writing space look like?
I hate to say I “need” something to write well. Or even write at all. I don’t have a certain pen, certain computer. I don’t have a special playlist, preferred light setting. I just need my muse and a decent idea. I usually like to write in my room. Because I love being alone when I create. I would say the only requirement I have is to be left alone with my own thoughts. Oh, and my muse. But sometimes she can be hard to get out of the damn bed. Or away from the liquor bar. But when she does come, its usually go-time. She prefers me only ask her to come out at night, though. The later the better, she says.
What is your motivation for writing?
That’s a tricky question, in my opinion. There’s two types of motivation involved for me: creative motivation and writing motivation. I think the motivation to create is where it all starts. I mean, you can write all the words in the world. But if they ain’t creative, then what’s the point? My motivation for creating is simply out of having a natural urge to do so. My whole life I’ve always wanted to create stuff, create stories. Or enjoyed doing so anyways. And to combine with that, I’ve always had a knack for arranging words into a pleasurable fashion. I think the motivation to create words and create images and stories with them comes from trying to find a way to express myself. Writing is the only way I know how. Again, this comes from being a natural creative. But I can’t draw or make music. I can’t sing or dance. So for me, the motivation to write is a branch-off from the motivation to want to create. Or, to be creative. My urge to do so is satisfied with writing. So in the end, my motivation to write is fueled by the motivation to create. Build upon. Improve upon what’s already been done. And the only way I can do that is to write, since it is the only artistic thing I am remotely even good at. If that all makes sense. I think when you see the question, “What is your motivation for writing?” it’s hard to answer as it is. I think once you dig deeper, the real question is, “Why do you create?” and it’s hard to fully answer that. But the writing is my how.
Who are your favorite poets?
Shel Silverstein, Danez Smith, Frank X Walker, and Christopher McCurry in no particular order. Though, Shel was the first I ever read as a kid.
What does literary success look like to you?
For starters, I think success for anyone is super relative. If you’re doing something you love. That is success. I think success is whatever makes you happy. It’s whenever you throw another term or word in front of success that makes the question a bit more loaded. I started my page on Instagram in January of 2019 in hopes of gaining an audience. I’ve met a handful of people on that page. Lots of them are there for fun. Some are there for the same reason I am: to gain a platform. To build an audience to one day sell my content to. An audience to affect with my words and give them entertainment to escape to away from this world. In my opinion, success in writing means you’re able to write something and actually get your thoughts down on paper. Uploading it to Instagram is success too. You’ve shared your words with practically the world. You’ve taken the step from diary to social media. Which is awesome. A tough task to do for sure. But, and here comes the but. To me, that’s nowhere near literary success. To me, in order to gain that, you need to write books. Publish them. Sell copies. Gain an audience of a couple thousand. Have people waiting for new content to be released. Yes, we all have something published. Yes, we’ve all got an Instagram page. But there is a fine line between success and literary success. I believe if you’re not competing with yourself and other writers, you’re better off writing for fun as an amateur. And I don’t mean that in a degrading way at all. I just believe if you’re not wanting to sell books, have a fan base, or leave your fingerprint on lives in the form of writing—you’re not wanting literary success. You’re just wanting to be successful in the sense that you write things and upload them to Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, etc., for the pure enjoyment of doing so. And this isn’t to say when you turn into a professional, the fun is taken away. But if you’re not looking for success in a literary sense, you might as well keep writing for yourself and not even attempt to show anyone. So when you’re writing, ask yourself what kind of success you’re looking for. Is it just success of getting words down? Or is it literary success in the sense of becoming a successful author financially and reputation-wise? Both are totally acceptable and successful. But, I’m searching for literary success with my words.
What advice do you have for aspiring poets?
That’s a hard one for me to answer. I’m an aspiring poet. It’s hard for the average person or average reader to understand, but just because I self-published a book does not mean I’m some kind of professional author all the sudden. I’ve really been struggling lately with identity in my craft and how I am treated by other writers and authors. Most authors will tell you I’m a fake author. And most writers will tell you I’m a real author. So, it’s hard for me to buy into either. As far as advice for aspiring poets, I have none. Because I too am an aspiring poet. I won’t sit here and act like I’ve “made it” just because I self-published a poem book. If we’re being honest, I could’ve sat Lila (my dog) up and typed her claws until she got a few pages and we could’ve self-published her memoir. Anyone can do it. It’s what you do with it that is important.
Where can readers read more of your work?
You can find over sixty free poems and quotes on my Instagram page and within that page you can find a link in the bio. That link will hold Amazon links to the paperback & eBook version of my five-star rated debut poem book One Original Thought is Worth 100 Quotes and also you can find links to both anthologies I’ve been featured in within the last two years. Both are available on Amazon for paperback & eBook. At the end of this year I’ll be submitting a short story and another poem book to publishers.
