Growing Through Poetry with Katie Cecilia
Katie Cecilia is a poet and mental health advocate with a strong passion for helping others. Through her authentic and heartfelt writing, she explores themes of healing, self-care, reflection, and self-discovery.
We were honoured to speak with Katie ahead of the launch of her book, ‘Growing’, to discuss her journey as a writer, her process of healing and self-discovery, and her advice for up-and-coming poets.
1.A huge congratulations on the upcoming launch of your poetry book! Tell us all about what to expect and where we can purchase a copy.
Thank you so much! My book is called ‘Growing’; it will be released to the world on the 28th of September 2024 and will be available to purchase on Amazon. The book is set out into five chapters: Daisies, Dahlia, Lily of the Valley, Forget-me-Not, and Daffodils. Each flower has its own meaning, which is the overarching theme of that chapter. The book covers my own journey with self-discovery, healing, and accepting change. From starting the book in my early twenties to approaching my mid-twenties, there have been many highs and lows as I have been learning more about myself and figuring out who and what I wanted to be. I have been on a journey to find comfort and excitement in the turbulence, and I hope that the book can help others who may be experiencing the same.
2. Tell us about your journey to become a poet. What drew you to writing poetry and what do you hope to express throughout your poetry?
Growing up, I loved to create and express myself through music and writing, and I became passionate about mental health from an early age. I started reading poetry in my late teens and connected with the way that poets expressed their thoughts and feelings. In my early twenties I began writing, turning previously scribbled down thoughts and new ideas into poems and I absolutely fell in love with it. I started posting them on social media and the rest is history. ☺
3. What is your writing process and what inspires your poetry?
I find that most of my work is inspired by either personal experience or the music I listen to. Usually when I sit down to write, I will have mini brainstorming sessions. I will think of a word, feeling, or emotion and give myself a few minutes to write things that associate with that theme. Sometimes this ignites multiple poems; sometimes it’ll take weeks of adding sentence by sentence. These sessions allow me to make sure that I have scheduled time to write; however, it is often at random times that I get ideas that turn into poems. The way I write my poetry is messy; it is scattered and with very little structure. My notes app is filled with one-liners and unfinished ideas. I find that my creativity flows best this way—the less restriction, the more the vulnerability and authenticity of my thoughts and ideas flow.
4. When writing poetry, do you feel like this is a healing journey for you?
Absolutely! Writing poetry has allowed me to articulate my feelings in a way that I haven’t been able to before. There have been multiple occasions where I have had a writing session, and I have ended up writing about something that I didn’t think still bothered me. Writing has given me insight into where is still hurting, how my perspective has changed and what I need. Ever since I received a physical copy of my book, I have read it start to finish multiple times, seeing all the poems next to each other showed me just how far I have come.
5. What do you aim to express through your poetry, and what do you hope people take away from your writing?
Being in your twenties comes with lots of changes and emotions. I hope to not only show my own journey of self-discovery and healing but also to show people that they aren’t alone in their experiences. I hope that people feel a sense of comfort, understanding, and validation, as well as the realisation that it is okay to be exactly who and where they are.
6. What is your favourite poem from this book, if you can choose one, or the favourite poem you have ever written?
This is a hard question as there are a handful of poems that I absolutely adore. One of my favourites from the book is on page 117 which I call the “absolutely not” poem. The poem talks about my acceptance that I don’t have everything figured out and taking the pressure off myself to. I love this poem because it always reminds me to do just that, to give myself permission to grow, even if the direction I am going in is different and new. It really gives a hopeful and motivational ending to the book.
7. Were there any challenges in writing this book?
As this was my first poetry book, figuring out how I wanted the book to look and what story I wanted to tell was challenging. I had many brainstorming sessions with people close to me and drafted ideas for months. I have always loved flowers and knew that I wanted to incorporate them into my book. After over a year of planning, I had finally decided on what I wanted the book to be—but I knew that I couldn’t bring it to life alone. I set a budget for myself and reached out to an artist and editor. They both were wonderful to work with, and I am so grateful to them for their help bringing my vision for ‘Growing’ to life.
8. Do you have any advice for new poets making their way into the industry or poets who want to publish their own poetry collections?
Write as much and whenever works for you. There is no right way to become a poet or to write poetry. You can start at any age, regardless of your background; you just need to want to write. Have a few social media accounts to post your work on, connect with other poets (I’d suggest Instagram, TikTok, and Threads), and check out Pinterest to both post your work and find inspiration for future poems. If you are looking to publish a collection, self-publishing is the easiest option for new poets. Amazon KDP publishing is super easy and great for first poetry books; read up on the process on the Amazon website, and I would suggest buying a publishing guide made by another poet who has self-published - for mine, I used Isabella Dortas.
If you ever wanted someone to read your work, feel free to message me! I’m always open to meeting new poets and reading more poetry. ☺
9. Are you working on any new poetry? Are there more books in the future?
Growing took two years to create, so I want to give it the appreciation and moment it deserves. However, I do have some projects in the works that I can’t wait to share hopefully next year. I am constantly writing poetry; all new poetry can be found across my social media channels at @katiececiliapoetry
10. What achievement as a writer are you most proud of?
When I post my work online, I never really know where it will travel to. Over the past year, I have received messages from people who have read my work, and they have shared their stories with me and how my work has helped them. Every single time this has happened I have gotten emotional. No matter how popular a poem is, no matter where my poet journey takes me, knowing that my work has been healing to both myself writing it and someone reading it is by far the achievement I am most proud of.
Thank you so much to Katie for sharing her beautiful words of wisdom with our readers and inspiring conversations around mental health and healing through poetry.
‘Growing’ will be released on the 28th of September 2024 and will be available to purchase on Amazon.
Find out more about Katie’s work here - Linktree: https://linktr.ee/katiececiliapoetry
Website: https://www.katiececiliapoetry.com
Interview with Katie Cecilia
Poet & Author
Katie Cecilia is a poet and mental health advocate with a strong passion for helping others. Through her authentic and heartfelt writing, she explores themes of healing, self-care, reflection, and self-discovery. Katie Cecilia's upcoming book, "Growing," is a testament to her dedication to sharing her personal experiences and insights with the world. Her work resonates with readers, offering comfort, inspiration, and a sense of connection.
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/katiececiliapoetry
Website: https://www.katiececiliapoetry.com