How I became a writer
Five years sharing words - thank you for reading them
pain will leave its mark we can grow around our pain with scars but stronger
on @mirjamwrites on Instagram.
Five years later here is a new poem
pain will leave grow stronger
How I Became a Writer
I was given the gift of finding words by my mother and grandmother. They used it for themselves but never shared their writing with the world. I have written all my life, but writing or reading poetry was never my thing. After attending a writing workshop in early 2020, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed condensing my words into haiku. These poems reflected the essence of what I felt and observed. I built a whole life, where the gift of finding and sharing words never really mattered until the universe, embodied by Elizabeth Gilbert (Substack
) and Azure Antoinette (Substack ), spoke to me and asked me to send a poem.I was welcomed into communities of writers as an equal and was thrilled when they referred to me as a writer, as a poet. These communities and friendships are what I value most in my new life as a writer. I now share both my words and my passion for finding them in workshops and writing groups and have ventured onto the other side as an editor and reviewer.
I needed that little nudge, someone had to tell me to go ahead, find words and share them with the world and now I feel called upon to do the same, encourage others to write and share.
what I love most about poetry is the friendships I made by writing and talking about and reading and editing poems
Bravissima , my dear friend Mirjam .
Congratulations, Mirjam! I, too, started writing poetry in 2020, plus several of my friends. There was something about the pandemic that shook us all up and gave us that "nudge" that you mention. In 100 years' time I wonder if they'll look back on a group like us as "the lockdown poets". I'm glad you discovered poetry - you give so much back to the community.