Poetic Justice Featuring: K. Y. Robinson

How do you go about creating a poetry collection? Example:  Do you set out to write about a certain theme or topic, do you examine your previous work and see patterns, etc.?
I start with themes in mind but during the writing process, some may fall to the wayside. I have to go where to muse takes me. For my upcoming collection Submerge, I did reexamine The Chaos of Longing to see what I missed or what I could expand on because my thinking has evolved on certain things.

Where do you gather inspiration to write?
Most of my writing is based on my personal experience as a fat, black, and mentally disabled woman. I want to question trauma, loss, and the past in an effort to heal. Even though I write for myself first, I want the reader to take away something from my work. I want them to feel seen and less alone. I want my words to stay with them.

Some writers have to write with complete silence, others with music, some need a special beverage or go to their favorite spot to write. What is your writing space or writing process like?
My writing process is all over the place. I don’t schedule a time to write. When I’m manic—I have bipolar disorder—I can’t write without music blaring in the background. Sometimes I write in bed, in silence, or jot down some lines and pick them apart later. When I get to the point where everything seems cohesive, I work on it tirelessly until it’s done.

What has been your proudest writing related moment yet?
Getting my self-published book picked up by a traditional publisher is my proudest writing moment. I didn’t think it was in the cards for me. I sat on my first collection for a long time because I didn’t think there was a market for it. I’m glad I was wrong.

How do you keep your poetry sounding from sounding stale when writing about the same topics?
I try to look at my writing from different perspectives and give it a different feeling and sound. What can I add or take away to make it more candid, provocative, or reflective? What lessons have I learned from my previous work? What would I tell those poems that I couldn’t tell them back then?

If you read a lot of poetry, how do you keep your own voice when writing?
I admire so many poets, but I have to remember my own magic too. Being too inspired can muddle your voice. You don’t want to sound like the people you love. They won’t find it flattering that you’ve lifted so much from their work. When I’m working on a project, I try to limit my reading and pick it back up when I’m at a stopping point.

What would you like to see more of in poetry?
I would like to see more individuality and creativity especially in the social media space. I’m not saying that it doesn’t exist but it’s few and far between. There’s nothing wrong with using the same themes but it’s getting to the point where I can’t tell anyone apart anymore. I think it can be dangerous to lose or never find your voice because you rather appease the algorithm. Social media is changing, and one day your work will have to live on without it.

About The Poet:

K.Y. Robinson is an introverted writer and self-proclaimed poet laureate of her apartment from Houston, Texas. She received a BA in Journalism and MA in History from Texas Southern University. 

As a withdrawn child suffering from mental illness, she spent a lot of time alone. Writing naturally became her sanctuary. 

With unapologetic candor and vivid imagery, she writes poems about desire, loss, and healing. She draws inspiration from being a woman of color, trauma and mental illness survivor, and hopelessly hopeful romantic.   

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Thank you so much for the interview, K. Y. I loved reading about your process and gained some insight!