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Navigating Through Poetry as a Gen-Zer – li Voices

li voices modern poet
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Meet Astrid of @_a.poem.a.day_, her poetry is a breath of fresh air. She’s fearlessly pursuing her love for writing while exploring the world of poetry.

What is poetry like in a world of Generation Z? How is poetry discovered and talked about, you ask? Astrid is dishing on the beginning of a very beautiful journey in a world of Gen-Zers.

Astrid’s use of language is refreshing and concise. She talks about the ideals of growing up, anxiety, heartbreaks, and bravery with an impressive perspective. little infinite’s 30 Day Poetry Prompt challenge sparked her activation of poetry, and she’s not looking back anytime soon.

little infinite: How did you discover poetry? Describe when you knew poetry would be the form for you.

Astrid: Creative writing has always been a part of my life and a passion of mine, ever since I was a little kid. However, I first started really studying and writing poetry in 7th grade English class. I have written many novels and short stories in the attempt to create a daily writing habit, but struggled with commitment, motivation, revision, and writing feeling like a chore. Poetry is so fun and allows me to express myself in a much deeper way than a novel or short story ever could.

“Poetry is so fun and allows me to express myself in a much deeper way than a novel or short story ever could.”

@_a.poem.a.day_

li: There’s a difference in consuming poetry and being a poet. How did you begin writing poetry? What was the experience like the beginning?

A: I’ve written a few poems here and there, but I really started getting into poetry when I worked on my school’s literature magazine and got the chance to read and evaluate hundreds of submissions of poems and even publish some of my own in there. Then, I saw an Instagram ad for LI’s 30 day poetry prompt challenge and decided to make an Instagram account, @_a.poem.a.day_ , and try to create a new writing habit with my followers to hold me accountable. So far, is been an amazing experience that has given me newfound confidence and motivation, and I am so excited to continue. 

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“…Then, I saw an Instagram ad for LI’s 30 day poetry prompt challenge and decided to make an Instagram account, @_a.poem.a.day_ , and try to create a new writing habit with my followers to hold me accountable.”

@_a.poem.a.day_

li: What is your advice to people who may be intimidated to start experimenting with writing?

A: My advice is that poetry is not something to be scared of. In poetry, you aren’t burdened by anything: grammar, sentences, plot… Just expressing raw emotions in the purest and most beautiful way that transcends the rules that we think writing has. 

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li: What is the most surprising aspect of writing poetry that you didn’t anticipate? What has been your biggest challenge? Are you still working through this or how did you push through that challenge?

A: What has surprised me the most is how great of a response my poetry has gotten and how much of a community the poetry family is! 
My biggest challenge that I am still working through has been finding the balance between meaningless pretty language and an extremely obvious, blatant moral/message/theme. I do believe that poetry has to provide some sort of takeaway for the reader, but also it must use words in a beautiful and artful way to convey that meaning.

li: As a Gen Z-er, what do you notice about how people your age generally view poetry? What do you think is the most important aspect of poetry to tell millennials about?

A: People my age think that poetry has all these rules. A lot of people are taught by school that poetry has to rhyme or have a specific form or meaning, when in reality it’s so free, both in writing and in reading it. That’s the beauty of poetry: it can be interpreted in so many ways, and it has the power to make you feel so much in so little words. 

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“A lot of people are taught by school that poetry has to rhyme or have a specific form or meaning, when in reality it’s so free, both in writing and in reading it. “

@_a.poem.a.day_

li: Were you an avid reader before writing? Did you find writing and becoming a poet changed your reading taste?

A: Definitely! I don’t think writing has changed my reading taste, but it had definitely allowed me to appreciate the books I read more and changed the way I read: not just looking at the story but also the way it is written.

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li: What do you hope to see your writing turn into in the future? What is your creative bucket list?

A: I hope to become a journalist in the future, and of course it is my dream to one day publish a book, either of poetry or a novel. Whatever happens, writing will always be a part of my life.

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Far too often people are intimidated by poetry for reasons based on false beliefs that society has built. No matter where you come from, what age you are, or your past, poetry actually IS for you. Grow, experiment, be brave, and create the kind of poetry you would want to read. Learn and write like you have no limits, because you don’t. Poetry for life.

To keep up with Astrid, follow along with her poetry journey, here.

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