Poet Interview Series: T.J.N
T.J.N. is a rising poet from Australia who’s been writing for her whole life. She always found writing easy, comforting and satisfying. It’s a creative outlet she has been proud to have, and enjoys it thoroughly. To see people react to her work and enjoy it too, is hugely gratifying! T.J.N. is fairly new to the Instagram scene, but it’s been a great platform to display/post her poetry and be appreciated by others.
Where do you live and how does it influence your writing?
I’m very lucky to live in Australia - however it doesn’t really influence my writing a great deal.
When did you first become passionate about poetryand what attracted you to it?
I’ve written poetry ever since I was in primary school and I can’t even remember the age it began. I’ve always loved it and found it comes easily to me. Writing in general for me is fascinating - it’s the only medium where you are reading the exact thoughts that were in someone’s mind. Everything on the page was put there on purpose, directly from someone’s thoughts. It’s magical.
What inspires you to write?
Emotion, people, conventions, morals - all of the grey areas in humanity inspire me to write.
Do you publish your Poetry on other channels but Instagram?
Not at this stage - but perhaps in future!
Who is your favorite Instapoet and why?
I’m loving Blake Auden’s work ATM. He writes brilliantly.
Can you tell us a little about your writing process? How do you come up with poems and how do you edit them?
They generally pop up of their own accord. Sometimes just a sentence, or a word - from a thought or a song or even something someone has said, and I think “I can’t work that”, and I’ll write around it. Sometimes going backwards from it, or going forwards. Once I start it, it tends to flow on and write itself.
Do you support yourself through writing financially, or do you have a day job and what is it?
Currently I don’t support myself financially through my writing - but who knows! Maybe one day! I currently work full time, and write mostly on the notepad on my phone when inspiration hits.
How many hours a day do you spend writing and what helps you to get into the writing mood?
I spend roughly 20mins or so a day writing poetry. Sometimes it’s throughout the day, I may start with a word or sentence in the morning and won’t have it complete until the evening - it changes.
And what’s the best moment you’ve had with your poetry so far?
Sharing it on Instagram. A friend of my suggested I post my work on a social media platform as a hobby/outlet, instead of just keeping it all hidden away in a poetry journal. To have people read it, and enjoy it, it a lovely feeling.
How do you respond to writer’s block or not knowing what to write?
I generally try to take a different angle, take it a different direction or manipulate it to fit the end poem I can see it turning into.
Where would you like to see yourself in three years time.
Id like to see myself having taken my writing a bit further or see it become more widespread. Maybe even creating a career prospect out of it.
What advice would you give young poets just starting out?
Poetry should come easy. Don’t force it and don’t try too hard. It should write itself, and generally does.
Do you think poetry has a greater purpose?
I’m not sure about a greater purpose, but if people can relate to it, get comfort from it or just enjoy it, then that’s purpose enough for me.