Poet Interview: Cassandra Mackenzie Wood
Cassandra Mackenzie Wood, also known as CM Writer, is a Canadian poet, novelist and storyteller born in 2002. Cassandra’s collection includes her debut poetry anthology The Roots of a Goddess, several novels, and short prose. Along with these works, she is committed to sharing daily poetry on her Instagram platform @CM.Writer. She is currently revising her most recent novel and working on her second poetry anthology. Cassandra is in her final year of high school and will pursue a biomedical degree in her post-secondary studies.
With the power of her words, Cassandra hopes to spread awareness of mental health and social issues that impact the world today. Read the full interview below.
Link to Anthology: The Roots of a Goddess
Cassandra
Where do you live and how does it influence your writing?
I live in Calgary Alberta, Canada. I am constantly being stimulated by the dynamic nature of the city, as well as the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains. I also feel that the values of my country, such as inclusivity and multiculturalism, have greatly influenced my identity and the topics I advocate for in my writing.
When did you first become passionate about poetry and what attracted you to it?
I first became passionate about poetry in a dark phase of my life. I was desperately looking for a medium of self-expression for me to release my suppressed emotions and better understand myself. If not for poetry, I do not know where I would be today. Discovering this form of creativity has allowed me to uncover who I am truly meant to be. It has fostered self-growth in ways I never imagined and its positive impacts flow through me in all aspects of my life.
What inspires you to write?
I draw inspiration from the world around me, my interactions with others, my internal emotions, and of course other literature within a variety of genres. I am motivated to both better understand myself, and the world around me, as well as to positively impact my readers. Writing is a dialogue with oneself but when shared with others, it becomes a conversation with the world.
Who is your favorite Instapoet and why?
There are too many to count. My list of favourite Instapoets is constantly growing and changing. I feel great respect and admiration for so many of my fellow creators who produce unparalleled content. To name a few: @beccabuttpoet, @helenadegnpoetry, and @nikita_gill.
Do you support yourself through writing financially, or do you have a day job and what is it?
At this moment poetry is not a significant source of income for me. Although one day it would be great to support myself through writing, at this time, I am perfectly content composing poetry solely because it is something I enjoy doing.
How many hours a day do you spend writing and what helps you to get into the writing mood?
The number of hours I spend writing varies drastically from day to day. Sometimes I am brimming with inspiration and compose poetry for hours on end, whereas other times I can’t seem to compose a single line. Usually, I spend about 30 minutes to an hour a day doing some form of writing. On the days I need a little extra help getting into the writer's mindset I will often spend a few moments reading previous poems I've written, or the works of others. I also listen to instrumental music as a source of inspiration.
And what’s the best moment you’ve had with your poetry so far?
Definitely when I self-published my debut anthology, The Roots of a Goddess. I’ve only considered myself a poet for about two years and never dreamed I would come so far in such a short amount of time. It truly is magical to see my poems in a physical book, and even more life-changing to see the response of readers from around the world.
How do you respond to writer’s block or not knowing what to write?
I would just say be patient with yourself. Writing poetry is a very intimate and vulnerable form of self-expression and sometimes the emotions inside are not easy to express in an articulate manner. Take the time you need to process, and constantly draw inspiration from fellow writers and the world around you.
What are you working on next?
I am currently working on my next poetry anthology. I am keeping the details quiet until my book announcement, however, I learned so much through the process of self-publishing my first anthology and I hope to apply the lessons I learned to make this next publication even better. Again, the messages in it will be universal to all who read it and I hope to make a real impact upon my readers. Updates will be on my Instagram in the coming months.
What is your strategy to grow your audience? What advice would you give young poets just starting out?
Stay authentic. Enjoy the journey and always stay true to your personal writing voice. This is how you connect with others… with genuine honesty and connection. There will be moments where you feel anxious about the size of your audience, but in the end, if you are true to yourself, it doesn’t truly matter. You must always first write for yourself… not for what you think others want to read.
Do you think poetry has a greater purpose?
Whenever I am asked this question, my mind immediately goes to a quote from Nancy H. Kleinbaum’s Dead Poets Society. I’ll share it with you today as my answer:
“We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”