Write On!

What's it like to be a poet? Rik Villanueva has been writing poetry for many years, and he was kind enough to share the story of his writing journey with us. Read on for great insights and tips on releasing the poet inside you!

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Write On: How do you find inspiration and ideas for your poetry?

Rik Villanueva: The basis for most of my poetry comes from everyday life. Mainly, the daily frustrations of making sense out of life. We are called upon everyday to complete certain tasks and jobs. Many of which can seem a little daunting. These are things that still need to be done. Yet, we still find a way to cope and swim our way into another day. With the responsibilities of everyday life, we need a coping mechanism. A release. Writing, for me, is that release. I watch the news and the state of the world through the eyes of the media is pretty depressing. I see images presented and I feel the need to sort them out in my head and eventually on paper.

People and conversations also become the inspiration for a lot of my poems. I am the ultimate observer. I'm a sponge and can only hold so much. Eventually, some of the words that I absorb drip out onto paper. Take the time once in a while and just listen to what people are saying and more importantly how they're saying them. You'll see that the world is full of characters.

W.O.: How and when did you first start writing? Did you always want to be a poet?

R.V.: I started writing in high school purely as a release. It was a way for me get out ideas and ask questions that I didn't who to ask. Writing was a very internal exercise. It was and still is very personal. I think poetry is the most personal form of writing. It's an extension of self. It's everything we keep bottled up put on paper. In the beginning, I never had any real intention of sharing my work. I looked at my poetry as more of a diary of sorts. I didn't know the potential impact that simple words can have on a person. Myself included. Since then, poetry has become more external. I want people to read what I have written. I want to share my ideas. I want to touch people's minds and challenge conventional, "normal" thinking. I want people to see things through the eyes of someone else. In that sense, my poetry has become more sympathetic. Even when the words sound dark or angry, my intention is to understand the subject or the narrator by putting their ideas into my hands. That's become my mission, I guess.

I don't think I ever wanted to be a poet. Poetry just kinda happened. It found me. I think it was always there trapped inside waiting to get out. The day I picked up a pen, poetry became a huge part of my life. But, it was something I chose to keep to myself. Things are different now. I understand the way words work. How they affect change. How they touch people's lives. How they help us do more than just communicate. The right words can totally change your mood. Saying the right things the right way at the right time can be the key to opening so many doors. You just have to know how to use the words along with your voice.

W.O.: Describe your writing routine. How do you make time to write? Where and when do you usually write?

R.V.: I don't really make time to write. I take time to write. My ideas for poetry are very spontaneous. Most, if not all, of my poems start with a single line popping into my head. For instance, I had the line "I'm sick and tired of dreaming myself to sleep" in my head for months before I was able to write around it and turn it into the center of that particular poem. When I do get an idea, I try to write it down as quickly as possible so I don't forget it. I've lost a lot of lines over the years. I've learned to never be without a pen. There have been times at work when I've stopped what I was doing so I could write my ideas down. I don't really recommend that, but sometimes my writing is more important than the day to day activities of real life. If I'm home, I usually write before falling asleep. I've noticed, at least for me, that my best ideas or lines come out when I'm really tired. There's a moment between being awake and asleep when my brain races. It's like my brain knows it's about to shut off and it wants to empty itself. Lots of crazy ideas have come out of those times. I will usually sacrifice sleep for a while to write down what I thought up. All of my poems are dated and have the time written down with the title. A lot of them were written well after midnight.

W.O.: How do you deal with setbacks like writer's block and rejection?

R.V.: Writer's block doesn't really exist for me. I don't force myself to write. I write when I'm inspired no matter the time or place. There have been times when the ideas have to jump a hurdle to get out, but eventually they do. I think forcing ideas is a bad idea. I've tried to force myself to write and I usually end up scrapping it because I don't like what I've written.

Rejection is a part of life. Sometimes a stern "no" is a good thing. It can build character and make you stronger. I've developed a thick skin. Every no is a yes in training.

W.O.: What inspires you? Which authors and poets do you admire?

R.V.: Inspiration comes from everything around me. Songs, conversations, whatever. Stopping and paying attention to the world around you is enough to fill volumes. As far as other writers, I'm a big Chuck Palahniuk fan. He wrote the novel that became the movie "Fight Club." I've had the opportunity to meet him. He's a fantastic person. He was once told to write how you speak. I try to hold on to that philosophy. But, the first book to really impact me was "1984" by George Orwell. I think I read it when I was in the seventh or eighth grade and it really showed me the power of words and ideas. Not just in the way the novel was written, but in the story itself. It is still my favorite book. Also, "Catcher In The Rye" by J.D. Salinger. His main character, Holden Caulfield, is one of the most memorable characters put on paper.

Poetry is a whole other thing. Reading and understanding poetry can be very difficult even for another poet. I don't really read a lot of poetry. Strange, I know, coming from a poet. But, there are some poets I really admire. Most of them are from The Beat Generation. Allen Ginsburg mostly. He wrote an epic poem called "Howl" that changed the face of writing. When it was first published, it caused a firestorm of controversy. It was banned and called all kinds of negative things, but in the world of poetry, it was called a masterpiece. Eventually, the poem found its way into court in a trial about censorship. The poem and Ginsburg won in the end, but not without a lengthy battle. Knowing that a collection of words can have that much of an impact is powerful. I find that that kind of passion about art and expression to be extremely admirable.

W.O.: You have a wonderfully poignant, hilarious, and unique writing voice. How did you find your voice? Is writing a struggle, or do the words flow naturally?

R.V.: My voice is my own. I don't think I ever really tried to sound unique. It's not something I worked on. At least, not with my poetry. My short stories are different. Establishing a narrative voice can be difficult. With my poetry, I try and make the words easy to read. I don't want to sound like a poet. I think a lot of people don't like poetry because they don't how to read it. My poetic voice is my own voice put on paper. I want the words to sound understandable and universal. I try not to set up literary boundaries with my work. In that sense, I guess I don't have a target audience. I want for anyone who reads my work to come away with something. The basis of all art is to evoke an emotional response. An artist, no matter the media he or she may be working with, puts his or her own emotion into their work. The end result is, hopefully, having that same emotion jump to the viewer or reader. Art is about connections. It's about the transfer of emotion and feelings. It's a way to bring people together.

The writing process for me goes both ways. There are times when writing gets to be a little difficult. Stringing the right words together can be challenging. But, it's a challenge I really enjoy. Most of the time, I just let the words come out which is why I use the phrase "bleeding ink" a lot. The pen is an extension of my hand. It feels natural holding a pen almost like it's another finger. It's the ink that really puts the life into the words. Its "blood" in a way. Hence, bleeding ink.

W.O.: What is your advice for other young writers and poets reaching for their dreams?

R.V.: Do what feels natural. Don't let anybody tell you how or what to write or, more importantly, who to be. No matter how gross or whatever the story might be. If it feels right to you, write it down. Be your own person. Stress your individuality. Be different and don't ever change yourself for someone else. Know that you can't please everybody.

W.O.: What are your goals and dreams for the future? What's next?

R.V.: Hopefully, soon I'll have something published. I don't know if I want to push my poetry or my short stories first. I've been writing for eleven years now and I have stacks of notebooks waiting to be read. Other than that, I'd like to see the world. True inspiration comes from action, in my eyes. I want to experience life in all its forms, on all its lands. The more of the world I see, the more I have to write about it.

W.O.: Anything else you would like to add?

R.V.: Yes. For anyone interested, some of my short stories are on a website, www.commaecho.com. Click the fiction link. I have to give a little warning, though. Some of the stories are a little "out there." Read with caution. Also, thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my writing experiences. Since a lot of art comes from things like heartbreak or suffering, I offer these words: when you're at the bottom, at least you know which way is up. Thank you, once again.

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