For as long as I can remember — even back in elementary school — I’ve written poetry. I still own the small books our school helped us create in first grade, filled with the cute, rhyming verses I crafted as a child. My love for words began early, and over the past thirty-some years, that passion has only deepened as I’ve continued to write and explore the power of language.
Stacks of loose-leaf pages, composition notebooks, and digital files overflow with poems capturing my thoughts, feelings, and the moments that shaped me. Yet, for years, I hesitated to share my work. I dreamt of becoming a published poet, but fear held me back. My fears of people wouldn’t like what I had to say or would judge the raw emotions I expressed during my lowest points. I doubted whether I even counted as a “real” poet.
I procrastinated endlessly while researching journals, magazines, and websites where I could submit my poems, making lists of potential publications but never sending anything in.
In college, I took a small step forward and submitted a few poems to my school’s literary journal. To my surprise, some were accepted. While the experience felt validating, it also felt bittersweet. “This is just a school journal,” I told myself. “It’s not the real world. Not a ‘real’ publisher.” Doubts crept back in, and I shelved my poetry once again.
Years passed. My indecision frustrated me, as did watching my words collect dust in notebooks and files instead of reaching readers. I could have sent my manuscripts to publishers and waited months for responses, but the fear of rejection kept me from taking the plunge.
Eventually, something shifted. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment, but one day, I realized I didn’t need anyone else’s permission to share my work. The idea of self-publishing appealed to me — the freedom to present my poetry exactly as I envisioned it, with no edits or compromises. I wanted my voice to remain pure, accompanied by a cover design that reflected my vision.
Once I embraced self-publishing, I never looked back. In 2022, I uploaded my manuscript to Amazon and held my breath as I hit “publish.” Just like that, I achieved something I’d only dreamed of for years: my very own self-published poetry collection.
It wasn’t just about seeing my name in print. It was about finally stepping past fear, trusting my voice, and sharing my story — on my own terms.
If you’re interested in my poetry collection it is available on Amazon in paperback or kindle version.
