Ask the Author with Emma Kocialski
TT: How long have you been writing? What interested you about it?
EK: I did not start perusing writing as a creative outlet until high school. This is mostly due to struggling with the language since childhood. English is my first language and even now, I find hardship in it. I became interested in writing because I wanted to get better at it and also have a way of expressing myself.
TT: What inspired you to write this piece(s)?
EK: In general, I have a great respect for nature and its ability to reclaim what has been taken from it over time. I wrote this as a piece to reflect on man's impact and glorify how nature can take it all back. This poem brought me a lot of peace when writing it. In the first initial draft, those that heard me read it labeled it as discouragement, like all the time put into the house was wasted. I found it funny, that I found peace in something man made being effectively destroyed and how others were frustrated by it. That duality spoke to me, so I pursued to refine it into the piece it is now. I wanted to spark those dueling ideas into conversation, not just on the poem but also about our community and world.
TT: Is this similar or different to other things you’ve written? How so?
EK: I write a lot of poems that are more dark or at least against humanity. This was one of my more tame ones. I do this to get my frustration out on our current society and past collective actions. For me, it feels productive, that I am putting these negative feelings into something more, and then I can allow myself to see the more optimistic side. It's like I'm relieving the pressure I put on myself, so I can do better and kinder things.
TT: Who is your favorite author or writer? What do you like about their work?
EK: My favorite author is Emily Rodda, this is mostly because she wrote the fantasy book series Deltora Quest. This was the first book series I ever read and the first book I dedicated myself to reading. If it wasn't for that book series, I believe it would have taken me much longer to properly learn how to read. My current favorite writer/author is Jillian Hanesworth; this semester my creative writing teacher exposed me to her poetry. It has been one of the most enjoyable reading and listening experiences I have ever had. Her work has given me a new drive to write my poetry and write in general. She has a way of pinning you down to your seat as she reads. She inspires you to push forward and find motivation. Like how Emily Rodda motivated me into read, I believe Jillian Hanesworth has motivated me to create and write.
TT: How long have you been writing? What interested you about it?
EK: I did not start perusing writing as a creative outlet until high school. This is mostly due to struggling with the language since childhood. English is my first language and even now, I find hardship in it. I became interested in writing because I wanted to get better at it and also have a way of expressing myself.
TT: What inspired you to write this piece(s)?
EK: In general, I have a great respect for nature and its ability to reclaim what has been taken from it over time. I wrote this as a piece to reflect on man's impact and glorify how nature can take it all back. This poem brought me a lot of peace when writing it. In the first initial draft, those that heard me read it labeled it as discouragement, like all the time put into the house was wasted. I found it funny, that I found peace in something man made being effectively destroyed and how others were frustrated by it. That duality spoke to me, so I pursued to refine it into the piece it is now. I wanted to spark those dueling ideas into conversation, not just on the poem but also about our community and world.
TT: Is this similar or different to other things you’ve written? How so?
EK: I write a lot of poems that are more dark or at least against humanity. This was one of my more tame ones. I do this to get my frustration out on our current society and past collective actions. For me, it feels productive, that I am putting these negative feelings into something more, and then I can allow myself to see the more optimistic side. It's like I'm relieving the pressure I put on myself, so I can do better and kinder things.
TT: Who is your favorite author or writer? What do you like about their work?
EK: My favorite author is Emily Rodda, this is mostly because she wrote the fantasy book series Deltora Quest. This was the first book series I ever read and the first book I dedicated myself to reading. If it wasn't for that book series, I believe it would have taken me much longer to properly learn how to read. My current favorite writer/author is Jillian Hanesworth; this semester my creative writing teacher exposed me to her poetry. It has been one of the most enjoyable reading and listening experiences I have ever had. Her work has given me a new drive to write my poetry and write in general. She has a way of pinning you down to your seat as she reads. She inspires you to push forward and find motivation. Like how Emily Rodda motivated me into read, I believe Jillian Hanesworth has motivated me to create and write.