Interview with Tejasvi, who has over thousand devout readers, on her gutsy journey of becoming a writer

1. Your poetry has a unique voice and style, what do you think sets it apart? Are there particular poets or authors who have had a profound influence on your writing? How do these influences reflect in your work?

Poetry, in itself, is unique because it is a glance into a person’s mind. It’s a part of them and hence, it reflects who they are. When it comes to my writing in particular, I feel like the raw emotions and imagery I incorporate sets me apart. 

My inspiration is @atticus. Coming from an Indian society where “arts” is frowned upon, that account was my source of inspiration that poets can make it big too. I aspire to build a brand just like him one day and impact many others with my words. 

1. Love seems to be a central theme in many of your poems. Could you delve into why this subject resonates so deeply with you? Is it a personal reflection of your experiences, or do you aim to explore love from a more universal or abstract perspective? In your opinion, what is it about love that makes it such an enduring theme for poets across time and cultures? Do you think it’s because of the complexity of emotions it encompasses, or is there something deeper that draws poets to this subject again and again?

Love is what makes life worth living. It doesn’t matter if it’s love for a person, passion, job or place- love is love. Although love has been a theme repeated in poetry since the olden days, I believe that love will never be overrated. The feeling of being in love is one of the purest things you can experience and talking about it creates common ground for everyone.

For people who are in love with life, it brings back positive memories like the day they got their first pet or a mother’s hug. For those who are learning to love life, it gives them reason to keep trying and serves as a reminder not to give up. It’s the most universal yet versatile topic to write about where there is no right or wrong. Why wouldn’t poets be drawn to it?

1. Beyond love, have you ever been tempted to explore broader themes like social issues, capitalism, or environmental concerns, such as the ozone depletion? These topics aren’t as common in poetry—why do you think that is?

My writings cover vast topics, ranging from my point of view on societal issues, mental health awareness and personal growth, all the way to the beauty of nature. One of my beliefs is that your best work is the one that you invested not only your time and effort, but feelings into. 

I have seen many poets write about issues such as global warming, corruption, politics etc. I do agree that these topics have to be addressed and that poetry is one of the ways you can do so. However, many poets such as myself tend to gravitate around the issues that directly impact us. When we do feel strongly for a cause, for me, that would be the increase in inhumane rapes and the suicide rate of students, we pick up our pens and the words flow. It all depends on mindset and what makes you “feel” the most.

1. You’ve cultivated a strong community of readers and fellow writers through your poetry and book reviews. How has building this community shaped your creative process? Do you find that engaging with an audience has influenced the way you approach your work? Community is often essential in the world of art. From your perspective, how does being part of a creative community contribute to the growth and development of an artist? Why do you think the sense of belonging and connection is so vital for poets?

Poetry is my way of expressing myself, it is my safe space. By voicing out my emotions, feelings, experiences via my writing, I am able to connect with people. This was my original reason for creating my instapoetry account. The touching comments on posts, constructive criticism in my DMs and support from fellow poets is heartwarming to see. Posting your poetry, possibly the most vulnerable part of you, takes courage. Positive responses from a community who is composed of like-minded people like you makes you feel seen and your emotions feel validated. 

1.  I imagine that being a part of the poetry community has exposed you to a wide range of ideas and conversations. Are there any deep topics that have been occupying your mind lately? How do these ideas influence your writing?

We live in a world where humanity and emotions are scarce. For every beautiful person you meet, you will find a surplus of self-observed, vain, inhumane creatures. Even on social media, I have seen many follower-oriented, plagiarizing accounts and will receive unsolicited DMs which will knock you down at times. When a controversial topic arises, users start battling each other out on stories. Some writers group themselves up to poke at an account they don’t like. I have found myself in many situations where I think, for a brief moment, to delete my account. 

To be totally honest, I try my best to ignore all this and make my account a non-biased place where anybody and everybody will feel safe. At the same time, I set firm boundaries and make sure to remove myself from situations that destroy my mental peace. 

Being able to create a supportive and motivated community has been on my mind a lot lately and I have been taking measures to facilitate that. This issue has influenced my writing because I made the change to start writing for myself and for those like me rather than trying to please others. I’ve adopted this mindset and it reflects in both my personal and professional life.