INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE!

INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE WITH KAYLIN!

Kaylin is a versatile and multi-talented Creative and Poet who has consistently churned out incredible poetry.  She has an enormous Worldwide fanbase and is famous for her depictions and thought provoking pieces. Her incredible use of language also serves as her trade mark of excellence.

Today, Kaylin grants us an exclusive insight into aspects of her life and what makes her so sought after.  Enjoy the full interview below

1. Tell us about your Background.

I grew up in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, which is a small town about an hour outside of Philadelphia. My mother can trace her family all the way back to the original colonies in the United States. My father’s parents both came to the United States as immigrants following World War II; they were forced to leave their respective countries because of their faith. My genetic makeup is comprised of Irish, Scottish, British, German, Slovakian, and Ashkenazi Jew. My mother identifies as a republican and Christian, my father as a democrat and culturally Jewish. They split when I was 12, but I consider my undying desire to find truth in the messy middle related to being raised in a family that embodied so many polarities.  

2. How did poetry all begin for you

I’ve always loved writing and gravitated to the language arts as early as elementary school. In third grade, I wrote a short story about a girl named Molly who went on adventure to learn important virtues, like caring for others and telling the truth. My third-grade teacher really encouraged my writing and even tried submitting the story to a magazine, although I think it ended up being too long. Brevity isn’t my strong suit. I often thought I’d go on to write novels one day: big stories of character development and moral dilemmas. At one point, a psychological thriller became a pipe dream; it still is.  

Journaling is something I’ve done on and off since middle school, and I have always handled my biggest emotions and life challenges through poetry. When my mind is buzzing, writing is clarifying. Articulating our demons calms the noise; untangles the knots. That’s why I turned to writing again in young adulthood when I was facing burnout in my early career and infertility due to a condition called hypothalamic amenorrhea, which is when the body stops the reproductive cycle to conserve energy for more critical tasks. It is usually caused by a combination of too much exercise, too little food, environmental stress, and biological predisposition. As someone who considers herself a recovering perfectionist, doing the exact opposite of what I had strived for my entire adult life felt like a mind-body alter-universe. Restoring my health required complete rest, consuming a surplus of calories, and learning how to just be in my body. Accept rest, growth, stillness. I write a lot about these topics in poetry today.

My daily writing practice officially started in May 2020. It was the day following a pregnancy loss, and I was heartbroken. Turning to writing felt like the only way to find myself back to me, and I uncovered so much about myself through the act of daily unraveling. My children are early risers, so every day I get out of bed around 5am and write. Having that hour to myself – only me, my coffee, my thoughts turning to words – gives me so much joy and energy. I truly believe that we need to find what fills us up before we can give to others, and writing is that for me.  

3. What is your writing process like

Let me set the scene: quite house, dark and still. As soon as I wake, I get out of bed with the humming of anticipation. I make coffee in our beloved Nespresso machine, add some milk, and head to our office to write. A table lamp on, glow from the computer screen, but otherwise still dark and still. And all mine. It’s the only hour in the day that is all mine. Just for me and my creativity. Pure joy, no work.  

Truth be told, most of my poems come to me in one fell swoop, and they usually see my notes app before they get written down during my morning time. Poems usually ask to be written. I never like forcing things; that feels like work. Poetry, to me, has always been pure creativity and release.

4. Do you usually have personal connections with your poems

I always do! I write straight from personal experience or observation. I’ve shared a handful of fiction-style prose, but even those have roots in personal experience. For that reason, I usually write about topics related to perfectionism, seeking balance, duality, motherhood, identity, finding presence, appreciating stillness, and cultivating gratitude and joy.  The marvelous and mundane, the little things. The little things are usually the big things, aren’t they?

5. Tell us about your favorite poets and what you like about their writing style

Some of my favorite poets are Joy Sullivan (her debut anthology comes out April 9th!), Kate Baer, and Maggie Smith. I’m typically drawn to poets and authors who write about their personal lives in a way that feels intimate but also relatable. There’s an element of storytelling with purpose that always reels me in. A style that is uniquely the author; a storytelling signature, if you will.  

6. You have quite the International fanbase online, especially Instagram... How does it feel to know that people all over the world read and resonate with your writing

Oh wow, I don’t know I’d go so far as to say fanbase! I think of this community as more of, well, a community. We support one another, encourage each other, take the time not only to read each other’s work but to digest it, relate to it, shed new insight on it. The conversations and insights shared with other poets in this community inspire and motivate me daily. Social media has many dark sides, but this international community is not one of them. What a beautiful thing, to connect with each other and the world around us.  

7. What would fans be most surprised to learn about you

I feel like a one-trick pony here, but my most shock-worthy fact is that I grew up acting in a children’s theatre group with Taylor Swift. The way she manifested her life motivates me every day. Other than that, it might be that I’m related to both Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr on my mother’s side. If you’re into United States history or the Grammy-award winning musical, Hamilton and Burr had an infamous relationship, and Burr ended up killing Hamilton in a duel. I sometimes feel like a walking contradiction.  

8. Other hobbies you love outside writing and poetry

I love reading novels, everything from pop fiction to historical fiction or psychological thriller. I also love being nature: hiking, running, walking. I spend most of my “free” time being with my daughters, ages 5.5 and 2.5 (they’d kill me if I didn’t include that half!) and studying for school. I’m currently in a graduate program to become a professional licensed counselor and love all things psychology and mental health.  

9. Are any of your poems based on real life experiences or do you just tap into your imagination

Almost all my poems are based on real life. Poems tend to come to me when I least expect them – from either a concept I’ve been trying to work out, something I heard on a podcast or from a friend, or an observation of a feeling or moment I’m experiencing that I want to capture. Poems, to me, are almost like photographs in that way. They capture not only the image but the feeling, the full essence of a moment.  

10. What was growing up like for you and what has the impact of family been like for you and how have they all perceived your talents as a world class poet

Wow! I consider myself very much to be an aspiring poet, but I also believe that anyone who writes poetry is world-class. Poetry is so personal, expressive. My family has been nothing but supportive. My brother even made me a picture book with photos of us as kids and some of my early poems printed in it as a gift last year – it might be the most thoughtful item I’ve ever received.  

11. Some sources whispered to us that you are currently working on a special project.please go into detail about this

I don’t have anything in the works right now, but never say never. I’ve loved supporting fellow poets as they publish their debut books and do hope to put something out into the world one day outside of the Instagram medium. I did put together a manuscript draft last year, but I don’t think it’s quite right timing- or content-wise. Right now, I’m focused on finishing graduate school and embracing time with my young kids. Isn’t that the beauty of life? There is so much to look forward to! But also, there’s so much to miss if we aren’t intentionally in the here and now.

12. What does literary success mean to you

For now, this is my creative outlet. Writing poetry is my happy place; it’s when I feel most energized, most myself. That feels like a success to me. One day, I would love to publish an anthology, but I don’t want to put any pressure on it. Once it stops feeling creative and fun, I’ve missed the point.

13. Would you Consider yourself a woman of faith?

I would consider myself a spiritual person. I do have a faith, but it’s hard to define. I was raised in a non-denominational Christian church but I’m also culturally half-Jewish. I have a great appreciation for all religions and enjoy finding similarities between them (e.g. the golden rule) more than I do finding discrepancies. Religious faith can be the source of so much good, but also so much evil. I believe that humans have the capacity for both. That we also require a certain level of spirituality to stay connected to the world outside of ourselves; to keep perspective, to recognize our unique role in the universe

14. What does Friendship mean to you?

Friendship means loyalty, caring, being there – even if you aren’t physically there. It’s a presence in someone’s life, regardless of time, space, or physical distance. I love real connection and depth in my relationships, but I also love the levity that friendship can bring. The ability to let go and be silly.

As with any relationship, friendships require each person to be authentically themselves. I love this Glennon Doyle quote about love and would consider it true for all relationships, romantic or otherwise: true love allows you to feel both free and held.  

15. Do you have any special friendships along the line of your development as a creative that you would love to highlight?

So many! I’m sure I’ll miss some, but some of the friends I’d like to highlight in this community include:

Andrea Aldrete -- @dre.writesnow

ZZ Jelenic -- @zzjelenicpoetry

Gemikal -- @gym.eye.call

Ari -- @dirt.sass.poetry

Rosie Lyons -- @rosie.writespoetry

Sunny Grewal -- @deckofpoetry (new book out! The Wolf’s Ink)

Hannah -- @thestoryofgreen

Leah -- @thesoftword

Milana Sincera -- @milana.sincera

Megan -- @meganreflects

I’m definitely missing many. This community is so wonderfully talented and supportive

16. What is your take on the state of the poetry community and whats your measage to aspiring creatives that look up to you as a source of inspiration

Try not to get caught up in the algorithm. The community is made of real people who are talented, supportive, and creative. So much joy can be found and inspiration drawn by truly reading and engaging with others’ work

17. How would you describe your personality

INFJ, enneagram 1, achiever. I’m introverted but love being surrounded by a handful of friends and family. Deep conversation is my love language. I’ve never met a goal I didn’t exceed, but I’m working on finding joy and contentment outside of goals. My ultimate life goal right now (irony?) is “to just be.”  

18. Aside from your passion for poetry, what else are you equally as passionate about

Mental health, women’s health/reproductive health, anti-diet culture, body positivity/neutrality. I’m a firm believer in inclusivity and equal rights for all.  

19. Your parting words to your teeming followers and fans worldwide.

Ok, now I’m blushing. I would say: remember to pause. To make space for breathing, living. Growth happens in the stillness.