Contributor’s Corner
Poetically Pulled for a Purpose INTVW by Carl Jason Unintended, but Natural To write is to inscribe coherently composed emotion. In some of its aspects, at least, it is true. In Gina Tranisi’s case, writing started as a mere errand to send handwritten cards and letters. A natural inclination in sharing and feeling others’ joy and sadness. “These practices taught me the importance of gratitude, of naming grief and loss, and of celebrating others’ wins as though they were my own.” In hindsight, these instances of writing foreshadowed her calling toward a more noble reach and for her artistic journey. Some kind of awakening. An artist’s ability to feel is his or her rooted trigger to dismantle or to create everyday scenarios in their creative sphere. Gina, from handing small papers of goodness and grief, continued on to her teenage years to win her first-ever literary award. A deeper appreciation aroused within her when the wonders of poetry embraced her back, a consequence of seeking literature as means of expression. “When I was sixteen, I attended my first poetry slam and learned that poetry was bigger than letter-writing and rhyming. It was loud, funny, image-rich and rhythmic. Slam poetry is written to be read aloud, so from my years of competing locally and nationally, I learned how to write for sound.” Poetry, being one of the freest forms of writing, allows one to play around with it. On the contrary, what sets a poet apart from being just a writer for a hobby is when he or she sees a poem as a complicated and dedicated composition of words. Putting these capabilities of poetry at heart, Gina distinguished herself from just being an aspiring writer at the time. Her preference and development in writing show how much dedication she has to poetry.
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NEW READER MAGAZINE
As a writer, coping with everyday life while maintaining one’s craft is an arduous task that frequently is intensified by pesky thoughts like doubt or feelings of uncertainty relative to the profession and its competition. Gina, like many writers and artists, pronounces comparison with those who studied MFA or the discipline. “When I sit down to write, it can feel like my brain is working against me, reminding me— often in the middle of a draft— that I don’t have an MFA or a book deal and live in a state other poets might struggle to put on a map. Who could care about my stories?” It can be daunting when—just as rich as the world of creativity—being a writer means being compared and competing with those who have made their mark and who are about to be.
