How To Translate Heartache Into A Book: A Poet’s Guide

'Write what you know. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable.'

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Today, we’re talking to poet and influencer Kelly Peacock about her debut poetry book, Somewhere In Between, and the process of making deeply personal writing both marketable and relatable.

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First, tell us about your forthcoming poetry book Somewhere In Between. 

Somewhere In Between is a collection of poems about love, but more specifically, the hurting and the healing. These poems are for anyone who is healing from heartbreak or trauma and is learning to love bravely again after being hurt. It’s available for preorder now at Shop Catalog and should be available to order on April 4th!

How did you come up with the title? Was it a collaborative process?

My book was originally titled This Is How You Will Remember Me, and then later we danced with the idea of This Is How I Will Remember You. But there was still something missing with that title and I still wasn’t confident with it. I brainstormed ideas with a friend and she told me to describe the book to her, what the poems were about. I told her the poems were for anyone who’s somewhere in between their hurting and healing and loving, and she said, “That’s it. Somewhere in Between.” It just fit.

How did you balance writing your poetry book alongside your full-time job and other responsibilities?

They always say to not force the words, but sometimes you need a little bit of a nudge to get somewhere. When I was writing my book, I made sure to dedicate specific days of the week for writing, editing, and organizing the poems. I’d do my tasks for my full-time job in advance for the days I knew I wanted to work on my book. I never forced myself to write, but I forced myself to make time for it.

This is your first book. How did you approach this project given it was something you’ve never done before?

It’s always been something I wanted to do – write and publish a book of poetry. I’ve been writing these poems for years, but I really started to focus on them within the past year or so, partially because I finally had grieved those relationships and could put my feelings into words, and partially because it just felt right.

I’d dedicate a day or two out of the week and go to a coffee shop, where I set up shop with my laptop and my writing notebook. I put on sad music, started rambling on a page until something good came of it.

kellyapeacock

A post shared by kelly peacock (@kellyapeacock)

What was the most difficult component of writing the book?

Besides the challenge of coming up with a title that, at the same time, defined what my book was about and that would grab someone’s attention, I was putting a lot of pressure on myself. I wanted the poems to be perfect, so I was constantly rewriting and rephrasing. I took four steps back from my perfectionist mindset and forced myself to stop nitpicking every part of my poems and accept it for what it was.  I had to remind myself that I am good enough and my poems are good enough.

How did you pitch your book?

“This is for the lovers, the ones who fall a little too hard, the ones who give so much of themselves to others, the ones who have been hurt and used, the ones who are trying to find healing.” – That’s what I pitched. I wanted my book to be raw and personal because that’s something that I would want to read.

I knew my book was vulnerable and it was going to be even more so once it was finally out there. I was a little nervous about pitching the book, not because I didn’t think it would get accepted (okay confidence!) but because that meant it was really real. It was really happening – my vulnerability would be out on display. I just had to remind myself that my words mean something to me and there’s a good chance they could mean something to someone else too.

Is there anything you wish you had done differently? If so, what?

I don’t have any regrets about my book. Maybe in a few years, when I look back at it, I’ll probably wish I had done something differently with certain things. But right now, I think it’s great. I’m proud of what I created.

Is there anything you’ll continue to do as you write more books? What?

I’m on a very deep, personal healing journey that requires a lot of work and attention and kindness. I’m going to continue healing and growing and learning. I’m going to continue loving, as deep as I do, but work on offering more of that kind of love to myself.

kellyapeacock

A post shared by kelly peacock (@kellyapeacock)

How do you write poetry that is both personal and relatable?

Someone once told me, “Write what you know.” My poems are very honest and raw and come from personal experiences in love, heartache, trauma, longing, and healing. My poems typically start as thoughts or journal entries, as a means of therapy, and then eventually blossom into metaphors and personifications and romanticism. Certain moments with certain people just stick with me and I can’t not write poems about it! I’m just talking about my feelings and it just so happens that other people are feeling or have felt the same way. 

Finally, is there any other advice you’d give to someone tackling a similar project?

Trust yourself and your judgments but be willing to listen to what others have to say. Be patient with yourself and the writing process. Write what you know. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable.

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To learn more about Kelly and her writing process, join us for her Lunch+Learn talk on Thursday, April 14 at 1 p.m. EST, exclusively on the Thought Catalog Discord Server. If you have any questions or topics you’d like Kelly to cover, please leave us a comment on this Substack!