How I'm Taking My Writing Beyond The Page

This morning, my husband messaged me about a conversation he had with my son. Apparently, he wants to be a poet when he grows up. 🥰😭

Writing poems isn’t technically my job, but I can see why he thinks it is.

Lately, poetry has seeped into the visible parts of my life—not just hidden away in notebooks and Google Docs. He’s watched me perform in front of an audience. He’s come with me to an art show where my poems were on display. He’s helped me pass out flyers for a poetry event I’m co-hosting next week.

In the spirit of discussing creative processes, I want to dive into how I’ve taken my poetry beyond the page, and how you can bring your creative work into the world too.

How I'm Taking My Writing Beyond the Page

• It started with a mental shift.
  
  For a long time, I thought of poetry as something quiet and personal—scribbled into notebooks, shared among other writers, maybe read aloud in workshops. But lately, I’ve started to believe that poetry doesn’t just belong in private spaces—it’s needed out in the world, too. In galleries and communities and gatherings.

  
  In the beginning of March, I came across a call for an all-female art show, open to any medium. On a whim, I reached out to the studio owner and asked if she’d consider displaying poetry prints. She said yes and invited me to perform as part of the show’s entertainment line-up. What??
  
  I got to work creating the prints and quickly discovered a new love. Still, the imposter syndrome was loud. Was I really going to hang my poems next to paintings and sculptures? Was I really going to take the stage between bands and dancers?
  
  The only thing carrying me through was the idea that my words might resonate with someone. And they did! In fact, I sold two of my five prints after my reading.

  

  
  That night affirmed to me that poetry belongs in the community. And since then, I’ve been wondering what else is possible.
  
  

• Creating my own opportunities.
  
  We’re all familiar with author events, workshops, and book signings. But what if you don’t have a book yet? Are there still ways to bring your work into the physical world?

  
  For a while, I’ve dreamt of incorporating poetry into soul-nourishing local experiences. However, I believed I couldn’t be part of these events until I had a book. It was just some rule I’d created in my head.

  
  After receiving a positive response at the art show, something clicked. I realized I could share my heart and words in so many different ways. I began reaching out, pitching ideas, and shaping experiences in my mind.
  
  One of those ideas was a collaborative Mother’s Day event with a local sound practitioner. I sent her a voice note pitching the idea and she said yes! Just like that. Now we’re creating something entirely new. Something soft and sacred. An immersive evening that blends her harmonic instruments with my live poetry.

  
  It’s really a dream come true, and a reminder that our art is allowed to live in the world.
  
  

• Staying Connected.
  
  I’ve also found many opportunities by staying engaged—following local book shops, art studios, restaurants, and a county-wide poetry newsletter. I love supporting these local organizations and businesses. Plus, when you plug into your community, you start to see what’s possible.

What else am I up to?

I recently created an Etsy shop! Currently, I have a print available for download in honor of Mother’s Day. A poem that speaks to the ongoing becoming of a mother—the way each day begs something new of us, no matter how far along we are in our motherhood journey.

If you’d like to take a look or read the poem, you can find the shop here: AllisonMWriting.Etsy.com.

Want a simple way to support my efforts? Click “favorite” on my shop or my print.

If you’d like to purchase, use code SUBSTACK for a 10% discount until 5/11. (And then tell me so I can personally thank you and send you one million virtual hugs!)

Physical prints coming soon! I’m already day-dreaming about packaging, stamps, texture, and ribbon. (I might be getting carried away, but I think poems deserve to feel special when they arrive.)

Let’s Talk—

I’ll leave you with this: If there’s something inside you that wants to be shared—a story, a craft, a skill, a truth—what’s one small way you could bring it into the world?

I’d love to hear. Hit reply or leave a comment.