EPISODE · Feb 2, 2026 · 45 MIN
Poetry as Survival: Writing Through Trauma, Loneliness, and Healing with Patricia Harris | Ep 93
from Buildwriting · host Onyemechi Nwakonam
What happens when writing isn’t just a creative outlet—but a lifeline?In this deeply honest conversation, poet, publisher, and author Patricia Harris opens up about what it means to live with poetry—not as a hobby, but as a way of surviving the world. From writing her first poems as a child to running her own publishing company, Patricia shares how poetry became her language for processing trauma, insomnia, migraines, loneliness, and life itself.If you’ve ever written to cope, read poetry to feel seen, or wondered whether your words matter—this conversation will stay with you.In This Episode, We Explore:How poetry became Patricia’s lifelong coping mechanismThe role of poetry marathons in building creative enduranceWhy discipline and inspiration aren’t oppositesThe importance of learning poetic forms before breaking themHow reading poetry helps writers feel less alonePublishing poetry, running a small press, and supporting other writersRedefining success as showing up and telling the truthWriting through trauma without losing love for the craftConnect with Patricia HarrisExplore Patricia’s poetry, books, and publishing work on her personal blog:https://pattymouseblog.comLearn more about her publishing company and the authors she supports:https://faecorpspublishing.comYou can also find her books across major retailers through Books2Read links available on the Faecorps Publishing site.About the GuestPatricia Harris is a poet, children’s author, and publisher. She writes poetry, nonfiction, and children’s books under her own name, and dark fantasy and horror under the pen name Serena Musgraves. She is the founder of Faecorpse Publishing, where she helps indie authors bring their work into the world. Patricia has been writing poetry since childhood and publishing since 2010.Join the BuildWriting NewsletterIf today’s conversation inspired you, join my BuildWriting Newsletter — where I send writing prompts, creative reflections, and weekly reminders to return to the page.👉 Join here: https://buildwriting.com/newsletter/A creative life grows when we grow it together.Chapters00:00 Poetry as a Lifeline01:03 What Patricia Writes and Why02:10 Publishing Poetry and Building a Press03:52 What a Poetry Marathon Really Demands06:10 Prompts Pressure and Creative Freedom07:25 Knowing the Rules Before Breaking Them09:40 Writing Without Forcing the Work11:04 Creativity Cooking and Chaos14:59 Confidence Rejection and Finding Your Reader17:35 How Poetry Changed Patricia’s Life20:28 Why Reading Poetry Matters23:15 The Poems That Stay Close26:54 What Patricia Hopes Readers Feel29:06 Defining Success as a Writer31:49 Writing in Themes35:11 Cover Design and Creative Control41:08 Rapid Fire Poetry Rebels and Icons43:06 If Her Poems Could Speak43:54 Where to Find Patricia’s Work45:02 Closing Thoughts Keep Writing
What this episode covers
What happens when writing isn’t just a creative outlet—but a lifeline?In this deeply honest conversation, poet, publisher, and author Patricia Harris opens up about what it means to live with poetry—not as a hobby, but as a way of surviving the world. From writing her first poems as a child to running her own publishing company, Patricia shares how poetry became her language for processing trauma, insomnia, migraines, loneliness, and life itself.If you’ve ever written to cope, read poetry to feel seen, or wondered whether your words matter—this conversation will stay with you.In This Episode, We Explore:How poetry became Patricia’s lifelong coping mechanismThe role of poetry marathons in building creative enduranceWhy discipline and inspiration aren’t oppositesThe importance of learning poetic forms before breaking themHow reading poetry helps writers feel less alonePublishing poetry, running a small press, and supporting other writersRedefining success as showing up and telling the truthWriting through trauma without losing love for the craftConnect with Patricia HarrisExplore Patricia’s poetry, books, and publishing work on her personal blog:https://pattymouseblog.comLearn more about her publishing company and the authors she supports:https://faecorpspublishing.comYou can also find her books across major retailers through Books2Read links available on the Faecorps Publishing site.About the GuestPatricia Harris is a poet, children’s author, and publisher. She writes poetry, nonfiction, and children’s books under her own name, and dark fantasy and horror under the pen name Serena Musgraves. She is the founder of Faecorpse Publishing, where she helps indie authors bring their work into the world. Patricia has been writing poetry since childhood and publishing since 2010.Join the BuildWriting NewsletterIf today’s conversation inspired you, join my BuildWriting Newsletter — where I send writing prompts, creative reflections, and weekly reminders to return to the page.👉 Join here: https://buildwriting.com/newsletter/A creative life grows when we grow it together.Chapters00:00 Poetry as a Lifeline01:03 What Patricia Writes and Why02:10 Publishing Poetry and Building a Press03:52 What a Poetry Marathon Really Demands06:10 Prompts Pressure and Creative Freedom07:25 Knowing the Rules Before Breaking Them09:40 Writing Without Forcing the Work11:04 Creativity Cooking and Chaos14:59 Confidence Rejection and Finding Your Reader17:35 How Poetry Changed Patricia’s Life20:28 Why Reading Poetry Matters23:15 The Poems That Stay Close26:54 What Patricia Hopes Readers Feel29:06 Defining Success as a Writer31:49 Writing in Themes35:11 Cover Design and Creative Control41:08 Rapid Fire Poetry Rebels and Icons43:06 If Her Poems Could Speak43:54 Where to Find Patricia’s Work45:02 Closing Thoughts Keep Writing
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Poetry as Survival: Writing Through Trauma, Loneliness, and Healing with Patricia Harris | Ep 93
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