Written by Ivo Radev, 11 “a”
Yesterday’s after-school meeting with the poet and author Katerina Stoykova was an incredible opportunity for the students at ELS “Geo Milev”! Naturally, her visit coincided with the European Day of Languages, and she writes poetry in English and Bulgarian.
The author and her work
It was exciting to talk to a writer born in Burgas and based in the USA. As a matter of fact, Katerina Stoyk0va is also a translator and a publisher. In addition, she teaches creative writing and leads a weekly radio program about literature. Several of her books feature poems in a dual version. She generously donated some copies to our school library!
Questions and answers
We discussed various aspects of literature. After that she shared some valuable insight on poetry and creative writing. Most students voiced their aspirations and named a few problems. Some spoke about lack of support by their parents. It is true that adults tend to regard poetry as a rather pointless activity. Some of the attendees also revealed their inner doubts and uncertainty as writers. On the other hand, a few were quite proud to speak about past awards. In general, almost everyone wanted to know how to keep the inspiration spark alive. We also requested practical advice on editing and selecting what to offer to the readers.
The three milestones in poetry
Katerina Stoykova shared her personal experience and provided a fresh perspective on the ways to nurture one’s creativity. One of the most memorable tips was to rely on the three milestones defined by her:
- Instinct – equal to one’s talent, more or less;
- Technique – corresponding to work and language skills;
- Obsession – one’s inner impulse and urge for writing.
The four killers of poetry
At a certain point, Alan Ginsberg’s name popped up in the discussion. Mrs. Stoykova mentioned his list of the most vicious enemies to poetry:
- Rich background (family) can kill the desire for self-improvement;
- Early success can steal away your spiritual freedom;
- Marriage deprives you of physical freedom and spare time;
- Any other field of expertise that sounds convenient and payable enough can suffocates your creative impulse.
Stay true to yourself
The meeting lasted for an hour, but felt like a couple of minutes… We were hungry for inspirational guidance on how to develop one’s talent and stay true to one’s poetic soul!
Organized by the Electronic Media club, with the participation of the Literature Society at school, the event proved truly useful for all attendees. We had the chance to speak to a real-life author and visualise what awaits us upon graduation, if we choose a career of creative development.
Mrs. Stoykova will also be one of the jury members to evaluate our poems for the annual Poetry contest held by the ELS Newspaper. Good luck to all applicants!