Amy Hsieh
As a 2021 Reinhilde Cammaert Scholarship winner, Amy had the opportunity to work one-on-one with her mentor, Roxanna Bennett, on a poetry collection.
The Reinhilde Cammaert Memorial Scholarships are generously suppported by Bieke and Thanasis Stengos.
Can you summarize the project you worked on with your InkWell mentor?
During my mentorship with Roxanna Bennett, I worked on my book-length project, LIVE, a collection of mainly free verse and confessional poems on how to live a full life, especially after loss. I write about themes of loss, love, resilience, and renewal.
What were the goals you set out for the program?
Initially, I had two main goals I wanted to accomplish during this program. First, I was looking for feedback on new work and work that I was stuck on, in addition to tips for refining my almost-completed poems. Second, I was seeking support as I experimented with new ways of writing through exploring different poetic forms and with altered cognitive abilities. With post-concussion syndrome, my attention tends to be short and fragmented. I rarely enter a flow state, and when I do, it’s much briefer. Now, I usually use a “collage” style of writing, and sometimes the result feels disjointed. My objective was to explore new ways to collage while making the poems feel more cohesive. I also wanted to experiment with writing sonnets, which differs from my preferred poetic form (free-verse).
As difficult circumstances arose, my goals shifted to prioritize how to create while in distress. This included practicing self-care techniques which enable creativity during stressful periods.
Did you celebrate any writing/mentorship milestones, and if so, how?
My mentor and I both had writing milestones. I was fortunate enough to be selected to read a couple of poems at the Inkwell Summer Showcase. Thanks to Roxanna’s feedback, I was able to present an updated version of one of the poems. It was my first opportunity to be paid to read at an event. The event was a success, and I really enjoyed it.
Also, one of my poems was published in Barrie Today. This is the first time my work was published by a news outlet. The poem submitted to Barrie Today is different from my usual work, which is confessional in nature. This time, I wrote about an event that many other people had witnessed and experienced—a tornado. I was delighted that I could share this with the local community. I hope to write more poems about public, shared experiences in the future.
During our mentorship, Roxanna’s book The Untranslatable I won the Raymond Souster Award. This poetry collection about her experience with disability is remarkable and heart-breaking. I absolutely love it. Go read it!
To celebrate these accomplishments, we exchanged congratulatory emails with cute animal videos.
We also exchanged gifts commemorate the mentorship. Roxanna mailed me a lovely card and two of her books, The Untranslatable I and Manifestations 13. I sent her a copy of The Long Bond by Allan Briesmaster, and I’ll be mailing her some prints of rabbit paintings I made.
What are some self-care activities you have been engaging in?
My self-care routine includes speaking with my therapist, journaling, practising gratitude, appreciating nature (like taking pictures of awesome clouds or sitting on a big rock beside a fluffy bee).
I’m mindful of what kind of media I consume. I read uplifting poems, listen to music, listen to inspiring stories of humans who have overcome incredible difficulties (like Helen Keller, Viktor Frankl, Yeonmi Park, David Goggins), and watch videos of animals doing cute things.
I try to eat as well as I can. There is a strong link between mental health and diet. Discovering food sensitivities and supplements has been a game changer for my moods and energy. In addition, I stretch and go for walks when I’m able. Roxanna sent me many resources for yoga to help with trauma and anxiety, which I’ve been working through.
For me, having post-concussion syndrome, self-care involves using a lot of adaptive strategies, resting, and pacing. My fluctuations in ability can be dramatic, and the instability can be frustrating. I try to make the most of my situation by balancing making an effort and accepting my limits. I strive to be patient and not get discouraged.
When things get tough or confusing, I find it’s important to have self-compassion and a sense of humor. I seek to build resilience. Since I was a teenager, any time something bad would happen, I’d say that it was preparation for the zombie apocalypse. In other words, overcoming obstacles prepares you for the harder ones.
My self-care also includes being mindful of my post-concussion syndrome symptoms, prioritising energy expenditure, asking for accommodations or extensions when needed, and seeking help. Amazingly, people are generally supportive.
I fend off isolation by keeping in touch with friends and joining online groups, including mental health workshops and creative writing workshops like those offered by Inkwell (in partnership with CAMH).
Although I’m not able to plan out my days like before (I can’t predict my daily levels of energy or focus), I’ve found that it’s important to have larger goals to work toward. I feel very fortunate that I was able to make progress on my manuscript with the support of this mentorship.
What are you currently reading?
Due to a health setback and vision issues, I spent most of August in bed and not reading as much as I’d like. I recently finished listening to a recording of Seamus Heaney reading his translation of Beowulf (for the third or fourth time). I find the music of the Anglo Saxon style of verse simultaneously stimulating and soothing. It’s great to listen to Heaney!
No matter how I’m feeling, I try to read a couple of poems a day on my phone. When I find something interesting, I bookmark it for “bed days.”
I’m slowly making my way through one of the books that my mentor gifted me, Manifestations 13. Her deftness with the sonnet form is striking. To have a mini “found” poem embedded within the sonnet is playful and cool (like her!)
I’m also revisiting a book of collected poems by Allan Briesmaster, The Long Bond. It’s one of my favourites and a great companion when sitting outside or by a sunny window. The mastery of craft and range of styles makes it an engaging read. I return to this book regularly for the humanizing perspective, goodwill, and the appreciation of nature, which have been healing for me. The Long Bond is a part of my self-care tool kit. One day, I hope to write books that can be part of someone else’s self-care routine.
What's next for you?
I will continue working on my manuscript and complete it with the support of a Research and Create grant from the Canada Council for the Arts.
I hope that the poetry I write will inspire courage in others to articulate their experiences and overcome obstacles, and that it will remind them of the abundance of possibility that exists after great loss, and newness in life.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Thank you so much for the opportunity and the accommodations made for me to complete the program.
Amy Hsieh lives in Ontario. Her poems have appeared in Acta Victoriana, Hart House Review, University College Review, Watershed Review, Devour: Art & Lit Canada, IHRAF Publishes, Grain Magazine, and Barrie Today. She is bi, disabled, and Taiwanese.