Sunday Interview # 13

Hi, Everyone! I am here, today, with Christy Birmingham, a Canadian freelance writer, poet and fellow blogger from Poetic Parfait.

Welcome, Christy! Would you please begin by telling us a little about yourself?

Absolutely! I am a freelance writer and blogger from British Columbia, Canada. I have recently started writing full-time and am loving it! I write for various websites and private publishers as well. I am also the proud owner of Poetic Parfait, where I share my poetry as well as having a weekly music feature. The blogging community has been very welcoming to me and my writing, which has been called ‘Interesting’ and ‘Unique’. I take those descriptions as compliments!

You should! 🙂

Most writers seem to have been bitten by the writing bug at an early age. Please tell us how long you have been writing. Was there any particular event that started you writing in the first place?

I first began writing creatively in elementary school, and majored in Writing in my first year at University. I didn’t think I could realistically make a living at the craft so I switched fields. I now have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology and Psychology (Joint Major). 

When I switched studies, I put writing onto the back-burner. In the last few years, I battled some difficult life circumstances. They were devastating for me. I still struggle some days. As I rise from that dark period, I realize that life really is short and we have to make the most of our time here. I decided to follow my passion for writing and brought it up to the front burner from its position at the back. I’m going to try my hand (literally) at writing, rather than wondering “What if?” and “If only” later on in life.

We are all glad you’ve risen from that dark place and have decided to share your passion for poetry. 🙂

How did you come up with your blog name and why do you prefer to write in poetic form?

Just the other day, I was asked why I chose “Poetic Parfait” as my blog name. I wanted to create a poetic spot for readers and writers of the genre, as I want poetry to get more of a spotlight in the general public’s eye. I wanted the name to tie into the reference to that goal. Two of my favourite things are poetry and sweets. Alliteration is a fun writing tool so I came up with Poetic Parfait. A few people tried to talk me out of the name when I first started the blog but I stuck with it. I went with my instinct! Now where are those M&Ms….

I like to write in poetic form because it allows me to play with words and provide snippets of emotion within a few stanzas.

What styles of poetry do you prefer, either to read or write? Who are your favourite poets?

I actually do not follow a set style in my writing format. Sometimes I start a poem with one line in mind and just type from there as my mind and fingers move together. I call it “free form” format. Some of my poems are edgy, while others are funny, and there is always emotional ties. I often write in the first-person. 

I have admired the poetry of Margaret Atwood for a long time.

Ah, our Canadian icon! 🙂

What other types of things do you write about?

Aside from my blog, I also write extensively about social media trends and tips, as well as writing advice for freelance writers. I like to share what I have learned and help others along the journey.

As a freelance writer, do you write for any particular company or publisher? If not, how do you approach people about writing ideas you have? Is it anything like submitting a novel or short story to a publisher? I’m curious about the whole process. 🙂

Curiosity is a good thing! I write for multiple websites as well as working with private publishers. I write online for HubPages, Knoji, and Helium. As well, I have been fortunate enough to form connections with two publishers. There is a lot of multi-tasking between writing and also promoting my online work.

Do you have any links you’d like to share?

Feel free to stop by the table at Poetic Parfait:  http://poeticparfait.com/

I also encourage connections on Twitter and Google+.

Twitter: @christybis 

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/112149635100346840584/posts

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Making a living at being a freelance writer is hard work and does require drive to be successful. For all of those aspiring writers, just remember: We all have to start somewhere! Keep working hard and, with time, your little successes may just build up to large ones. Let’s make those goals happen!

Thanks so much for your encouragement and for taking the time to chat with us, Christy! 🙂

And thank YOU, readers, for joining us, today. Please take the time to check out Christy’s poetry. It really is like ice cream for the soul! 🙂

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