We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Holly Chester. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Holly below.

Alright, Holly thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I believe life is more exciting when you take risks and my trip to Italy several years ago unleashed the risk-taker in me. The trip was for 17 days with a travel company, but I booked it solo and had never traveled to Europe before. I remember the night before asking myself what on Earth I was doing, traveling to a different country and not knowing anyone. It ended up being one of the best decisions of my life.

We practically saw the entire country in two weeks. The adventure began in Venice and we visited a new city every couple of days until we ended our journey in Sicily. We made pasta from scratch on a rooftop in Rome and stood on Mt. Etna, an active volcano in Sicily. We sailed Lake Como and sang karaoke in Florence, all while being surrounded by beautiful architecture and history spanning decades. But the best part? I met many wonderful strangers who became my friends and remain my friends today.

Was it worth the risk? Absolutely, because it helped me see a different world and to see the world in a different way. I think as creatives we need to step out of a normal routine every once in a while. It’s there that we come face to face with inspiration and learn more about ourselves in the process.

Holly , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a writer. I find joy in combining words into phrases that evoke emotion in others. As a poet, I’ve noticed that when I write with no filter and am brutally honest, those poems really strike a nerve with my readers because they’re relatable. I think that’s my goal as a poet: to help people realize they’re not alone in the way that they feel. The world can be so isolating at times and we forget that other people are experiencing the same emotions that we are.

I proudly call myself a writer, but it took me a while to get to this point. Imposter syndrome is real and it takes a lot of mental work to push past your own negativity and own your creativity. When I first began my Instagram account, I wrote under a pen name. It was a way to put myself out there without really putting myself out there. But somewhere along the way, I realized I was probably not helping myself by hiding behind a fake name, so I revealed my identity. Since then, my following has grown and I’m working on my debut poetry book.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

It’s a simple answer, but being able to sit down and put pen to paper or thumbs to screen and create something – that’s the most rewarding aspect. When I’m really in the zone writing, time flies and it brings me joy to share the finished product. It brings me even more joy when I share it and others feel understood. I’ve learned that creativity is a gift and when it is treated as such, it’s so rewarding.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Two words: relatability and consistency. If someone relates to what you’re selling or sharing, they want to learn more because they feel a connection to it. Consistency is also key. I don’t share a new post every day, but I share content on my story every day. It’s not always my own work, but often other writers’ work that I love or the occasional meme (because I don’t need to share sad-girl poetry all day). If you’re consistently showing up, odds are people will notice.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hollychester.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollychesterwrites/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollychesterwrites
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-chester-b8876962/

Image Credits
Photos by Fadwa Ward & Brandie Johnson