We caught up with the brilliant and insightful LEJUANE BOWENS a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

LEJUANE, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I am extremely happy as an artist and creative. I’ve had a day job before which was secure, but it kept me stagnant from wanting to create and take part in projects that I was a part of or wanted to manifest. The last “day job” I had would not let me take off an hour of time out of my week to facilitate a creative writing class for youth as they were creating their own plays. The same job also did not want me to bring this type of program into our organization because they felt youth would say it’s stupid. Little did they know, the members said that the class helped them with coping with depressions and finding their voice.

LEJUANE, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Sure thing. I’m a spoken word artist, poet, author, host, creative writing facilitator, father, and that’s all I can think of off top of my head. I got into the business by stumbling across open mic events after publishing my first book. From there, a lot of poetry OG’s in NC saw my potential and started to pour into me a lot of insight and wisdom which helped me navigate through poetry slams ad how to promote myself. The biggest problems I help solve with other artists that are up and coming is to help them establish their own voice because no one wants to hear a carbon copy of another artist. Projects I’m most proud of is the fact that I’ve done workshops for the Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts, became a board member of the biggest poetry competition in the country known as Southern Fried Poetry, Inc, working alongside great nonprofits like Wounded Warrior Project, Setting up programs with Duke University, featuring on All Def Poetry, and a plethora of other things that I could list.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Knowing that the work is not only received by complete strangers, but that it can inspire people to share their stories because most of us think we are the only ones to go through certain situations until we see that we are not the only one to do so.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Funny enough. knowing that everyone will not like your work. As a poet once said to me, if you’re making everyone happy with the work you’re creating, then you’re not doing your job as an artist because everything needs critiqued.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.poetrynmotionnc.com
• Instagram: @eljapoetry
• Facebook: El’Ja Bowens
• Linkedin: LeJuane Bowens
• Twitter: @eljapoetry
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ElJaBowens

Image Credits
Law Bullock, Wil Warasila, Joshua Choi