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

Nala, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I grew up in a family of creatives; my grandmother a photographer, my grandfather a pianist, my father an artist, my younger sisters also indulge within the arts as well. It has been no secret that I have felt the most at home on stage. From trombone to dancing to singing, I loved being in the arts but none of them felt quite like the right fit. Not until I found my true passion, poetry and spoken word. My high school years started out rough due to my own distractions and I ended up transferring schools my sophomore year. In that, I had a friend who randomly asked me in our biology class, did I want to join the poetry club with her. Why not? I’ve always adored English, essay writing and analysis up my sleeve. But when I not only read more contemporary poetry but watched it performed? I was captivated. I watched poets from Ebony Stewart to Rudy Francisco to Shihan. I couldn’t get enough. A lot of my after-school hours involved me viewing every and any Button Poetry and Def Poetry Jam video while convincing my parents to buy me another poetry book. I knew, spoken word was something I wanted to do, needed to do. My first ever spoken word performance was in a small auditorium at Suitland High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland. I couldn’t tell you what I performed that day exactly, but I can tell you this; it felt right. It felt like I was done apartment hunting and finally found where I could build my house, my home, brick by brick. I’ll never forget that feeling. Every time I perform, that home, the land, is being expanded in the best possible ways. I knew if I didn’t continue writing and performing, I’d be chasing that exact feeling in the other artforms I pursued. So, why not writing? Why not poetry?

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m from Prince George’s County Maryland, born and raised, I gave you my backstory already so from there, I began searching for poetic opportunities. Most notably, I applied and competed for the Prince George’s County Youth Poet Laureate Program and was a Youth Ambassador for the duration of my high school years. With this program, I learned under my mentors to explore my performance style and performed all over the DMV area including representing the D.C. team at the Brave New Voices Competition in 2020 and performed during the Kennedy Center’s Arts Across America Series in 2020. From there, I continued my studies at Susquehanna University in PA, majoring in Creative Writing with a Women and Gender Studies minor. Whie in PA, I continued to perform and began to publish. I have poetry published in The Sanctuary Mag, Rivercraft, and my Creative Non-Fiction Essay “Unfinished Letters” that was awarded the 2022 Erik Kirkland Memorial Prize. I received several other awards from the University and Creative Writing Department which set me up for even more success when applying to MFA programs. I left Susquehanna a good writer, but I crave to be a great one; and Texas State is just the University to do that. I am currently attending Texas State as a part of the MFA program, leaning more into the written word and not just the spoken. Since being at Texas, I’ve performed/competed in several Austin Poetry Slam slams, as well as gigging within the area. From Juneteenth celebrations to Independent Book Fairs to Choreopoem shows to opening for established poets, I’ve been putting in the work. In hopes of becoming a great writer, I have work currently/forthcoming in Livina Press, The Santa Clara Review, Midnight & Indigo, Mouthful of Salt, and more! I think a lot of times I’d say my work ethic and drive sets me apart from most writers, hell most people. But I am also a huge fan of every and any writer who has ever tried. It’s not easy putting your work out there, being told no countless times, and have the desire to keep trying anyway. Above all, I say that this work plays healer. I write about being Black, and Woman, and love, and loss, losing, and continuing to lose, hope, politics, and this crazy blessed life. To put that in my poetry and performances is a privilege. Poetry does indeed, heal the wounds inflicted by reason(s).

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

For me, the most rewarding part of doing this work, writing, performing, is the people. Obviously other poets and creatives are imperative to a fostering community, but the people who don’t do this work. The people who stumble into an event I’m performing at or find my video randomly saying it spoke to them. There have been countless times when I have been approached with such love and praise and really, I never know what quite to say. Because everything I said was left on the page and/or stage. It’s amazing isn’t it, what people can find in your work, in you. You never know who you’re speaking too with poetry and performances. I also love everyone who can see, I truly love what I do; the passion, the grit behind it all. Because I do. I do love what I do.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I think just going back to what I already said; I left my undergrad a good writer, a decent one. I’m now attending my MFA to be a great one. And I don’t think this solely comes from another degree, but it comes from experience and networking and motivation, all the things I’m currently doing and will continue too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/nalawashington
• Instagram: @that.poetgirl
• Facebook: Nala Washington
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nala-washington

Image Credits
For the personal photo, Luke Waldner
For the additional photos, Earl McGehee