Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rebecca Canup. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rebecca, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue my artistic path professionally and seriously was in 2020 during the pandemic. I had toyed with it over the years- in fact i was in healthcare for 17 years and that calling to be artistic and to write never went away. During the pandemic I felt a huge push to finally leave the work I wasn’t passionate about behind- and try to follow my dreams and carve out a space to do so.

Rebecca, 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?

I began my writing and poetry journey at a young age. Through childhood, school, and college it always was beneath the surface no matter what else I was pursuing. But as much as I loved it, I was told over and over that you make no money as an artist and it’s not a stable path. So I put it on the back burner and went into healthcare instead. I spent 18 years in the healthcare industry.

Over the course of this time, I always wrote, attended poetry readings, read different poets and performed at spoken word events, and I never stop believing that it was something that was truly my calling.

After the pandemic hit, I finally got the courage to put together my writing and put some of it out on Instagram. Which in all honesty was completely terrifying. I was so scared of what others were gonna think of me, and that I would embarrass myself or embarrass my family.

But, something inside me wouldn’t let me give up. So as soon as I started to put myself out there on social media, the more positive feedback I would receive. I finally got the nerve to put together my first poetry anthology.

From the success of this book, I became a name in my community and realized that I also want to be there for other aspiring writers. Thus my women’s only writers room group was born. The Writers Room is a place where you can come and write and receive feedback in a loving and safe environment. It’s also a sisterhood, a place where you can create bonds with other women who want to share their love of poetry and beyond.

Given my editing experience, I also help others create their manuscripts, edit their work for different projects, and have a mentorship program for those who would like to publish their own work.

What I most proud of is creating and sharing a community in the last few years that has connected me to so many other amazing women, men, artists, and people who share their love of art and can relate to the medicine of words. To me, knowing that I’ve helped others achieve their writing goals, tap into their love of writing and run with their passions, or even inspire someone with my own words is everything.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

This is an interesting question because I believe we are all creative beings. To be an architect, stay at home mum, engineer, a sandwich maker, these are all occupations that require innovation and creativeness.

What I feel is that a lot of people stifle their creativity. I know this because I did it. The biggest hurdle and struggle from my journey would be to not let what other people may think of me rule me.

I had to get clean and clear about what I wanted from my life and that didn’t include whatever everybody else’s opinion of what my life should look like. If that meant taking an unconventional path then that’s what I was willing to do. I am a creative person in my soul, and therefore I wanted to have a creative life.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I think when we are on the road less taken or even unpaved, there are many pivots that you have to roll with. It might not look like everybody else’s schedule, and it most likely won’t be a 9 to 5.

For instance, in my line of work, certain months of the year drive others to be more energetic and inspired, and some of the other seasons require going inward and reflecting. So that means that I am busier at certain times and have a resting period In other seasons. I’ve had to learn this flow and when is the right time to create workshops for certain topics and when to allow for a pause in writing groups etc.

It’s a flow that I think every artist knows too well, and I’ve had to learn that because it wasn’t instinctual for me. Being very busy in the healthcare industry for so long I fell into that rhythm and when I started to pursue my artistry full-time I had to fall back a little bit from the hustle and bustle. It was a learning curve but it actually connected me more to a more natural pace.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.burnforwords.org/
• Instagram: burnforwords
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burnforwords

Image Credits

Emilie Iggiotti
Christina Louise Phorography
Tanjerynestudio