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

Seneca, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I’d have to say one of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever worked on was my poetry book Screaming Bluebirds. It was all about coming to terms with my childhood, abuse, and family dynamics — which is often a topic I avoid altogether. I don’t generally feel inspired by writing about my childhood or my family. The truth is, the subject just doesn’t interest me.

Then at 34 years old I had my first daughter, and I started to recognize things about myself, her, and my life that I had shoved deep down. I started to see me in my daughter, and it brought me back to childhood and all of the terrible things I’d went through. I kept thinking “How could people have done that to me? To an innocent child?” It lead me to finally feel like in order to let go of the pain I’ve been burying, I need to finally take steps to write about the events.

I’m proud of the book even though I feel like I could’ve done more with it. I’m still proud that I took that initiative to do something outside of my comfort zone.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started writing poetry at 9 years old, and now at 38, I can say that I’ve have a lifetime of experience under my belt. My passion for poetry lead me to earning my BA degree in creative writing, as well as a BA in psychology. I spent several years editing work for friends who were writers, eventually shifting into editing for a broader range of people in an effort to share my knowledge and discover more writers that I’d otherwise not have known.

My love of working with new people and hearing new stories started when I worked at a behavior management facility with women who were pregnant or just had babies and working to recover from addiction. Being able to hear the strong stories of Native American woman was really encouraging and new to me. I then started a program called Helping Arts for Substance Abuse Recovery (HASAR) where I worked alongside their counselors to create a free therapeutic writing program to help encourage the healing and creative process.

This experience also is why I am currently getting my MFA in Nonfiction Writing with a Narrative Medicine track. I want to help clients harness the power of their stories and write about their trauma. Being trauma informed in a safe way is important, and being able to work with clients to process their traumas and experiences has helped me do the same. The experience is incredibly rewarding because poetry can have such power if we let it.

I think all of this is really what sets me apart from so many. Poetry isn’t just a passion — it’s my purpose. It’s part of me on the deepest level. As someone with high functioning autism, tourette’s, and CPTSD, my brain works in a very unique way with the way it processes information and visualizes things. This has made it easier for me to have more innovative ways to coach writers, edit manuscripts, and share my knowledge. I can see things from several different angles, in a much broader sense, while understanding the importance of well placed detail.

When someone chooses me to coach them or edit their work, what they’re getting is someone who understands poetry and wants to encourage you to do justice to your experiences. Show the world who you are through your experiences, don’t just half ass it. Give y0ur experiences the story they deserve.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the depth of understanding you find within yourself. It never ends. There’s always something more to experience, to learn, to become a part of. Something to immerse yourself in. As long as you are true to your craft, you’re going to continually see art in everything and it will take your creative mind to new levels. Its a never-ending process of discovery.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I am probably the worst person to ask about building a social media presence because I refuse to conform to any platform.

The truth is, it’s all about how you want to be portrayed. For me, my authenticity is what helps me grow my social media and client list. But the other REAL truth is that this way is slow going. When you stick to doing what you do, remaining who you are at all times, and letting people see the real you (and all of it), you’re going to find that you may grow more slowly but the people who are following you are truly there for YOU and you alone. Those are the people who you will see the most support from because you aren’t pretending to be anything else. No persona. Just realness. When you keep it real, you’re going to get people who dislike you, but you’re also going to get those who love and respect you.

The people who follow you for your authenticity are the people who are most likely going to be supporting your work in the long term.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: SenecaBasoalto