We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stephanie Ginese. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stephanie below.
Hi Stephanie , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
It’s going to sound so obvious, but I learned to write by reading. I didn’t have an academic background during the writing of my book, though I’m working on that of now. In order to write a full collection of poems, I had to consume as much poetry from as many diverse writers as I could. I studied each writer’s voice, style, and execution. I then used what I learned and funneled it through my own lens. I do, at times, wish I would have gone into a university program straight out of high school. I like to think I would be further in my career had I done that. Yet, I am also very grateful for the path I did take to get where I am now as a writer and artist. I think having the skills of humility and self-awareness were essential, and skills that I recognize I only have because of the experiences I had early in my adult life. I’m currently working on my BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a minor in History, which is allowing my to hone my skills in a way that feels exciting. Therefore, there really aren’t any obstacles standing in the way of learning more, which I’m really grateful for.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Well, I am a writer, published author, and stand-up comedian. South Lorain is my hometown, but I live and work in Cleveland now. My debut collection of poetry, Unto Dogs, was released last year on Grieveland. You can find it at like all the local bookstores, so go buy up some copies. I have read my work internationally and I do a good amount of readings around the city. Recently, I’ve been curating line-ups and hosting which I’m really into right now so if you need some poetry for your event, hit my line. I got into poetry as an adolescent but as far as being a career writer, I got into it by just showing up on the local scene. First writer’s workshop I went to was a free one at the library downtown and Kisha Nicole Foster was the instructor. That workshop and Foster were the catalyst that propelled me to where I am now with writing. I am a workshop instructor myself now and am working on books two and three (another of poetry and a collection of short stories) while also working and going to school full-time while raising teenagers. I think that’s what sets me apart, my drive and honestly, my voice. People often tell me I write how I talk and that my writing feels accessible, which are my favorite things to hear. Poetry can tend to feel inaccessible a lot of the times when we think about the poetry we’re all taught in school, but a lot of contemporary poets are doing really innovative and overall fun stuff with the genre. There’s a lot of playfulness with form and language happening and it’s what’s really inspired me the most with writing. Play and rebellion are my biggest inspirations for sure.
As far as comedy, I’m fairly new to it. I’ve been hitting open mics around town for like three months now, and have been booked a few times which is sick. I’ve been a big comedy fan since childhood. My mom and I would always watch “In Living Color” and John Leguizamo’s specials. I knew I wanted to participate in that world in someway when I got older so it’s exciting to be doing it now. It’s also a new avenue for storytelling which is really all I am. A storyteller.
So, if any of y’all are paying for stories or know someone who is, hit me up!
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Society needs to have greater respect for artists as creative thinkers and problem solvers. Artists can be so instrumental to the development and organization of our communities, yet they are often left out of these conversations. When thinking locally, I just saw the announcement the city made about the news arts czar. That’s definitely a step in the right direction, but I feel strongly that local, working artists need to be included in any conversation or decision around the arts in this city. And they need to be brought in at the ground levels of planning. AND they had better be compensated…fairly.
That’s another way society needs to support artists, with actual and fair compensation. Artists deserve living wages and to have some sort of unionization amongst expressions. Like, musicians need a union that requires fair pay from streaming services and performance venues. Writers, visual artists, dancers, performers all deserve and require protections from exploitation.
If artists weren’t so tethered to their survival or the game of “making it,” they’d have the free space to dream and create new solutions and worlds for us as a society to relish in. But I think that is exactly what the powers that be are afraid of and why they keep artists buried in the rat race of it all.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
For sure there is. As I’ve mentioned, I’m a mother so first off, providing a sense of stability, security, and accessibility to my children is a top priority is everything that I do and it also drives me creatively to make the best work I can so that avenues of opportunity open up for me to be able to provide in those ways.
Secondly, I have a personal mission to share the stories of my community and my people with the world. My work really finds its legs in history and the politics of certain areas, like the Midwest and the Caribbean. My family is full of storytellers on both sides so I feel deeply connected to the tradition and am set on making it my legacy, for my family and my culture.
Lastly, I want to hone in on history specifically. The history of Puerto Rico and its people, on the island and in the diaspora, has often been overlooked or hidden. It is my mission as a writer to highlight and honor this history as a way to interrogate the present and contemplate the future. I want to bring all the knowledge I gain in my research to a wide audience of readers and learners. For example, with my book, Unto Dogs. I have gotten a lot of feedback about how unaware folks were about the reproductive history of women on the island and about the horrific US policies that shaped that history. This is what drives my writing, the sharing of knowledge and the honoring of people. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sginese.com
- Instagram: @st.ginese
- Twitter: @StGinese