We recently connected with Zane Frederick and have shared our conversation below.

Zane, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I distinctly remember the first time I was taught poetry. In 4th grade, Ms. Hanzel introduced the class to the classics. I was immediately drawn to the rhyme schemes and playfulness of poetry. It was high school where I really picked up the craft. As a crazed teenager, the metaphors came naturally to me, like they HAD to be written out. The rest isn’t necessarily history, it was truly the start of an emotionally bearable future.

Had I been given another chance to speed up my learning process, I would have read more poems, and wrote more bad ones. The craft is a practice for a reason. I would have exposed myself to more writers and studied other styles. I have also learned that writing the poem, even if you deem it “bad”, is still worthy of being written. We have to write out the weak lines to get the good bones we are building.

The skills that were most essential were figuring out what I was trying to say. What feeling was I targeting? How was I visually trying to make sense of it in my head? What kind of theme or tone was I going for? I asked myself dozens of introspective questions.

I find that obstacles standing in our way of learning is dependent on what resources are available to us and our willingness to learn. I feel that while there were the normal obstacles or distractions of life, I still made an effort to explore my craft and expand my skill by reading, writing and experiencing.

Zane, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a mid twenties Gemini from Phoenix, AZ. I became more heavily involved in the publishing industry when I got into college. I took a slam poetry course and was encouraged to self publish. Since then, I’ve published three poetry books and one poetry journal. These collections truly capture such pivotal moments of my life so far. I often talk with my friends about the impact and effect art has on us. How humans can feel so much they have no other choice but to express it in this creative, imaginative manner. It’s very inspiring to think about.

What I’ve been most proud of throughout my writing career is my consistency with why I write. In this day and age, social media is a significant influence on creatives and their self worth. It can be quite a deterrer to focus on likes and engagement. It’s been a blessing to find stability in the community and feel authentic enough to write what I want. Without fear of the audience’s reaction, or who reads it. There is much pride to take in the work we do and express, to take our emotional turmoil and turn into Something, whatever that looks like to us.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being creative is the human connection. As isolating as many emotions and experiences can feel, art is the expression that reveals humans to each other. We really see the other side of a person when we look at something they created. Whether a song, a poem, a painting, a stitch, etc. Being able to connect with other people who relate to experiences we individually have seen. It makes the world feel all the less lonely. It’s shaking strangers by the shoulder to say “You understand. You know what it’s like to feel and endure and love.”

How did you build your audience on social media?

I first started growing my audience on Instagram in 2016 and doing slam poetry within my community. On Instagram, I tried so many different styles to find my voice and find what felt most natural. It looks a few years for me, to really, mindfully grow my audience. Now in 2020, I decided to try building a TikTok account for poetry. I wasn’t sure if there was an audience for it on the platform but to my surprise, it took off. TikTok is really where I grew my audience and connected with others around the world. It brought me to my current publisher, Central Avenue Publishing, and dear, dear friends of mine.

My advice for those starting out is to be authentically experimental. What I mean is that it is okay to try new things and play around with mediums. Art is not just one thing and neither are you. Tap into your inner creative in every way that feels curious to you. Through enough play and practice, you find what way of expressing is most suited for you.

In terms of logistics, there are several tips to keep growing on social media. Using hashtags, staying consistent with posting and your aesthetic, connecting with other creatives in the community / industry, participating in giveaways or writing contests or other community based events. Connecting and getting your name exposed is what will draw attention. Have fun!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://zanefrederickwrites.wixsite.com/poem
• Instagram: @zanefrederickwrites
• Other: TikTok: @zanefrederickwrites

Image Credits
Kayla Simon and Zane Frederick