In this episode of BuildWriting, host Onyemechi Nwakonam sits down with mathematician-turned-poet Shreya Suraj to explore how to find inspiration in the ordinary and craft poetry that truly connects. Shreya shares her journey from writing free verse during the pandemic to leading environmental art workshops and beach cleanups—and how all of it fuels her creative process.What You’ll LearnHow Shreya blends precision and playfulness to spot poetic moments in everyday lifeThe moment she discovered the freedom of free verse and let go of forced rhymesBehind the scenes of her “Cell Phone or Prison Cell?” poem and why it resonatesPractical prep tips for virtual poetry marathons—even when power cuts strikeWhy simplicity and emotional clarity are the hallmarks of accessible poetryShreya’s top advice for hosting welcoming, low-pressure open mic eventsCreative ways she recycles household materials into mandala artThoughts on the challenges of getting paid for poetry today—and alternative income ideasTimestamps00:00 – Welcome & episode overview01:18 – Meet Shreya Suraj: poet, mom, environmental activist04:19 – From rhymes to free verse: finding your voice06:53 – Reading “Cell Phone or Prison Cell?” poem09:01 – Preparing for a poetry marathon in low-power contexts11:47 – Sharing a kitchen-inspired poem on secret nibbles14:37 – The essence of poetry: touching another soul18:42 – How to run an inclusive, low-stress open mic21:02 – Making money (or not) as a poet and artist24:15 – Recycling art demo: turning question papers into mandalas28:26 – Final thoughts: success & next stepsResources & Links▶ Follow Shreya on Instagram: @shreyasurajabcd▶ Join our newsletter for writing prompts & behind-the-scenes: https://buildwriting.com/newsletterIf you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a rating or review and share with a fellow writer. Keep writing, keep building your craft—see you next week!

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