Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Wingfield.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started writing at a very early age, around 8 years old writing weird funny stories about my pets going on adventures. Then as I got older and began to experience the world around me and develop my identity, I came across poetry. Specifically I came across it through a creative writing class in my sophomore year of high school. It was that teacher, Mr. McCreary, who told me I had a real gift that I should explore more, so I continued to write. In college I took some poetry classes and did workshops and continued to write, but never shared any of my work.
While in college I majored in history and wrote a lot of research papers, culminating in my senior thesis on post-punk Britain with an emphasis on Manchester and Joy Division, and I shared these academic works, but my poetry was sacred and I rarely shared it.
I didn’t share my work widely until 2021 when I self-published my first chapbook of poetry, BARELY THERE, SURVIVING. It was a deeply vulnerable collection that exists as a dissection of my mind and identity and the mental health implications of those things. In 2022 I published my second chapbook, THE CORNER OF FISHBURNE AND ASHLEY, exploring young adulthood and my first experiences in the city of Charleston, which I now call home. In 2023 I self-published my third chapbook, COALESCE, which consisted of 30 poems written throughout the month of April in honor of National Poetry Writing Month. And this year, 2024, I published my fourth collection of poetry, a mini-collection exploring AAPI identity, called DRAGON SPIRIT. I’m currently at work on my first full-length collection, CADENZA: NOTES FOR POETS AND THE SOUL, and hope to find a publishing home for that soon.
Outside of my poetry, I currently work as the Marketing and Communications Associate for the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina. I love doing that work because I’m able to tell meaningful stories about real community impact in the region we serve.
It took me a lot to get where I am, but I am so proud of my growth and evolution as an artist. I continue to speak with a deep truth and vulnerability, sharing my humanity with the world through my writing.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road hasn’t been smooth, not by a long shot. One of the biggest hurdles I’ve faced along the way has been my battle with bipolar disorder. It’s been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, quite literally. Some days, I felt like I was on top of the world, bursting with creativity and ideas. Other days, it was like I hit rock bottom, questioning everything I wrote and even contemplating abandoning writing altogether.
Navigating through these extremes was incredibly challenging, especially when it came to maintaining a consistent creative process. There were times when I was churning out poems left and right, fueled by bursts of manic energy. But then, there were the darker moments when self-doubt and despair clouded my mind, stifling any semblance of inspiration.
Finding stability amidst this tumultuous journey was paramount. It took a lot of courage to confront my mental health struggles head-on and seek the help I needed. Through therapy and medication, I gradually found a sense of equilibrium that had eluded me for so long.
With stability came a newfound resilience, enabling me to engage in my creative process with greater strength and passion. While bipolar disorder continues to be a part of my story, it no longer dictates the narrative of my artistic journey. Instead, it serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience forged through adversity.
Looking back, I realize that every setback and struggle has ultimately shaped me into the writer and individual I am today. And while the road may not have been smooth, the challenges I’ve overcome have only deepened my appreciation for the power of storytelling and the resilience of the human spirit.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I primarily write poetry and do so with a deeply vulnerable, grounded voice, to confront and understand painfully human experiences. My work is centered around a variety of themes ranging from mental-health and family to navigating existence as a queer and BIPOC womxn. To understand who I am, one needs to look no further than the words I compile together in lines and stanzas. I hope that one day not only does my writing allow readers to garner a deeper understanding of myself and my humanity, but that they can find parts of their own humanity within it as well.
I think what sets me apart as a writer is the rich tapestry of experiences woven from the intersectionality of my identity. As a multi-racial queer womxn navigating the complexities of mental health, my perspective on the world is inherently unique. These parts of my identity serve as the lens through which I perceive and interpret life, infusing my writing with a depth and authenticity that resonates with readers. I’ve learned to embrace vulnerability as a strength, laying bare the raw emotions and struggles that define my existence. In doing so, I invite readers to journey alongside me, peering into my soul and connecting with the universal truths that unite us all. It’s this willingness to delve into the raw and unfiltered aspects of human experience that sets my writing apart, forging a profound connection that transcends the page.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Taking risks has been pivotal in my journey, and I firmly believe in its importance. Without venturing into the unknown, we’d never unearth our true potential or discover what lies beyond our comfort zones. One of the earliest significant risks I embraced was self-publishing my debut chapbook and introducing my poetry to the world. It was a leap of faith, fueled by uncertainty and the fear of rejection. I questioned whether my words would resonate with others or simply fade into obscurity. However, I was driven by an innate sense of purpose, a conviction that I had something meaningful to share with the world. Despite the doubts that lingered, I took the plunge, and to my delight, it proved to be a turning point in my journey. The positive reception and encouragement I received fueled my passion for writing, emboldening me to explore new horizons and share more of myself with the world. Since then, I’ve come to view risk-taking not as a daunting endeavor but as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery, a catalyst for unlocking untapped potential and charting new paths forward.
Pricing:
- BARELY THERE, SURVIVING – $15
- THE CORNER OF FISHBURNE AND ASHLEY – $10
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/emilywingfield
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_emilywingfield/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-wingfield/
Image Credits
Headshot credits to Adam Chandler Photography
