Everyone has a story to tell; each one of us a writer of poetry – some, without even realising. That stream of consciousness that runs in our veins? It’s poetry waiting to be written. We believe in the power of words, and that power is what urged us to set up PoetsIN.
It’s because of those inner streams, that we bring you this regular interview feature, Writer Profiles. An interview with a writer. Some you’ll know, some you won’t.
This week we meet a smashing chap that put himself forward to be interviewed. His name is Jason Cormier.
So sit back with a bigass coffee and read this week’s writer profile.
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Jason Cormier. I am just a regular guy in an average job stocking shelves in a grocery store. My main gig is husband and father.
How would you label your writing and/or poetry if forced to label it?
Since I mostly write poetry let me concentrate there. Its dark and spiritual free verse. Semi autobiographical and often multi-layered meanings.
What is your relationship with words and how has that evolved over time?
I have been writing creatively for about 30 years now. At first it was just something to try since I had writers in the family. Then in my darkest years of about 14-23 it became both an obsession and a form of therapy. Easily produced about 10,000 pages of poetry. 99% of that was lost in a fire. That left me just about blocked creatively for a few years. I mean i did blog but I don’t consider nonfiction stuff to be creative. That’s more recollection and reporting style writing. But after I left religion and got back into spirituality I began feeling them juices flow. Especially the last five years. A few hundred poems at least.
Overall my relationship with writing is a codependency type thing. It needs me to tell stories and I need it to keep my head right and clear.
How long have you been writing/performing?
I have been writing for thirty years. Haven’t performed as in spoken word in about twenty years.
Is mental health something you feel strongly about?
Yes it is. Very much so. I have struggled with mental health issues since I was a young child.
Please describe your writing process.
I have a different process for different genres. For poetry it’s very simple. Poetry is like breathing to me. I can drop a dozen lines in ten minutes flat a lot of times. I only ever edit typos with poems. As i believe that since its pure in the moment soul expression it should be left alone. I also prefer writing it to music.
With my novel stuff I have no real process other than i think most of it out before writing it and edit a bunch. Same with nonfiction pieces.
Some of us write our best stuff when in a rage, heartbroken or fighting depression.
I am going to say all of the above. I believe strongly in writing what you feel.
If you had the chance to perform one poem or read one excerpt to someone that sums you up, which is it?
That would be either Nashville Sonnet or Ode To Jim Morrison And The Town of Edgefield. I have an unfinished one called 20,000 Words that would replace those.
If you could collaborate with anyone out there (alive or dead), who would it be and why?
If it’s poetry it would be Jim Morrison. If it’s a novel it would be Jack Kerouac.
Who are your writing influences, heroes and villains poetically, musically and/or lyrically?
My writing influences are Jim Morrison, Jack Kerouac, Eddie Vedder, Ernest Hemingway, and a kid I grew up with named David Ditty.
What quote/song/poem inspires you the most and why?
Only one? Fuck. That is a tough one. I am going to go with an album here. Ten by Pearl Jam had a serious life course altering affect on my life. Every song on that album I can place an event in my life to, every one. Especially the songs Alive and Jeremy. Those two helped keep me from going over the edge.
Please share some words of your own.
Synergy
Fractured light illuminating hidden beauty
Truth buried underneath intentions
Introducing new languages to decipher
Yet we create endless moments that have no need for words
The faint smell of the earths afterbirth
And the hypnotic sounds of a raging sea
Writer’s block, is it real or a myth?
Completely true man. A fucking curse from the writer gods. I have some theories on that but will share another time.
Finish this sentence… Words and music are the epitomes of…
Everything within each soul, a reflection of the dharma.
What’s next for you?
I will continue to crank away on Twitter and my blog Brain Dump for sure. Hopefully get poetry book self published if the funds happen.
Thanks to Jason for the interview. You can follow him on Twitter at @jasoncwrites and get more of him at jasoncwrites.wordpress.com
If you would like to feature in a Writer profile, or indeed if you would like to submit your own blog piece on writing, mental health or anything wordy; then please get in touch at paul@poetsin.com
Good to know that Jason is still writing and creating. Beautiful, painful thoughts, feelings emerging still intertwined and flowing. WAR