One Year After Declaring I’m a Writer
Fifty-two weeks. Three hundred sixty-five days. Hundreds of pages. What surprised me most is not what you think.
A Year Ago I Had No Idea What I Was Getting Myself Into
It has been one year since I launched this blog. I started this journey because writing and word art, or creating images with words, is what drives me. It’s the way I see and interpret the world and the emotions that come with it. The time to do what you really want to do is always right now. I realized through this process that it’s bravest thing anyone can do.
When I began writing this blog I did not expect to be as consistent as I was. I was proud that I stayed committed for the most part, even though there were a few months when I wavered in my effort to remain steady and keep writing.
Somewhere along the way I allowed myself to settle into the persona of “writer” and what happened were some really unexpected pieces. Writing became a surprise because I had no idea what truths about myself, I would uncover and be forced to address.
Publishing my book in April was exciting. A major life goal that has been on my bucket list since I was a girl. What I wasn’t prepared for was the anxiety that followed. The reality that people might think they recognize themselves in my work, was so unsettling it made me wonder if I should have chosen to write under a pseudonym instead.
Image curated by Carla Monroy © 2026 Carla Monroy
Finding My Voice
While I don’t think I have fully arrived at my voice or my niche subject matter, I think I am on the road. Voice evolves and mine is still finding itself, but the more surprising thing I’ve learned so far is that remaining consistent is by far more important than being inspired or writing something beautiful.
My biggest challenge has been to write regardless of whether the inspiration has struck and that is still something I’m struggling with right now. I know now that as soon as I publish one piece, I must immediately start working on the next, and even more than that, I need to write every day.
I am still in the process of giving myself permission to publish imperfect work, but I know that what is needed right now is to exercise the muscle. The muscle, that after time gets stronger, better, and that’s when the beautiful writing will follow.
Image photographed and curated by Carla Monroy © 2026 Carla Monroy
A Look Back at Five Entries that Changed Me
1. An Ode to the Cassette Tape
Definitely one of my favorites this year, I was really beginning to get into the rhythm of publishing regularly with this one. I regret having to date myself with the device I chose, but you cannot hold back art and history, even your own personal history, inspires the art.
2. Stillness is Confrontational
I was proud of the poem that I named Exposure and which resulted from the prompt in this post. It was also a post that caught the attention of some of my subscribers, and they reached out to me which was a defining moment of the year and one of my highs.
3. The Whale I’ve been Avoiding
The experience of publishing my book of poems was documented in this post. I had my doubts, but I faced my fears, armed myself with knowledge, and figured out how to self-publish. Once it was done, I wondered why it took me so long.
Everyone deals with imposter syndrome at one point, but a major moment for me this year was the moment I finally gave myself permission to proclaim that I am a poet at heart. This essay and poem mark that moment for me.
This entry documents a change in my writing, one in which I don’t include a poem and lean more into a reflection. This is important because it is the moment I began to be more honest and less worried about perfection.
As I reflect and review everything I’ve published in the last year there are many entries that didn’t make the list, but that I would consider really important to my process. Finally, I leave you with a special treat. An inside look at my creative process.
A few pages from my poetry journal. The initial poem that inspired The Whale I’ve Been Avoiding. © 2026 Carla Monroy
Plus, an unfinished poem that is appropriate for today’s occasion.
Coming Out
Doing my best to focus,
on what my intuition is trying to tell me.
I’m ready to come out. Unleash this artist within
me that’s been dying to live.
Cooking up a book baby for far too many
trimesters. Until it’s too late.
I’m yearning to self-express.
Explode with the emotions I’ve been feeling,
and giving myself the permission to be
authentically me!
As I close this first year and embark on the second, I hope to explore honesty, care less about perfection, and lean into the essay reflections, even if they lead to a weird place. I do hope you’ll stick around and if you are willing to join me, make sure to subscribe.
