My name is Gianna Improta, born and raised in Staten Island, NY, a current MFA student in poetry at NYU's Creative Writing Program (2023-2025). Recently published in Foothill's poetry journal (issue 13).

What inspired you to pursue your dream, and how did it all begin?:

I started writing poetry because I was scared of it. Funny, right? I spent all night trying to write a poem, but I couldn't do it. I went to bed and when I woke up I had a poem in my head. I whipped out my journal and ever since then I haven't stopped. At the time, I was really interested in poets like Plath and Sexton, you could imagine a fifteen year old would be into the cool confessionals. I admired their drama, their heart. That poem, that morning was a lot like that, but much more prose-y.

Can you share a defining moment in your journey that shaped your perspective and fueled your passion?:

I kept my poems a secret for a long time until my friends kept begging me to read them one. Then another and one more, they said. After that it was something we did. "Gianna, do you have any new poems?" I couldn't escape that question, but I also couldn't wait for it. I think my poems had brought us all closer together. Unfortunately, as time went on, some of our friendships dwindled, but I owe each of them my biggest gratitude. It's because of them my poetry is out there. They gave me the confidence to show my work to more people who would significantly impact me down the road.

How do you handle setbacks and keep pushing forward in the pursuit of your dreams?:

Honestly, every day is a challenge. There are a lot of people in my life who don't understand why I do what I do because to be a poet is to be poor. It is a really hard path. Art doesn't make money, that's why it's art. In retrospect, there is no price for it. Then there is the actual writing itself. During revision, I am really hard on myself, but I keep taking the poem to new heights in order for the poem to achieve its potential, whatever shape and meaning it begins to manifest. Once a poem changes and grows, so do I. I keep following a dream no one really believes in, but me, the other poets around me, and the ones that came before, but I'm still here because I need to be. It's unexplainable, it's just who I am.

Are there specific individuals who have inspired you along the journey?:

Yes, there are many great "poetry ancestors" of mine including Lucille Clifton, Louise Gluck, Natasha Trethewey, Yusef Komunyakaa, James Wright, etc. I can go on and on about how those ancestors shaped my work, but nothing will compare to my professors. Poets who take a look at my writing every day and help me to improve it by sacrificing their time and putting aside their priorities to talk about my poetry. As of right now, Cate Marvin, Deborah Landau, and Catherine Barnett continue to keep my poems alive and well.

How do you maintain a balance between pursuing your dreams and handling everyday responsibilities?:

Commitment and dedication. If you want to be somebody or achieve something, it doesn't have to be anything grandiose, just something, you have to put the work in and find the time to develop that healthy relationship with happiness, or fitness, or writing, or painting, or baseball, etc.

How do you overcome self-doubt and stay confident in your abilities?:

Prayer. It is the most powerful language in the world. Religious or not, if you pray to something, yourself, whoever, it will ground you and allow you to put your best foot forward.

Can you share a memorable success story or achievement that resulted from your determination?:

I always submit to literary journals because as a poet that's really how you'll get your poems read by the poetry community. Last summer, I was submitting and submitting, rejection after rejection, but I kept going because I had nothing to lose. Towards the end of August that's when Foothill got back to me, my poem was liked by one of the editors, and I've never been more grateful. I still send out my work because it's a part of the journey and I'm always getting rejected, but Foothill proved to me that no matter how many no's I get, it only takes one yes.

In what ways do you stay motivated during challenging times?:

Once I put my mind to a task, I have a severe case of tunnel vision and I can't stop doing what I'm doing until it's complete. What drives me isn't the finished product, but the effort, time, and focus it requires to get there. When I'm done with a poem I just worked on for three months, I take a step back to process what just happened. I love my first few drafts because they're so raw and gritty, they're not polished at all, returning to them is a reminder of both my struggle and passion.

What dream are you living right now?:

I always wanted to achieve my MFA at NYU and write my first manuscript, so here I am shining through the city with a little funk and soul. I took the educational route, but there are so many other ways artists can be successful, one is just by being around people who are going to lift you up. I recommend any artist to check out art programs/workshops where mentors and peers are involved because the only way to grow as an artist is to be succumbed by it.

What advice would you give to someone with a dream?:

Just by following something your heart believes in you will most certainly make a difference in someone, in yourself, and truly that's all that matters. Just never ever give up. Keep having trust in your journey. Octavia Butler, a novelist says, "So be it! See to it!" You got this vision, now make it happen.

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