Interview with 3Po3try NYC Poet Nichole Acosta - July 31 Summer Poetry Extravaganza

Nichole Acosta will be one of the featured poets in Hot House: A Summer Poetry Extravaganza on Thursday, July 31 @ Organic Modernism in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, produced by 3Po3try NYC (https://www.facebook.com/3po3trynyc).

Acosta is a multicultural, Brooklyn-based poet heavily influenced by rappers Narubi Selah, Eve, and Missy Elliot, spoken word poets Lemon Andersen, Beau Sia, and Amiri Baraka and comedian Bo Burnham. Though she hated writing as a kid, her English teachers pushed her to love it. She's been performing since the age of 11, and in 2006, she finished in the top 15 out of 500 youth poets in the Urban Word Slam. She's known for both her cutting and positive words, taking on human nature, popular culture, and the challenging nexus between love and relationships. She is the founder/producer of Epic XII, a unique quarterly performance event featuring 12 collaborations between musicians and poets, and is the Director of Community Relations for The Inspired Word. Her first book of poetry, Field of Fireflies, was released in October 2013. Her website can be found @ http://nicholeacosta.wix.com/poetry. Visit Epic XII on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/TheEpic12.

The following is our quick interview with Ms. Acosta:

What’s your definition of poetry?

Poetry is a self-expressive rhythm broken into lines and stanzas.

What’s your favorite place to write?

On the subway.

Does your poetry have a central theme? And if so, what is it?

Love, in all its shapeshifting forms. It's something that every topic imaginable can return.

What one word describes your writing style?

Mostly lyrical these days, but with a purpose.

What's your idea of the perfect poem?

One that isn't afraid to bare some battle scars and really resonates with people from all walks of life.

What's your best writing moment?

When the poem feels finished, the story is told, and the message is locked in.

What's your worst writing moment?

When my pen runs out of ink and I'm alone without another pen.

If you could steal one line from any poem, what would it be?

When I was a kid I used to think "impossible" was short for I am Possible. - Lemon Anderson. Or...Craziness is no act. Not to act is crazy. - Amiri Baraka

That second one gave me my poetry-is-what-I want-to-do moment.

What time of the day do you mostly write?

When I open my eyes to start the day. That's when the best stuff comes out of me.

What book changed your writing forever?

Spencer Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese? It really changed my perspective on how to handle and adapt to a lot of change that was happening in my life at the time and pulled me out of a black hole I wasn't sure I was ever going to get out of.

What poet, dead or alive, would you like to be friends with?

Amiri Baraka.

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Do you have any writing superstitions? If so, what are they and how do you deal with them?

I have to have the right notebook. Lucky enough, I have friends and family have gotten me really nice ones over the years.

What comes easy to you with poetry?

Saying what's really on my mind.

What are you hoping to accomplish with your poetry?

I'm just learning how to love myself and others better, telling my stories and hoping people find empowerment, truth and inspiration in what I have to say, that it sparks a real positive change in as many people as possible.

To purchase advance tickets to Hot House: A Summer Poetry Extravaganza, go to http://3po3trynycsummer.eventbrite.com.

Photo credit: Jay Franco (http://jayfranco.co/).

Behind The Inspired Word: Testimonial by Nichole Acosta

Behind The Inspired Word
Testimonial by Nichole Acosta

I’d like to point out first and foremost that my role as Director of Community Relations is an unpaid position. So why do I do it and what exactly do I do? Well, the fact is I love this series wholeheartedly because of what it has done for me that no other open mic series has and that is to say…it saved my life.

I have no reason whatsoever to lie to you about that because like I said this job does not afford me the privilege of eating the world’s finest caviar. But because it saved my life it makes it easier to do my job - which is to promote this series.

When I first came to an Inspired Word show, I had just gotten out of a really painful four-year relationship to say the least. I felt like shit - no, worse than shit - and the negative air around me was so thick, I couldn’t get out of bed at all some days, until I came to Inspired Word.

When you pay to get in the door you’re not being robbed or taken advantage of. You’re not being thrown into a lottery forced to listen to a few gems out of an awful bunch, hoping your number gets picked so you can play at a decent hour, if at all. You’re not forced to sit on top of one another like lobsters in a tank. You’re not asked to pay an outrageous drink minimum for a cup of ice and an ounce of alcohol. Being robbed means you get nothing in return, but here you get a whole network of artists willing to create and collaborate with you on any given night of the week, on the spot or in the future. The whole world is a lottery in one form or another so it’s comforting to know you never have to place your bets here…it’s always gonna be a great night. No one has to sit on anyone’s lap unless maybe you’re attending our monthly erotic show. GROWL. Oh and have you seen the size of that Bareburger mug?!

We’ve got discounts if you get on the mailing list and READ the newsletters and first timers who are not performing can get in free with my name at the door. Comedians can score $50 at the slam at the end of each month and poets can score $1000 plus recording studio time, and if you’re uber talented you might have the opportunity to be a part of an Inspired Word showcase show and get paid so what you pay at the door makes its way back to the artists!

Night after night I’ve watched amazingly talented people perform and exchange information to work together at a moment’s notice or in the near future. This is not a place where people should do their thing and leave. This is a place where people learn from one another and ask “How do I make my art better and can we work on something together soon?" - AND ACTUALLY MEAN IT. That’s magical! I myself met 12 epically talented individuals who after being blown away by their art and their good hearts, I decided to collaborate with for a full length show this Thursday at Sidewalk Café.

They are my family for life and the minute you walked in that door, you became a part of the Inspired Word family too! You can never have a big enough support system. Disregard any and all Nichole likes older men rumors. Mike Geffner is my mentor. Marvin Mendlinger is my crazy uncle. Nathan P is my cool wise uncle. The Ancient Mariner is my grandfather. Under 25 and over 35 need not apply. I’m gaining more and more creative brothers and sisters every time I come here. We will never take your money and not care if you ever come back because if you’re part of any real family, you will sincerely be missed if we haven’t seen you in awhile. But how fortunate we are to be able to have a family reunion and rock out together each and every week. So all I ask is that you leave the negativity and whatever preconceived notions you may have at the door and come on in. You’ll be inspired. I guarantee it.

Nichole Acosta is a poet, the founder of Epic XII, and The Inspired Word's Director of Community Relations.