We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rick (Writes) Lara . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rick (Writes) below.
Rick (Writes), appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I have been trying to push the boundaries of creativity. I will ask others poets to either give me a word, phrase, or idea that I think will be difficult. One time I was given the word
“pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcaniosis”
It means “a lung disease caused by inhalation of very fine silica dust usually found in volcanos”.- @corgin.uk
I interpreted that as I spit fire.
So I wrote the following –
“Pneumonoultramicroscopic
silicovolcano coniosis ,
saying that word almost gave me psychosis ,
I wanted to break it up and say it 2 doses, or maybe i split it at the seas(c) like my name was Moses.
If any word could have messed me up, that one was the closest”.
I also am currently doing a poetry challenge where have to write (at least 1) poem a month.
I asked prominent poets or people in my life to give me a wide range of topics. I debuted my poem “ 5th Chakra” in Seattle for @aspaceinside and it was received well.
The great @ayleshawise challenged me to write as if my voice were a seed, and once a water it where does it go? There’s
an excerpt where I say
“My voice-
is the man in the arena,
Annnnd the gladiator In the coliseum!
No longer a mausoleum
for Cottonwoods that have
died and gone silent,
it is the roots keeping alive the Redwood giants! “
I want to be the best writer that I can be and that can only come from trying new things, if you don’t think it’s something you would normally do.
I’ve recently been toying around with photography and trying to have an overall artistic eye. I am curating many events this year that I’m hopeful will be one of a kind.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My Name is Rick Writes. (You might want to write that down.)
I am a Spoken Word Performance Artist, currently representing the Spotlight Slam Poetry team based out of Las Vegas.
More specifically,
I represent
“The Reigning Monrachs” 👑
since Spotlight is full of an ocean of vocabulary vikings,
we have 2 teams.
“Voices of the Village”
is a force to be reckoned with.
My Family is comprised of
My wife Alicia,
my son Roman,
my Sister Aryanna,
and my 2 Dogs:
Motherpupper Jones,
(just Jones if you don’t pay my morgatge) and Oso.
My parents were both born in Mexico and immigrated to America in the midst of regannomics.
I remember my fathers Naturlization, the overflow of pride that washed through me as I stood 76% behind my mothers leg.
In awe of Ol’ Glory- her banner yet waving away every worry minus the color of our skin.
That glimmer bore the pride I now wear on my right arm, notice what is missing from the great seal of the US?
That means that I would kill for my home and there was a brief time in 2020 where I could have died for it.
I will also say some thing that has just been effective for me is to live with gratitude, no matter what.
Got fired from your job?
Perhaps it was the final straw that pushed you to 51% towards My Bones say “nay” after 11 years.
Flat tire on the way to work?
Be grateful you weren’t the brightest star stuck on earth,
Who was hit by a drunk driver in the early morning of 24Jun13.
That’s not too say you can’t have a gripe with God but,
We have a lot going on and we know that you can do it.
Also, root for your fellow human.
Root, until their twisted branches can bear fruit.
I am also curating, hosting, and performing at the 1st ever: Sundown Showcase at the beautiful Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas on March 16th.
I have asked 9 local poets, all of which have a special meaning to me, to write a poem about natural beauty and how it is helped them in their life.
The inspiration behind this-
My pilgrimage to the pacific , Washington to be spefic,
after my Middle East tour in 2020.
My soul ached peace, since she no longer lived in the east,
I was meant to meet the marvel named Mt. Rainer.
She stood looking out, and over, all of the rightful heirs of the land, i felt I could leave all of my burdens at her foothills.
hat was the beginning of my path to find my summit,
she taught me that it was the beat in my heart and the instinct in my stomach.
I live and write by a mantra I call “ Universally Personally.”
It means that I believe we are all connected & I don’t mean the effect of the Mandela,
but man tell me how fruit of the loom didn’t have a cornucopia?
It definitely did because
I had to say the word very slowly to my Dad
“corn-oh–cope-E- ah”
His retort- “colonelizer”
And I said “yup you learn fast.”
Do you know the feeling of the opening credits to a Disney movie?
It’s my job to try and describe those moments.
I also want to create myself as a brand.
(TM if not already filed, to lazy to Check)
That’s to say:
I will only support small businesses,
when it comes to my physical images.
That Ice dripping,
Even down to who cut my hair.
I want to promote small business becuase the supported my family growing up.
We bought from our friends at the closest to full price that we could ,
These tamales are so good because we know who made them.
So, if you’re looking for free advertisement,
Free is my first favorite F word. (food is the third).
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1- Know why you want to create what is in front of you, For all you poets- (yes, you too)
What is the intention?
If you don’t care, why should I?
2.Find a community, in person or online, doesn’t matter,
and just share with other people who love the same thing.
If we all love the some thing, wouldn’t we want an entire village to love it too?
@Mother Earth
A snippet of a conversation I have had before:
31 year old me –
“Write it
Read it
Verify intention & annotations,
Perform it for the Puppers,
Reflect,
Re-read,
Re write,
As you need.”
18 year old me-
“Rap it”
Also, ask for constructive feedback!
3.
Sometimes do it just because you love it.
Advice –
Create
A space to be creative.
No matter how small, make it yours.
Decorate it exactly how you want.
Mine is currently in my walk-in closet until I can go bigger.
Also, set up some realistic goals and write them down.
Once you have given some thing a name, it has more power (looking at you spider, minding its business.)
Be sure to make a couple outlandish goals just in case of emergency.
Pablo Azül’s
Presidential Consultantation Fee-$3.2 million dollars.
(Make that a shirt,
See above about favorites and look for the 2nd f)
Because not only would I
Be doing my job for 4 years,
but theirs too.
Last I checked,
400k,
Tax Payer Shekles
make its way
Through Pennsylvania Ave at least once a year.
If they can’t get it figured out by the end of the term,
then they wasted their own time, not mine though –
I got 3.2 million dollars .
Understand-
The way you learn,
learn what you love in that way.
(@hallmark
My Dms are open most week nights but def not weekends,
I have poetry practice and family fun
@Rick__writes)
Are you a visual learner, tactile, or are you like me and
let language leverage your languish?
Press play.
I watch videos of myself preforming and sing along like the rough writer who wore Red overalls at Woodstock in 99- See my @uprising community address
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
I would say knowing and loving myself. I am exactly who
I am no matter who
I am Speaking with.
My walk-in closet is already full of ideas,
there’s no place to hang all the hats I was forced to wear.
That also involves acknowledging all the parts of you that are not all that great,
Learn how to set aside time for what keeps you still.
I love myself more than anyone else
& if that statement makes you cringe a little bit,
I invite you to reflect on yourself like your shopping for mirrors,
how can I take care of anyone else if I haven’t taken care of myself?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theunsealed.com/members/rickwrites/profile/edit/group/1/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rick__writes?igsh=MTFxcW1nZmp1enFxNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: Its going to be off, it’s an election year
- Linkedin: I’m hired
- Twitter: Never heard of her
- Yelp: Say sorry to the dog rn.
- Other: RickWritesthepoet@gmail.com Most things are negotiable. We can agree to a price under a gentleman’s agreement. If you haven’t figured it out by now I am a man of many words.
Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/meli07mel81?igsh=MXYwcTVscXB3eWY2Zw==
