Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Florence-Susanne Reppert. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Florence-Susanne, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
When I was a kid all I wanted to do was sit in a comfortable room and create art. I didn’t know there was a whole community out there of people who wanted to do the same thing. My poetry journey took me to so many incredible places and gave me the opportunity to meet writers and creatives of whom I never would have met had I stayed home. On this journey I met artists such as Damian Rucci and Billy Mack. Each hosted their own space open for all kinds of people to come by and share their story. And it was with them that I found my purpose in life.
All I’ve ever wanted to do was help people and create. Running/Founding Poetry as Promised Magazine was the first step in that direction. I get to publish incredible artists from all over the world and hear their stories. It’s a privilege I don’t take lightly and it’s a huge honor I hope to continue earning in the years to come.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am the EIC of Poetry as Promised Literary magazine and one of two hosts for Nowhere as Promised open mic! I also cohost Unraveled Conversations every other Friday of the month with Andy Morales, Darian Mendez and Daulton Reppert.
I am very happy to say that I am absolutely in love with what I do and the part I have in my community.
One part that makes me very proud specifically is the magazine, and all the work I have put into it during the past year and some change. I go through an average of 200 submissions per issue, send all the emails and then format each poem for print. one of the more unique parts of what I do that is different is I hand make every single page. I buy the scrapbook paper, stickers, washi tape etc. I print out every single poem and bio, and then I sit for hours gluing each and every poem to the page. It’s not always neat and orderly but it’s so much fun and people seem to love the “Arts and Crafts project” aesthetic of our issues!
I feel the same way towards the open mic! Seeing people come in and fill the seats (heck sometimes even the floors when there’s no more room) gives my soul joy. Hearing people who have never performed before, absolutely strike a room silent with their work, watching them feel safe enough to share the vulnerability of their work in front of a room is the greatest feeling in the entire world and I feel like if I accomplish nothing else in this world, then I can be happy knowing our space makes people feel safe and cared for. I am truly so proud of everyone who comes out and puts themselves in an emotionally vulnerable space. They are the true heroes of our community..
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?
The three main qualities that stand out to me are Honesty, Compassion and Persistence.
Honesty- Like they always say, it’s the best policy. But that doesn’t just apply to being honest with the people around you. You need to be honest with yourself, and part of that is recognizing your needs. In order to keep burnout at bay you need to learn to take breaks and give yourself reasonable deadlines/expectations. It’s so easy to run yourself down, so please take care of yourself.
Compassion- Again this one is very straightforward. In your journey through the poetry world, you are going to meet so many people who went through similar things as you. it is SO important to build a community or find a community that values what’s important in this world, and one of the most important things to look for (at least for me) is compassion. watch how they treat people who are different. Who don’t agree with the same things. Of course, it’s important to find people who think the same as you, but keeping an open mind is absolutely essential. You won’t make it anywhere in the poetry community/art community unless you clear hate from your heart and that applies to how you treat people who don’t believe the same as you. You’re only as good as the next person and what makes a community beautiful is being accepting and kind despite differences. Remember, we are all human beings looking for connection and community.
And lastly Persistence. The writing world is filled with trials and rejections. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had my work rejected or lost writing contests or had people saying I don’t belong in places etc. The world is filled with rejection, but don’t give up! Never give up. Never let anyone tell you that you don’t belong somewhere. Never let anyone tell you that you aren’t good enough. And always, ALWAYS resubmit. answer every open call, send out your work over and over again. There will always be a place for you in this world. ALWAYS.
Also, little semi-related piece of advice.
People seem to have this idea that the only art worth anything is what they deem as ‘good’. Even if you think you’re bad at it, and especially if others think you’re bad at it. CREATE. You don’t need to be good at anything to enjoy doing it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Create for the sake of creating.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
This is such a hard question for me, as the owner of nearly 2,000 books that have cluttered my home and heart, it’s safe to say I’ve read a metric ton. However, Cloud atlas by David Mitchel is one of the most important books I’ve read in my entire life. Specifically, this quote
“My life amounts to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean. Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops?”
This, to me, is one of the most important quotes and lessons in the entire book. No matter how small and inconsequential we feel, we matter. What we do, say, and come together for, matters. One drop of water may not change the whole world, but an ocean started somewhere. Truly I love the book to bits. One of my smaller beliefs is that we are all connected throughout time and space, and in being connected to each other, we are meant to meet over and over, in different bodies throughout eternity. This book, to me, is about souls and the importance of connectivity. I could gush about cloud atlas forever (as a good majority of my closest friends have been subjected to), but we would be here all day!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://poetryaspromisedsu9.wixsite.com/poetryaspromisedmaga
- Instagram: Schizo_Trash_Poet
- Facebook: Florence-Susanne Reppert
- Twitter: schizotrashpoet
- Other: Lulu (Where you can buy past issues of the magazine) https://www.lulu.com/search?contributor=Florence-Susanne+Reppert&adult_audience_rating=00
Image Credits
Magnus Mateo
