Meet Orlando Delgado

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Orlando Delgado a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Orlando, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever had any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?

Writer’s block — it’s the bane of my existence. Any writer would agree. For me, it often creeps in when I’m burnt out. The words stop flowing, the ideas dry up, and I’m left staring at a blank screen. I’ve learned that sometimes the best remedy is to simply step away. A walk, a good book, or even a well-deserved nap can work wonders.

But recently, I’ve discovered a new trick that’s brought a little joy back into my creative process — a daily word poem with my girlfriend. Each day, she picks a single word, and I craft a poem around it. The catch? It has to fit on a sticky note.

There’s something liberating about the simplicity of it. No looming word counts or pressure to be profound — just one word and a tiny canvas. It sparks my imagination, allowing creativity to flow without overthinking. Plus, she loves receiving a poem a day made just for her. It’s become our little ritual — a shared moment of connection and creativity.

In a way, that small square of paper has become my secret weapon against burnout. It’s a reminder that inspiration doesn’t have to come from grand gestures or endless hours of writing. Sometimes, all it takes is a single word.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My name is Orlando Delgado, and I’m 33 years old. For over 14 years, I’ve called the Orlando area home. But long before I settled here, I found my passion — the written word. I can still remember writing short stories when I was just six years old, completely captivated by the magic of storytelling. Even now, there’s nothing quite like watching someone get lost in my words, knowing my stories have left a mark.

It wasn’t until I was 26, though, that I decided to take writing more seriously. At the time, I was working a poolside job, and every day for two years, I challenged myself to write a poem. Those poems eventually formed the backbone of my first published book, “Lost and Confused: The Writings of A Would-Be Poet.” It became a deeply personal love letter to my younger self — the one who was hurting, searching, and trying to find his place in the world.

Even now, it feels surreal to say I have a book out in the world. The most humbling part has been hearing from friends, family, and even strangers who say my words have touched their lives. Every time I hear how my poetry has resonated with someone, I still get teary-eyed. It’s a feeling I’ll never quite get used to — and I hope I never do.

Now, I’m on the final stretch of editing my next collection, “Sex, Drugs, and Poetry.” This new book is a bold and unfiltered dive into the raw complexities of life. Through vivid imagery and emotional honesty, I explore themes of passion, heartbreak, addiction, and the often-destructive search for meaning. It’s confessional, rhythmic, and unapologetically real. At its heart, it’s a testament to resilience and the power of words to heal.

The release date is still to be announced, but I can’t wait to share it with the world. If my first book was a conversation with my past self, this one feels like a declaration of everything I’ve endured and overcome. And who knows? Maybe it will help someone else feel a little less lost and confused too

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?

For me, it’s been all about practice, research, and—above all—believing in myself. Practice is the cornerstone of growth; even if it’s just a sentence a day, it’s still progress. Research your craft, refine it, and discover your unique voice. You might be surprised not just by what you find, but by the voice that starts to speak back. And most importantly, trust in yourself, your work, and your voice. So often, our harshest critic is the reflection in the mirror. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve doubted my own work, only to have someone read it and find something in it that resonates deeply. I truly believe that once you create something and share it with the world, it’s no longer yours to judge. The audience, not the artist, decides what meaning to give it. My job is not to tell the reader what to feel—it’s their experience to shape.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

One summer, when I was in middle school, I’d had a rough 7th-grade year, and my father was less than thrilled. We lived just across the street from the local library, and one day, he handed me my summer punishment. The deal was simple: I could pick as many books as I wanted, but they had to be at least 300 pages long, with no pictures. And for every book I finished, I had to write a book report. But here’s the catch—he would read each book himself to make sure I wasn’t just scribbling nonsense. That summer, I devoured 31 books, and in the process, I discovered a deep, lasting love for reading. At the time, I thought it was pure torture. But looking back now, as an adult, I can’t help but feel grateful for that “punishment.” It laid the foundation for a lifelong passion I wouldn’t trade for anything.