Meet Z Elliott

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Z Elliott. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Z, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I feel as though I keep my creativity alive by pulling most of my inspiration from personal experiences, which can be both grounding and challenging. Reflecting on my own life allows me to create work that feels authentic and emotionally resonant, but it also requires a level of vulnerability that I’ve learned to embrace. I use self-reflection and introspection as a foundation for my art, and I try to write consistently. It’s not always realistic to do it every day, but I stay connected to the practice as often as I can.

When I’m feeling blocked, I give myself permission to pause. Sometimes stepping away and returning with fresh eyes is exactly what I need. I also turn to writing prompts or explore other works that share similar themes to what I’m processing or wanting to express. That helps me shift perspective and find new entry points into the creative process.

Keeping my creativity alive is not just about staying productive. It is about staying present with myself and remaining open to growth, change, and connection through my art. That is important to me because it is how I make sense of the world and connect with others. For me, art is not just about expression. It is about healing, understanding, and finding meaning in both the quiet and chaotic moments of life.

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?


I’m Zoë, otherwise known as Z.Elliott. I’m a writer who draws inspiration from personal introspection and emotional honesty of the human experience. My work often explores themes of identity, love, healing, connection, and transformation. Whether through poetry, prose, or visual art, I aim to create pieces that feel intimate, reflective, and relatable.

 I’m a self-published author and released my first poetry collection in 2023, “Sweet Sting”. This book explores the transformative power of pain and growth through romantic relationships. I’m currently working on my second book with new pieces that explore themes of softness, grief, and joy and I hope to release at some point later this year. 

I’m also the founder of cozy ink press, a small, community-focused publishing press dedicated to amplifying writers voices and fostering creative collaboration. We released two anthologies in 2024, Poets: Straight from the Notes app and Musing Around at Midnight. Our commitment is to help every writer achieve their goals and realize their full potential.

What feels most exciting and special about what I do is the way it invites others to feel seen. I believe storytelling, in all its forms, is a powerful tool for healing and building community. It’s the main reason why I love reading and listening to music. There’s something really beautiful about sharing something deeply personal and having someone else say, “I’ve felt that too.” 

Through my words, I want people to feel like they’ve found a quiet corner in a loud world. My art offers a space where honesty, vulnerability, and creativity meet. I write about relatable life experiences, the soft and complicated parts of being human, and I hope my words can only continue to offer comfort and connection.

Cozy Ink Press grew from that same heart-space, but with a broader reach. It’s a creative studio and small press built for writers, dreamers, and cozy souls who value depth, whimsy, and intentional storytelling.


I recently participated in my first art show in Los Angeles with Silk & Sugar Co., which was such a grounding and affirming experience, and I’m looking forward to their next event. I also hope to attend more vendor markets and open mic nights in 2025.

Cozy ink press will be announcing submission guidelines for the next anthology at the beginning of May, more information about how to participate will be available on my socials and website. We also just launched editing and publishing services, which offers manuscript editing, book cover art & design, marketing tips, mentorship, and more!

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?

Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been empathy, intuition, and resilience.

Empathy has shaped everything I create. It’s the reason I write the way I do, to connect, to reflect emotion back to others in a way that helps them feel seen. It’s also helped me build meaningful relationships and community around my work.

Intuition has guided a lot of my decisions, especially when it came to carving out a nontraditional creative path. I’ve learned to trust that inner knowing when something feels aligned, even if it doesn’t make perfect sense on paper.

And resilience has kept me going when things felt slow or uncertain. The creative journey isn’t linear, and there have been plenty of moments when I questioned everything. But coming back to my purpose, again and again, has helped me stay rooted and keep moving forward.

For anyone early in their journey, my biggest advice is to be patient with yourself and stay curious. Empathy, intuition, and resilience aren’t things you can check off a list. They’re things you grow into over time, often through experience, reflection, and a lot of grace.

To develop empathy, start by listening more than you speak. Read widely, talk to people with different perspectives, and let yourself be open to feeling things deeply, even when it’s uncomfortable. Empathy isn’t just about understanding others, it’s also about being honest with your own emotions.

With intuition, the key is learning to trust yourself. That takes time, especially in a world that constantly tells us to look outside ourselves for answers. Start small, notice what feels expansive versus what feels heavy. Pay attention to patterns. Journaling and quiet reflection can help you tune in more clearly.

And as for resilience, that one is built in the moments you want to give up but choose not to. Let yourself rest, but don’t quit on what matters to you. Surround yourself with people who remind you of your why, and celebrate every small win. Resilience isn’t about never falling, it’s about learning how to get back up with a little more wisdom each time.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

Over the past 12 months, my biggest area of growth has been learning how to trust the slower seasons. I’ve always been someone who cares deeply about creating meaningful work, and for a long time, I felt like I had to constantly prove that through output. But this past year taught me that rest, stillness, and even uncertainty can be incredibly fertile ground for growth.

I’ve been learning to trust my creative rhythm, to let things unfold instead of forcing them. To stay rooted in my why, even when things aren’t moving quickly on the surface. This mindset shift has made me feel more grounded, more intentional, and more open to the unexpected. It’s a quieter kind of growth, but it’s been deeply meaningful. Some of my favorite pieces have come from honoring my own timing rather than trying to keep up with an algorithm.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zelliottwrites.com/
• Instagram: zelliottwrites
• Other: cozyinkpress (IG)