In this episode of BuildWriting, host Onyemechi Nwakonam sits down with mathematician-turned-poet Shreya Suraj to explore how to find inspiration in the ordinary and craft poetry that truly connects. Shreya shares her journey from writing free verse during the pandemic to leading environmental art workshops and beach cleanups—and how all of it fuels her creative process.
What You’ll Learn
How Shreya blends precision and playfulness to spot poetic moments in everyday life
The moment she discovered the freedom of free verse and let go of forced rhymes
Behind the scenes of her “Cell Phone or Prison Cell?” poem and why it resonates
Practical prep tips for virtual poetry marathons—even when power cuts strike
Why simplicity and emotional clarity are the hallmarks of accessible poetry
Shreya’s top advice for hosting welcoming, low-pressure open mic events
Creative ways she recycles household materials into mandala art
Thoughts on the challenges of getting paid for poetry today—and alternative income ideas
Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome & episode overview
01:18 – Meet Shreya Suraj: poet, mom, environmental activist
04:19 – From rhymes to free verse: finding your voice
06:53 – Reading “Cell Phone or Prison Cell?” poem
09:01 – Preparing for a poetry marathon in low-power contexts
11:47 – Sharing a kitchen-inspired poem on secret nibbles
14:37 – The essence of poetry: touching another soul
18:42 – How to run an inclusive, low-stress open mic
21:02 – Making money (or not) as a poet and artist
24:15 – Recycling art demo: turning question papers into mandalas
28:26 – Final thoughts: success & next steps
Resources & Links
▶ Follow Shreya on Instagram: @shreyasurajabcd
▶ Join our newsletter for writing prompts & behind-the-scenes: https://buildwriting.com/newsletter
If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a rating or review and share with a fellow writer. Keep writing, keep building your craft—see you next week!