Victoria J Iacchetta : coda

How does a poem begin?

As each day passes, and I look back on things I’ve written weeks, months, or years ago, I find it’s increasingly difficult to really understand how my poetry takes form. Of course my words are intentional, and most of the time I begin a poem with a general objective. But the process of getting from A to Z, I rarely track, or map out.

I’m an artist at heart, and I’ve found it’s always best to let things just take their own direction. When it comes to my creative outlets, like painting, sketching, or writing poetry, I enjoy the freedom of letting my work develop along the way.

With that said, I usually have a few lines floating around in my head already that force me to start thinking a poem to life. So, typically, I just start with getting that initial idea on paper and use that as a jumping off point. It’s not unlike me to change the entire beginning of the poem once I’ve gotten to the end.

Victoria J Iacchetta : part five

How important is music to your poetry?

Music is important to poetry in the same way its important to life in general – it serves in so many ways as a source of inspiration, support, and influence. Music can be so incredibly poetic, sometimes it stops me in my tracks. I’ve had a couple poems published that were immediate reflections on songs I had just heard, so I’d say it’s vital.

Victoria J Iacchetta : part four

What poets changed the way you thought about writing?

During my sophomore year of university I discovered that I’m heavily drawn to the Romantics. I can’t really explain why, but I feel an innate kinship with them. When I read romantic era works, especially poetry, I just get it; I feel it. I, and I think most people who know me well, would consider me to be a modern day romantic. My writing, and other art, certainly reflect this.

Victoria J Iacchetta : part three

How do you know when a poem is finished?

Ha… I can honestly say that I can count on 1 finger how many times I truly felt I had finished a poem. One of my biggest weaknesses as an artist is that I’m never satisfied with my work, and therefore struggle with the concept of anything I do ever being ‘complete’. I think it takes a lot of internal growth and development for me to be able to take a poem on a complete journey.

My most complete poem, in my opinion, originated in October 2016 and wasn’t completed and submitted for publication until June 2019. It was then accepted by two magazines in August 2019, which felt amazing.

I know that seems like a long time to spend on a poem, especially when it was only 12 lines or so, but it was worth it when I was able to look at the poem and feel nothing but pure pride and satisfaction. There was a blanketing calm that I felt with it, I just knew it was ready.

Victoria J Iacchetta : part two

How did you first engage with poetry?

Growing up I had always gravitated towards writing, but it was later in life that I learned how to structure it in different ways. I have a BA in English and History, so I studied a lot of 17th-19th century British and Irish literature.

When I was younger, I had an image of poetry being this unattainable, abstract thing that you either understand or you don’t. It terrified me, and I certainly never thought I’d be where I am with it today. After studying poetry for several years, I sit here now with many published works of my own, and I find it a struggle to disagree with the fears and interpretations formed by my younger self.

Victoria J Iacchetta : part one

Victoria J Iacchetta is a Puerto-Rican/Italian-American woman, and very much resonates with the role that her ancestral lineage has played in the development of her complex psyche. In 2015, she received a dual Bachelors degree in English and History from The University at Buffalo, and has since found the emotional stresses of working in “corporate America” to heavily influence her artistic direction. Victoria is currently living in London, England, and is working towards a Masters degree in Strategic Marketing. Her first chapbook, The Cubicle, will be published in Season 4 of Gap Riot Press, and prior works have been published in The Gravity of the Thing, Vamp Cat Mag, Ghost City Press, Bottlecap Press, and Peach Mag.

Photo credit: Steve Deisig Photography, Buffalo, NY

What are you working on?

I’m never really working on anything in particular. My poetry is more or less a result of intense bouts of emotions that come and go as they please. I find it hard to just sit myself down and write without any sort of organic need to do so.

For some reason, there are very few environments/places that really foster productivity with my poetry; in the past, most of the poems I’ve written were when I felt trapped and confined (for example, times when I had a particular obligation to uphold, and would do anything to avoid or postpone doing so).