Featured Writer: Maria Giesbrecht
On creating space to write and writing advice.
Welcome to Women Writing! It’s my great pleasure to feature poet Maria Giebrecht in today’s issue of Women Writing.
About the author…
Maria Giesbrecht is a Canadian poet whose work explores her Mexican and Mennonite roots. Her writing has appeared in The Literary Review of Canada, Narrative, Grain, ONLY POEMS, San Pedro River Review, and elsewhere. She is the winner of the 2025 Jack McCarthy Book Prize, the Lesley Strutt Poetry Prize, a finalist for the 2025 Narrative Poetry Prize, a Best of Net nominee, and the founder of Gather, an international writing community that connects poets worldwide. Born in Durango, Mexico, she now lives near Toronto, Canada with her fiancée.
On a writing routine …
I like to write immediately after waking up. It signals to my brain that this is the most important part of the day. My creativity seems to be elusive in that way. Come afternoon, it’s long gone. I start with a strong coffee, of course, and read a few poems either from a collection I’m currently reading, or I browse a few online journals to see if something sparks. Then I just get into it. I usually write for about two hours, or until I’m hungry. Then I have breakfast and get on with my day. Some days, I do this at a cafe, instead of at home. Which in that case, I usually have a cheeky muffin or croissant to go along with the coffee, ha!
On writing spaces …
My desk is upstairs, and it has a view of a little farm across the road from us. At sunrise, the sky is a gorgeous tangerine color and I am often distracted by it. When I edit, I usually find an Airbnb somewhere away from home and spend three or four days marathon-editing for eight hours a day. When my manuscript for A Little Feral was due, I spent a few days in a little town near where I live holed up editing all day. The change of scenery seems to keep me on track.
On writing communities …
I host a writing community for poets. We call ourselves Gatherers! It has been the most fulfilling part of writing for me. Since its inception, two years ago, we’ve put on multiple sold out poetry shows, met in person multiple times, and truly truly found something in these connections that has sustained us. Even though writing is a solo activity most of the time, making friends with other folks who “just get it” has been incredibly crucial in sustaining momentum for me in this career. I’m so grateful to all the poets in Gather who show up for each other and cheer each other on!
“ Usually, it’s my nervous system that’s blocking my creativity. Once it senses safety, it feels ready again. “
On challenges …
I have endometriosis. Sometimes it’s hard to get out of bed when I’m in a lot of pain. I’ve learned to let go of the idea that if I’m not writing every day, I’m somehow behind. Ocean Vuong has famously said he only writes about eight poems a year. There is a unique sense of permission that I felt when I heard that. I try to write most days when I’m feeling good, but if it’s a bed day, I don’t sweat it anymore. Instead, I call my kitty, he comes running and we snuggle for a few hours with a good book. It’s all food for good poems anyways!
On the best writing advice …
The best advice I’ve received as a writer is that we get to do this for our entire lives! We are not athletes; we don’t have to retire at 30. There is no rush. Ellen Bass says, “Poems are inefficient,” and I try to remember that. What I’m doing is not meant to be production, nor fast. I have the rest of my life.
On the worst writing advice …
The worst piece of writing advice I received was “don’t even bother querying agents if you’re a poet. They never sign poets.” When I heard that, I sensed the person who was telling it to me was speaking from a place of hurt, and I rejected the energy for my own truth. I ended up querying two agents, with full requests from both. It never hurts to try. Don’t reject yourself before giving someone else the opportunity first.
On rekindling creativity …
When I feel creatively depleted, I turn to other forms of art to fill me back up! Mainly, music. I love listening to Hozier on repeat. The same song (usually Cherry Wine) will lull me into almost a hypnotic trance where I can sense my body easy back into feeling safe to write. Usually, it’s my nervous system that’s blocking my creativity. Once it senses safety, it feels ready again.
On a recent publication …
My debut poetry collection, A Little Feral, is coming out with Write Bloody Publishing on May 8th!
Maria’s online spaces …
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Happy writing!
I just met Maria today! Lovely young woman, lovely poet!
A most insightful interview! It addresses the real issues in a writer's life.