#031 - How to Build a Career in Poetry (Tips from Maria Giesbrecht)

Want to become a full-time poet?Then meet Maria Giesbrecht, better known to her online community as @Theguelphpoet Maria is a poet, community builder, and author of the upcoming prize-winning poetry collection, "A LITTLE FERAL."Maria left her accounting job in corporate Canada to build a career in poetry. Since then, she has amassed nearly 83k followers on Instagram, 2000+ readers on her popular Substack, and founded the @GatherPoets writing community. We talk about Maria's experience growing up in a Mennonite village, writing surrealist verse, building an audience on Instagram without losing your artistic soul, and leaving a corporate career to "peacemeal" a living in the arts. Maria also reads from "A Little Feral" (winner of the 2025 Jack McCarthy Poetry Prize, published by Write Bloody Publishing), shares the philosophy behind her writing community Gather, and gets into how to write a poem and the sacred rituals that protect her creative life.If you've ever wondered whether authenticity and audience can coexist — this one's for you.PRE-ORDER A LITTLE FERAL BY MARIA GIESBRECHT:➡️ BUY ON AMAZON: https://amzn.to/3P3V9QH MORE ABOUT MARIA: ➡️ Follow Maria Giesbrecht on Instagram: @Theguelphpoet ➡️ Join Maria's Writing Community, Gather: https://gatherpoets.com/pages/about ➡️ Maria's Substack: https://mariagiesbrecht.substack.com/ ➡️ ALL PRE-ORDER BOOK OPTIONS: https://linktr.ee/alittleferal_JOIN OUR FREE POETRY COMMUNITY: ➡️ https://www.thepoetryvessel.com/signupEVERYTHING ELSE: 📚 Recommended Reading: https://shorturl.at/SOYRP👉 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nathanhassall📸 Nathan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanhassallpoetry/🌀 The Poetry Vessel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepoetryvessel📧 Business inquiries: thepoetryvessel@gmail.com🎥Our Film Gear: https://shorturl.at/j9MTW🙏 How to Support TPV: https://thepoetryvessel.com/donate/📜 SUBMIT YOUR POETRY: https://www.thepoetryvessel.com/submit🕰️ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Introducing Maria Giesbrecht of A Little Feral1:09 - How a Mennonite Upbringing Made Her a Poet5:36 - Writing "Expensive Scenes": Surrealism and Risk-Taking in Verse7:37 - How Maria Built a Poetry Audience on Instagram12:24 - Authenticity vs. the Algorithm: The Trap of Reverse-Engineering Art19:12 - Poem Reading & the Art of Strangeness: Truth vs. Fact28:13 - From Corporate Accounting to Full-Time Poet31:15 - Gather: The Writing Community Built on "Caring for Each Other's Poems"34:10 - Advice for Aspiring Poets: Generosity, Networking & Thinking in Abundance39:05 - A Little Feral: The Title, the Rituals & "Lantern Consciousness"44:54 - Poem Reading & Spirituality: Finding the Holy in the Mundane57:33 - Poem Reading: When Poetry Gets Personal and Political1:06:13 - Why Poetry Is the Opposite of Small Talk (& How to Get Better at It)1:19:29 - Final Poem & The 20-Word ChallengePODCAST DISCLAIMER:The views, opinions, discussions, and statements expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and are intended to represent their personal opinions and perspectives. Listener discretion is advised. The Poetry Vessel is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any information presented and disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance on any information presented in this podcast.FTC DISCLAIMER:Some of the links above may be affiliate links, which means that if you click on them we may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The commission is paid by the retailers, at no cost to you, and this helps to support our channel and keep our videos free. Thank you!