Jamila Woods, a 19-year-old sophomore Africana and performance studies major at Brown University, recently won Young Chicago Author's Louder Than A Bomb inaugural college poetry slam. Before Woods dove back into her studies, she took some time to discuss poetry with me.
Now that you've won Louder Than A Bomb's college poetry slam, what's next for you?
Trying to perform a lot more on campus, and getting ready for nationals.
When and how did you become interested in poetry?
I've been writing since a young age, but writing poetry since my freshman year in high school.
What's the difference between spoken word poetry and written poetry?
Something is missing [from spoken word poetry] when it is [silently] read. I think spoken word is more powerful. With spoken word you get to hear the poem straight from the source as opposed to reading it from a page.
Let's talk about writing style. Do you think you have a writing style?
I notice that I really need to say every line I write out loud. When I say the poem out loud it flows and that's how it sticks in my head. I memorize the poem while I read it.
In poetry, a writer has numerous forms and meters to write in, such as, the sonnet or villanelle, or trimeter or hexameter. Do you ever write in these formsor meters?
I don't use a formal form, I kind of found them confusing. I would be interested in writing something in iambic pentameter though.
Does your writing style change when you know you're going to be performing?
No, I don't think so. My writing is changing as I grow older, but like I said before, I always read my poems out loud.
What is your revision process like?
I never wanted to put the work in to fix it, but now it's different: I really like the process of seeing a poem evolve...a poem is never finished.
What's harder, writing poetry or vocally expressing poetry?
The writing part is the most challenging. Once I have written it, reading it is just fun.
Who's your favorite poet?
I like so many. Nikki Giovanni is amazing.
Define poetry.
Poetry is my voice, it's how I say everything I can't say.
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