How a poetry writing challenge brought old and new pieces together into my first published collection.
In January 2026, I embarked on a 21-day poetry writing challenge hosted by BookLeaf Publishing. The challenge was straightforward: write at least one poem each day for 21 consecutive days, from January 11 to January 31.
Twenty-one days. Twenty-one poems.
Simple enough, right?
But my poetry journey didn’t begin there.
Long before the challenge, I had already written several poems, some of which I had shared right here on this website. They were individual expressions of thoughts, emotions, and observations, written at different moments in my life.
The challenge gave me an opportunity to revisit that creative side of myself, write new pieces, and bring some of my earlier work together into something more cohesive.
The result? The Troubled Poet, a collection of 27 poems published in March 2026.
Old Words, New Perspectives
There’s something interesting about revisiting something you’ve written in the past.
The words may remain the same, but the person reading them—even when that person is you—may have changed.
Some of the poems in The Troubled Poet existed long before the book was conceived. A few had already been shared on this website, while others were written during the 21-day challenge.
Bringing them together gave these individual pieces a new home.
Rather than existing as separate entries written at different points in time, they became part of a collection that reflects different thoughts, experiences, and perspectives.
And perhaps that’s what I appreciate most about poetry. It doesn’t always need to tell one continuous story. Sometimes, seemingly unrelated pieces can coexist and still create something meaningful.
Finding Poetry in the Everyday
One of the things I appreciate most about poetry is its freedom.
A poem doesn’t have to rhyme. It doesn’t always need a prescribed structure. And it certainly doesn’t need to offer an answer to every question it raises.
Sometimes, poetry captures a fleeting thought. Other times, it explores an emotion, an observation, or an experience that might otherwise go unexpressed.
Throughout the challenge, I had the opportunity to experiment with words and different ways of conveying ideas.
Some days, inspiration came easily. Other days, finding the right words required a little more effort.
But the challenge was also a reminder that creativity isn’t always about waiting for inspiration. Sometimes, it’s about making the time to create.
From Words on a Screen to a Book in My Hands
There’s a difference between knowing you’ve written a book and actually holding it.
For the longest time, my poems existed as words on a screen—some published here on my blog, others saved in documents.
Then, one day, they arrived in a box.
A real, physical book. With a cover, printed pages, and my words inside.
Of course, I had to document the moment!
Seeing those poems in print was both exciting and surreal.
Words that had once existed as scattered thoughts and individual pieces were now bound together in a book.
And just like that, I could officially call myself a published author!
The Beauty of Interpretation
One of the things I find fascinating about poetry is how differently people can interpret the same words.
As a writer, I may have a particular thought or experience behind a poem. But once it’s shared, readers bring their own memories, emotions, and perspectives to it.
A line that means one thing to me might mean something entirely different to someone else.
And that’s perfectly fine.
Not every poem will resonate with everyone. Some may feel deeply personal, while others might seem abstract or open-ended.
I don’t think poetry always needs to be understood exactly as its author intended to be appreciated.
My hope is that somewhere among these 27 poems, readers will find a thought, a feeling, or perhaps a question that resonates with them.
A Chapter Worth Celebrating
Looking back, I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring these poems together.
Some had been waiting patiently on this website for years. Others were born out of the challenge of writing consistently for 21 days.
Together, they became my first published poetry collection.
The Troubled Poet is a reminder that creative work doesn’t always follow a straight path. Sometimes, the things we create simply for ourselves eventually find a new purpose.
And sometimes, old words find a new home.
If you’d like to explore the collection, The Troubled Poet is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Thank you for being part of this chapter of my story.
— Kyla