Today we’d like to introduce you to Violet Vela.
Hi Violet, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was inspired to write my first poem at eight years old after being amazed Poe’s The Raven. From that point, I enjoyed writing poetry for fun and would sometimes oscillate between songwriting and secret little short stories. However, poetry was and still is my main love. Many years later in college, I would come to appreciate the poetry of Dr. Maya Angelou and from there it became a much more serious vessel to access all the rich complexities of emotions, of life, of death, of grief, of processing the world.
One day in 2017, with a bit of child-like hope, I decided to search for any work that actually paid a poet and came across group of typewriter poets who are now called The Haikuists. I was enthralled and inspired. With an amalgamation of this curiosity and big sparkles in my eyes for the possibility, I practiced at home with friends and family who would give me one-word prompts to write poetry on the spot. Then, in May of that same year, I carried a heavy 1940’s Remington typewriter to a local artist’s market…and did it! The soft-spoken, shy child within me wrote poetry for strangers and it went well in every way I could imagine!
I’ve learned so much since then and am still always learning. And with each and every time, I’m filled with so much gratitude that I feel light spilling out of me and so much joy that I sometimes don’t know where to put it all. So overall, I’ve been writing poetry for 32 years (as I’ve just turned 40) but 9 years total of writing typewriter poetry on the spot for thousands of people in Austin and other cities around the country.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been speed bumps along the way; some due to lack of experience with having my own little business and others due to major life events that were out of my control. Of course, three years after starting, the pandemic slowed and paused everything for me like the rest of the world. Then in 2022, my mom passed away, in 2024 I had a traumatic breakup with my partner of 8 years, and in 2025 my lifelong friend also passed away. It was very difficult to hold myself together to work a regular day job and still want to engage in my poetry, much less write for others. It was honestly hard to just stay alive at times. My poetry never left me though, even if it was dimmed by all the darkness and grief. I still wrote during those times and I’m grateful I chose to do so.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I write custom, typewriter poetry on the spot for people at all kinds of events. Most of my experience has been at markets and private parties but over the past several years I’ve brought this to many weddings as well.
I’m so grateful to be paid to do what I love. How rare is that?! It still feels like a dream sometimes. Beyond the monetary reward of it, what makes me feel so valued is when I write something that draws tears from the person I’m writing for, after which, I always ask if they want a hug and they always do. Sometimes it’s holding hands across the table. Sometimes it’s laughing at a campy rhyme for a funny subject they requested. A few times it’s been writing words that their late loved one would have said (for which sometimes people think I’m psychic haha). But I am so proud when the person finishes reading their poem and they feel it. Like really feel it. Like I helped draw something from within them when they took the chance on me to lend me their word. I’m so proud when my poetry facilitates an ease for them to feel what they want to feel and hopefully inspire healing what they want to heal.
Maybe what sets me apart is that I always emotionally connect with each poem and person I write for, even if I don’t try. It just happens.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is coming home from trick-or-treating with my older brother and dividing/trading our candy while watching The Simpson’s Halloween specials.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://violetvela.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violet__vela/
