My name is Laura Mucha and I used to be a lawyer until I was hit by a car when I was 29. Now I’m a full time poet and author.
Was your creativity affected in anyway during the lockdown? Did being lockdown make you feel inspired or deflated?
I think I’ve felt inspired and deflated on rotation. Working with children around the world to write and film a thank you poem for key workers was VERY inspiring. I have definitely used my creative work and close relationships as a sanctuary, but there have also been periods of deflation even with all of that positivity.
Was it therapeutic doing creative work during lockdown?
Yes yes yes yes yes yes YES yes yes YES yes YES. I would say it was FUNDAMENTAL to my mental health. I think creativity and play have similar sanity-promoting benefits for young people, which is why I am keen to promote creative work among young people right now (and always).
How did you occupy your time?
I made a film for the National Literacy Trust encouraging children to write their own thank you poem for key workers – turns out, I LOVE dressing up… I also worked on the audiobook for my poetry collection, which I recorded JUST before lockdown – it was VERY fun working with a sound designer to turn me into an alien / astronaut / wizard. I have also been going through illustrations for some children’s books I have coming out as well as doing radio interviews and podcasts for my book for adults – but I’ve missed going into radio stations or meeting with publishers. I find those face-to-face interactions with REAL HUMANS really nourishing. Speaking via a computer isn’t the same.
What was the main thinking behind your poem submitted to Together Behind Four Walls ?
When I was hit by a car, I was left virtually bedbound for years and the whole experience made me very thankful – seeing the postman was often the highlight of my day. As the pandemic unfolded, I felt overwhelmingly thankful for what key workers were doing and the sacrifices they were making – and I also wanted to give young people a chance to create something and process what was going on. So running the workshops and writing that poem was a brilliant combination of both.
What inspires most of your poems,
They are usually sparked by paying attention, asking a question or feeling something. I like exploring how we as humans could live better, or talking about things that I don’t think are talked about enough. I also try to be funny sometimes, with varying degrees of success.
Do you remember the first poem you ever wrote or one of the first?
I remember writing one about my mum sunbathing when I was about seven… Obviously that one’s a literary classic. I also wrote one about being bereaved when I was eleven. Then I stopped writing until I was hit by a car.
Do you ever think of poems before going to sleep or just after waking up?
I often think of them JUST before going to bed. It’s very irritating for my husband. ‘What are you doing?’ ‘I’m just writing a poem…’ Poor guy.
Do you hand write poems or go directly on to your computer?
A bit of both. I love being able to edit endlessly and play with formatting. But if I ever feel stuck on something creative, I will turn to a big sheet of paper and coloured pens. I LOVE multicoloured pens. They almost always help.
Do you ever give up on poems you have started?
All the time. Sometimes they just don’t work. Creativity by its very nature involves inefficiency and failure. The lawyer in me finds that infuriating. But the poet in me doesn’t mind.
Do you do any other creative activities?
I LOVE dancing. And singing. Often at the same time. I also love drawing and illustrating. I haven’t tried drawing and dancing at the same time but maybe I should…
Laura Mucha is an award-winning poet and author. You can read more of her work at lauramucha.com or follow her @lauramucha.