Tell us about your background in the military and how you found writing as your medium of choice to express yourself.

I spent 11 years and 364 days active duty in the United States Marine Corps. Nine of those years were in the infantry, and three were as a recruiter in Wichita Falls, Texas. I never seriously considered writing. When I got out of the Marines about a year later, I was going through some personal issues. I started journaling, and that turned into poetry. One of my English professors read a poem and told me it was good. I just started writing and submitting, and it started to slowly take off from there.

You are a published poet! What were some of your inspirations behind your poetry?

My inspiration comes from everywhere. I try to draw inspiration from everyday life, but it typically comes from my experiences in war and relationships. I feel like what I write about will draw in other combat veterans and let them know that what they feel is not an anomaly and that someone out there feels it too. 

What is your motivation behind helping others to write? Specifically, helping Veterans through the Writing Workshop with CAVARTS and the Writers Garret?

The motivation behind wanting to help others write is pretty straightforward. I want to reach other Veterans and prove to them that they are not alone, they are not broken, and there is more to them than being "a Veteran." If I can reach just one veteran in crisis by helping them put words to emotions, then I feel CAVARTS and the Writers Garret have served the greater good. Having someone read something you have written and look at you and say "I understand" can very well save a life. I would also like to see some CAVARTS workshop attendees be able to spread their message to the masses to show the public that there is more to us than what they see on TV.

What, to you, are the most important elements of good writing?

The most important element for good writing is emotion. If an artist - in this case, writer - doesn't pour their essence and being into a poem or story, then what's the point? In the day and age of social media and detachment from reality, I truly believe it is our job, even duty, as artists to remind people of the beauty, chaos, dread, and every other emotion that comes with living life "in real life" and not behind a screen. I refer to getting on a stage and reading my work as "bleeding on stage." It isn't meant to sound morbid, but it feels like you are bearing your soul for all to see. To me, that is what art is all about.

You recently graduated with your BA in writing (Congratulations!) What is next on the ‘books’ for you?

My next steps are a little hazy right now. Hopefully, continue leading workshops for CAVARTS through the Writers Garret and expand my creative writing workshops. I'm currently looking for houses in the greater DFW area, my first "big boy job" outside of the Marines, and a low residency course to get an MFA in creative writing. In addition, I'm working on a book of poems, prose, and short stories titled "I don't know what I'm doing" and writing screenplays. CAVARTS and Writers Garret have given me such an amazing opportunity to do all of these things; I am immensely grateful to both organizations.