How to evolve as a poet: focus on craft, community, and growth

Poet Kim Mannix, author of the poetry collection Confirm Humanity.

Kim Mannix is a freelance journalist, poet, and short fiction writer who lives and Amiskwaciwâskahikan/Edmonton. Her passion for climate justice issues,

the importance of art, feminism and parenthood intersect in both her

creative and professional pursuits.

Kim's first book of poetry, Confirm Humanity, is published in with Wild Skies Press. She currently serves as board president of the Edmonton Poetry Festival and is an avid believer that everyone, everywhere has a little poetry in their soul. In this interview, Kim explores her thoughts on how to evolve as a poet, and her take on the impact of AI on creative writing and the arts.

Confirm Humanity, the new collection of poems by Kim Mannix

Launch: Confirm Humanity by Kim Mannix will launch on November 16, 2025 2:00-3:30pm, at Audreys Books, 10702 Jasper Ave, Edmonton.

This poetry collection touches on the darkness of humanity, and the ways we—as citizens, women, mothers—learn to endure and persevere in light. There is awe for the natural world, but also cynicism and grief about how humans interact with the earth and one another. If these themes strike a chord with you, then please join Kim for this celebration of all things poetic and true. This event will also highlight fellow Wild Skies Press author Laurie Lynn Muirhead and her poetry collection, Coyote Snow.

How to evolve as a poet

OCW: Has your writing evolved over the years? If so, how? Through writing experience? Reading a lot? Writing courses or communities? A combination, or something else?

KM: Oh yes! It’s changed, evolved, grown and any other similar words through all these things – practice, experimenting and taking chances, reading broadly in genres I write in and ones I don’t, and taking advantage of as many workshops or training courses as I can.

I’m also a huge believer in the importance of writing-in-residence programs. I’ve benefitted from the advice of so many wise writers and mentors. I will always seek out ways to gain valuable constructive criticism and learn more about craft. I also think attending readings and open mics from lesser known writers is hugely important. That is where some of the freshest inspiration comes from.

Themes in poems: trying to find joy amid the negative things in the world

OCW: Can you trace any common themes across your writing?

KM: I would say, yes, though sometimes I don’t even realize themes are there until after I’ve completed writing a series of poems, or several pieces of short fiction. I suspect this is probably true for many writers. Some things that regularly come up in my poetry are outrage, trying to find joy in the face of all the negative things in the world, memory, awe of nature and fear of human’s destruction of it, and family. My short fiction tends to be horror or horror-adjacent, so the themes are spooky and dark takes on the same things that come up in my poetry.

OCW: Do you use social media to engage readers, writers, or publishers and, if so, which platforms?

KM: I do use social media, but less for promotion and more for connection. I have a Bluesky account (@kimmannix.bsky.social) that tends to be more political in nature, and an Instagram account (@kmannixwrites) that feels more like a celebration of writers I admire. I can say that I have discovered the work of many great writers, and found submission opportunities, workshops, events, etc. through both platforms.

Writers resent AI, and it undervalues and undermines writing and art

OCW: Do you see generative AI as a threat or benefit to writers?

KM: A threat, though I suppose that’s not necessarily even the term I would use. I think there is a consistent pattern of framing AI as something that writers “fear,” when I feel it’s more accurate to say that we resent it. Generative AI and its uses for “creative” pursuits cannot exist without stealing from writers. It is the absolute opposite of creativity. It undervalues and undermines what writing and art formation is, while simultaneously taking actual paying jobs from artists, and further contributing to the climate crisis with negative and unnecessary environmental impact.

OCW: Do you edit as you write, or write and edit later?

KM: Both, however, I do try to stop myself from editing too much as I write, because of that old and wise adage “all a first draft needs to do is exist.”

I think too much editing as you go can stifle the flow and potentially eliminate ideas that just need to be fleshed out. But if I’m writing a poem and I recognize that a word or phrasing I’ve just put down is definitely not right, I wouldn’t hesitate to change it then.

I also make generally unhelpful notes to myself in the margin, like “add more,” “not this” or “fix,” which both frustrate and amuse me during editing.