On Aug. 29, Campus Trendsetters held an exclusive press conference with poet Rupi Kaur to discuss her upcoming new book, Healing Through Words. Kaur, best known for being a popular “Insta-poet,” wrote her first collection, Milk and Honey, in 2014 in between classes and LSAT study sessions. Her remarkable vulnerability helped skyrocket her debut novel to fame, and she quickly followed up with The Sun and Her Flowers in 2017 and Home Body in 2020. Each collection told Kaur’s personal story of sexual abuse, grief, and existentialism.
For her fourth upcoming body of work, Healing Through Words, Kaur diverted from her usual poetry and created a guided journal for her readers who are avid writers. The guided book follows the same timeline as Milk and Honey, and gives aspiring writers access to her magical writing process. Throughout the 60 writing exercises, Kaur encourages students to freely write and listen to their own inner voice. Kaur said she suffered from intense writer’s block and imposter syndrome throughout her entire career, so she’s hoping to give a hand to budding artists that need a breakthrough. By the end, she said, dedicated journalers should feel “lighter” and more confident in their abilities.
During the press conference, Kaur said she wants to see bold strokes from her fans, and believes embracing the taboo is key to personal satisfaction and success. “If not you, then who?” Kaur asked. “There are enough people writing digestible, simple stories. Uncomfortable topics are calling to you for a reason.”
Kaur said she suffers from imposter syndrome and a fear of sharing her personal life, which is ironic considering the success of her poems — her collections have sold over 10 million copies and have been translated into over 42 languages.
On top of that, her 4.5 million Instagram followers religiously repost her prose. She’s drawn over 10,000 writers and fans to her Instagram Lives at once, where she spends hours going over writing techniques and tips. During these lives, Kaur often gives viewers the chance to read their work live, and she’s started routinely sharing students’ creations from her workshops.
Sitting as a No. 1 New York Times bestseller, Kaur still doesn’t know how she got to where she is now. She said she feels self-doubt lurking everyday. For young writers struggling with the same feelings, she has a cure. “Talking to other people and realizing they’re experiencing the same thing can be so comforting,” Kaur said. “We want to be seen.”
Now, according to Kaur, getting published is easier than ever. She got her start prowling Tumblr pages and posting on Instagram. Whether it’s through blogs, social media, or the traditional publishing route, Kaur emphasized that young writers need to share, share, share their work everywhere they can.
“The [writing] industry doesn’t run on fairness or merit,” Kaur said. “So sometimes, you need to create opportunities for yourself. If the industry or gatekeepers are not letting you through, that does not mean that your work is not needed or valid.”
Kaur called Healing Through Words a bookend, and the end of an era. She hopes to see songs, essays, books, and more being published by her followers once they finish the journal, and said she wants them to experience the euphoric feeling she does when writing. “Poetry helps people feel seen,” Kaur said. “I want to hold you. I hope this book can be added to self-care routines, and become a practice.”
You can pre-order Healing Through Words now, and it’ll be available everywhere on September 27.