Chelsey Richardson Shares Her Journey as a Writer and Poet on The Day With Trae
Photos by Jordan Somers
Earlier this week on The Day With Trae, Chelsey Richardson joined host Trae Holiday to share her journey as both a poet and a writer and her dedication to imparting her passion to the next generation through teaching. Additionally, Richardson discussed the eagerly anticipated rerelease of her book, All Water Has Perfect Memory.
Growing up under the influence of her English teacher mother and her grandmother's captivating narratives, Richardson's literary journey began at a young age. Immersed in the works of literary giants like James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, and Emily Dickinson, her formative years instilled a reverence for literature that shaped her career to this day.
"I remember my mom saying things like, you don't ever put anything on top of a book," Richardson said. "Like you don't put a loaf of bread on top of a book. Books are sacred. So I grew up with that mentality."
Having embarked on her writing journey early, Richardson ventured into the realm of spoken word poetry during her time at the University of Washington.
"I recognized that spoken word was a thing, probably in my early 20s," Richardson said. "[I] realized, oh, I can share my art, my writing on stage in front of people, and it was really scary then, but now it's kind of second nature."
The experience of performing on stage and sharing her creative endeavors propelled Richardson to compile her works and ultimately pursue publication. Since then, Richard has remained active in the Northwest Poetry scene as a performer and viewer, highlighting how she has maintained and built connections.
"Instead of just watching, really listen intently because I feel like when I'm supporting artists and paying attention to what they're doing, I'm also growing as an artist," Richardson said. "For me, I want to always be developing the craft and getting better and better at it, and part of that is looking, watching, and seeing what other people are doing."
Richardson herself is actively performing, hosting an open mic and writing session alongside Ebo Barton at the Made Space every third Thursday called Smoke N Word. When she isn't listening to fellow poets or sharing her work, she's busy teaching, having followed in her mother's footsteps.
"Teaching is more about breaking things apart, being a guide, knowing the right tools, and understanding how people learn," Richardson said. "There's a lot of needing to know yourself really well and understand psychology."
Having worked in education for several years, covering subjects from English to poetry, Richardson emphasizes that teaching has made her more aware as an artist.
"When I'm teaching, I'm hearing just like when I'm listening on an open mic," Richardson said. "I'm hearing these beautiful words come out of the mouths of young people, and I'm learning how to be a better poet."
Alongside performing and teaching, Richard is rereleasing her book All Water Has Perfect Memory. The title is taken from one of Toni Morrison's essays, The Site of Memory.
"I decided to rerelease my book because I've been putting a lot of pressure on myself to do something new," Richardson said. " I realized that that is not the kind of artist that I want to be. My book is still new to people who've never seen it or heard of it, who don't know it exists."
All Water Has Perfect Memory is a poignant collection of poetry that ventures into diverse narratives, covering themes such as climate change, personal experiences, and the nuances of trauma. For those interested in Richardson's work, the book is available for purchase on her website, accessible through this link.
"It's all about being honest," Richardson said. "I really explore our experiences with the climate crisis and with my personal life, my trauma, and our collective trauma. My goal with the book was, first and foremost, to share my art. Secondly, to cement my role in this world as a true artist because for some reason, it felt like if I didn't have a book as a writer, I wasn't really doing what I'm supposed to. So I really needed that."
To hear more stories of inspirational women making a difference in Seattle and beyond, tune in to Trae every weekday at 11 am on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.
