Brittany Benko

To me, being a successful poetry author isn't measured by bestseller lists or awards. It's about writing words that makes someone feel seen, understood, or a little less alone. Success is having the courage to share pieces of my heart and knowing that somewhere, those pieces have found a home in someone else's story. After my marriage separation, I found myself with something I hadn't expected: time. Time to rediscover the passion that had always been inside me. Instead of letting that season define me, I chose to pour my energy into something I love. Poetry became therapeutic and held a purpose, reminding me that even life's most difficult chapters can create space for new beginnings. Every poem I write is for healing, resilience, and the joy of finally embracing the dream that has always lived within me.

The best career advice I have ever received is to not take one person's opinion. Everyone has opinions but it's more important to do your own research and put yourself out there regardless of what one person may think of you. You may be someone's favorite author. I Life is about making risks and putting yourself out there, otherwise, you're going to be stuck where you are.

For writing, I would say stick to a niche that you really really love because you're not going to be able to please everyone out there, so you want to kind of zero in on the people that are going to buy your books. Make connections rather than push sales because people want to get to know you. For education. you have to love kids whole heartedly. They are with you more than their parents, so it's important to love them as your own.

For writing, there's a lot of competition. A lot of people are wanting to go into writing, so that's going to be hard because you want to try to stick out. You have so many people you're trying to compete against, so see this as this as a really big challenge. Especially when you're first starting out. It can seem very overwhelming.

The values that guide both my work and personal life are integrity, kindness, positivity, and. I believe that having strong morals and treating others with respect helps me build meaningful relationships and make thoughtful decisions. Marinating a positive mindset allows me to overcome challenges with resilience and continue growing both personally and professionally. As an author, these values shape the stories I tell, encouraging me to write with honesty, compassion, and hope while creating work that inspires and connects with readers.