Sejal Akerkar is a poet and writer who graduated from Bellevue’s Sammamish High School in 2023. Akerkar self-published a collection of poetry, “walking down the sensory strip,” highlighting her triumphs and struggles as a young woman of color in 2020, when she was a sophomore in high school.
As a high school senior, she published her second book, “optic opening,” which represented her immense growth and journey into young adulthood.
Seattle Refined: How long have you been writing?
Sejal Akerkar: I’ve been writing poetry since the summer of 2019. As a 14-year-old transitioning into high school during that time, I found that poetry was one of the only ways that I could express my thoughts about myself, experiences and the world. This creative journey led to the publication of my first poetry book, “walking down the sensory strip,” in 2020, followed by my second book, “optic opening,” in 2022. Since then, I have continued to use poetry to navigate various parts of my life and hope to inspire others through my books to use poetry as an outlet, too.
Can you tell us about your process and how the different stages work into it?
I first begin with the writing portion of my book process, which for me has taken around two years for each book. I write whenever inspiration strikes me. Writer’s block is a normal occurrence during my writing process, so I’ve learned to just let the words flow when they feel like it and to never force anything. After I feel that I’ve written enough, which is usually when I hit around 200-250 poems, I then construct 5-6 themes that all of them can fit into. During this process, I also work with an editor to finalize the poems, chapters, and overall cohesiveness of the book. I then devise a book title and illustrate my book cover, which is something that I take pride in doing. After everything comes together, I go ahead and start the self-publishing process, which is comprised of putting everything into eBook and paperback format so that Amazon can print it. Even after embracing the satisfaction of hitting the publish button, I plan a book launch and engage in various marketing tactics to spread the word about my book. I’ve always been independent, so I enjoy going through the whole book process by myself, but I couldn’t have done it without the support and help of my parents, editors, family and friends.
Tell us about where your inspiration comes from.
My inspiration comes from my everyday experiences, whether that be when I’m on a walk with my dog, reading poetry, watching movies, listening to music in my car or up late talking to my friends. Although, I give a lot of credit to other poets and the inspiration that I get from embracing their diverse works of art. Some of my favorite writers are Rupi Kaur, Kendrick Lamar, Amanda Lovelace, Tupac Shakur and Amanda Gorman. Whether it be reading their books or listening to their music, I feel as though their words can always bring universal meaning and encompass storytelling, which is something that I try to translate into my work.
Do you have a specific “genre” you like best – fiction, poetry, nonfiction, etc.?
I’d have to say poetry is my favorite genre, for obvious reasons, but I’ve also recently been getting into practical nonfiction. Even though I love to dive into complex perceptions and ideologies in poetry, I’ve gained a certain appreciation for books that focus on self-help and practicality.
Do you have one piece of work that means more to you or is extremely special to you?
My first published book, “walking down the sensory strip,” will always hold a special place in my heart. As my first big career and life accomplishment, it marks the start to an amazing journey that I am still on. The writing portion of this book was genuine and authentic, as the process didn’t even begin with the goal of publishing. I’ll always cherish the challenges that I faced during the first book because I wouldn’t be the writer and person that I am today without it.
What experiences in your life have affected your work the most?
I think that any experience in my life that revolves around change has most affected my work because it inherently affects me as a person. This can vary from the passing of loved ones to gaining and losing friends to quitting my competitive sport or to moving away from home to go to college. An overwhelming number of feelings that stem from change in my life can lead me to find comfort in pen and paper.
If we want to see more of your work, where should we go to find it?
To see more of my work, you can check out Amazon, where my first book, “walking down the sensory strip,” and my second book, “optic opening,” are both available for purchase in eBook and paperback form. You can also check out the Bellevue Lifestyle Magazine, Global Indian, 425 Magazine, The Start Literary Journal, Adonis Designs Press, Navigating the Maze with The WEIGHT Journal and Indiaspora, where a selection of my work has been published. And if you’re browsing Seattle bookstores, you can check out Island Books in Mercer Island, as well.
What is next for you? Anything you’re working on right now that you’re really excited about?
I am currently in the writing process for my third book. I am super excited to showcase this new chapter of life as I enter adulthood and gain lots of inspiration from the new people and experiences that I encounter in my college life.
Lastly, how do you take your coffee? (We ask everyone!)
My go-to right now would probably be an iced vanilla latte with cinnamon and a splash of half-and-half.
About ‘Artist of the Week’: This city is packed with artists we love to feature weekly on Seattle Refined! If you have a local artist in mind that you would like to see featured, let us know at hello@seattlerefined.com. And if you’re wondering just what constitutes art, that’s the beauty of it; it’s up to you! See all of our past Artists of the Week in our dedicated section.
