Congratulations to Makayla - mind of makayla - for having their following poem chosen for publication on Blank Canvas Post. The poem that follows is a truly wonderful exploration of generational resilience and the quiet inheritance and endurance of strength within women. Please read the follow conversation between us at Blank Canvas Post and Makayla - mind of makayla - to understand more about the writer and the context for this brilliant poem.
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Writer Spotlight: Makayla Roberts
Originally from California, USA, Makayla - mind of makayla - has been writing for the last three years.
What was it that made you start writing?
I started writing because it gave me a way to express things I did not always feel comfortable saying out loud. I have always had thoughts and opinions I struggled to voice, so I wrote them down instead. Over time, especially after a difficult relationship, writing became less of an outlet and more of something I relied on to understand myself and something I wanted to use to reach other people.
What experiences have you had that have shaped the writer you are today?
A lot of my writing has been shaped by learning how to find and trust my own voice. When I was younger, I did not always feel like I could speak freely, so writing became a space where I could be honest without interruption.
As I got older, certain relationships and experiences pushed me to take that voice more seriously. I started writing not just to process things, but with the intention of being heard. Having people in my life who made me feel safe enough to express myself also played a big role in that shift.
Now, writing feels like both reflection and assertion -- a way to understand my experiences while also claiming them.
What genres are you writing at the moment? What genres do you enjoy writing?
Right now, I mainly write personal essays and poetry. Most of my work is reflective and focuses on thing like identity, relationships, personal growth, and much more. I enjoy writing pieces that start from personal experiences but expand into something more universal, along with poetry that lets me express things more indirectly.
What inspires you to write? Where do you take your inspiration from?
I am inspired by anything that makes me pause and think more deeply. Most of my ideas come from everyday moments -- conversations, observations, or even passing thoughts I cannot quite let go of. I tend to write when something makes me think more deeply or question something I thought I understood. Writing becomes a way for me to follow those thoughts to their end, or sometimes to sit in the question itself.
What does your writing process look like (e.g., environment, tools, setting)?
My writing process usually starts with a thought, realization, or question that I cannot ignore. I tend to write everything out at once -- almost like a stream of consciousness -- just to get the idea down fully before I lose it. After that, I go back and shape it into something more intentional and cohesive, even if I do not end up publishing it right away.
For both poetry and personal essays, music plays a big role in helping me return to the feeling that inspired the piece. I often listen to a playlist I made called sans voix -- French for "speechless" -- which includes artists like Taylor Swift, Gracies Abrams, Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey, and so many others. It helps me stay connected to the emotional core of what I am writing.
In terms of environment, I write best when I am alone -- either at home, outside, or in a place like a coffee shop or bookstore. If I am round other people, I tend to become very quiet and focus, usually with headphones in and music playing.
I write everything in my Notes app -- it is where almost all of my ideas start and take shape.
What do you envisage when you are writing something new? Are you writing with the intention of sharing your work, or are you simply writing to write, for example?
When I start something new, it usually begins as a single thought -- something that feels important or worth holding onto. I will quickly write it down in my Notes app, not with the intention of creating something polished, but just to capture it before it disappears. At that stage, I am not thinking about an audience at all. I am writing for myself, the way I always have. Writing has always been a private space for me -- a way to process thoughts that I could not say out loud. It is only later, when I return to the idea and begin shaping it into something more coherent, that I decide whether it is something I want to share. I think what defines my writing it that it always starts as something personal. Even now, when I do intend to share my work, I still write as if I am speaking to or for myself -- whether that is a younger version of me, my present self, or a version of me that needs clarity. Over time, I have realised that I do not want to keep that voice entirely to myself. If something I write comes from a genuine place, there is a chance someone else might see themselves in it or feel understood by it. So while I always begin by writing simply to write, I have grown into witting with the openness to share -- not for validation, but for connection.
Why do you think community is important for writers and creative people?
I think community is important for writers and creative people because it shows them they are not alone -- not just in their ideas, but in the act of creating itself. Writing can feel very internal, and it is easy to keep things to yourself for a long time. Community crates a sense of safety. It shows you that there is space for you voice, and that it is okay to share what you have been sitting on. For me, seeing other people open with their work made it feel possible to do the same. It also pushed you to grow. Being around other creative people exposes you to different perspectives and ways of thinking, which challenges you and strengthens your own voice. Community is not just about sharing your work, but it is about making people feel seen enough to share it in the first place.
Where do you currently share you work?
I share my work on Substack.
Why did you submit your work to Blank Canvas Post? What drew you to our publication?
I was drawn to Blank Canvas Post because of the environment it creates. From what I saw, it felt like a space where writers are genuinely supported and encouraged to share their work openly. The community stood out to me -- everyone I interacted with was kind, welcoming, and engaged, which made it feel like a place where my voice would be both heard and respected. As someone who is relatively new to Substack, I was also looking for a way to connect with like-minded people and find a sense of community within the platform. At the same time, I wanted an opportunity to share my work more widely especially since it can sometimes be difficult to navigate visibility on Substack alone. Overall, Blank Canvas Post felt like a space that values both creative expression and connection, which is exactly what I was looking for.
About the Poem: The Matriarch
Regarding The Matriarch, what inspired you to write this piece?
This piece was inspired by a moment of realisation I had within my own life. I have always told myself that I would not repeat certain patterns I witnessed drown cup, especially when it came to relationships. But at one point, I found myself in a situation that closely resembled what I said I would avoid. That realisation forced me to reflect more honestly on human nature -- how easy it can be to follow the examples set before us, even when we are aware of them. it made me question the idea of control, choice, and how much of our behaviour is learned versus consciously decided. Writing this piece became a way for me to process that tension. It explores the idea that while we may inherit patterns, we also have the responsibility to recognise them and choose whether or not to continue them. For me, it was about acknowledging that awareness is only the first step -- change requires intention.
What is the context for this piece? What is the main feeling or message behind it?
The context of this place comes from reflecting on generational patterns, particularly within relationships, and recognising how easily we can fall into cycles we once believed we would avoid. The main feeling behind it is a mix of discomfort and clarity -- the discomfort of recognising yourself in something you once distanced yourself from, and the clarity that comes with that awareness.
What was the process of writing this piece like for you? What did this process look like?
This poem started out as two simple sentences: I stayed because she did. She endured so I will do the same. I did not know where to go after that so the two lines sat in my notes app for a while before I finally went back to it and turned it into a poem. That is when I came up with what is now the piece I submitted. It took a lot of rewriting, editing, and moving around. But once I felt like I liked it, I knew it was close to being done.
Why did you choose this piece specifically to Blank Canvas Post?
I chose to submit this piece to Blank Canvas Post not because I felt like it was one of my stronger pieces, but also because I felt like the community would be receptive to it. I also felt like it would help me grow as a writer as other likeminded people would be able to give their feedback on it.
So, without further ado, here is The Matriarch, a poem by Makayla - mind of makayla.
The Matriarch, by Makayla Roberts.
I stay because she did. Her shadow blistered under borrowed skies. She endured, so I learned how. The wind tried to rip her name from the ground, Taught her storms before it taught her rest. Still - I stay because she did. She was fire sealed beneath patience, Heat humming where no one thought to look. She endured, so I learned how. The earth remembers the way she walked quietly, Every prayer swallowed, every cry folded inward. I stay because she did. Night bit hard. Morning came through broken glass instead of grace. She endured, so I learned how. And now, when my bones ache with leaving, When I want to choose ease over loyalty, I find her eyes inside my own - Steady, unafraid. I stay because she did. She endured, And somehow taught me how to live.
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Powerful poem. In my life, the women usually stay. Someone should write the companion poem "The Patriarch" -- 'I left because he did.' Ms. Roberts' poem has depth. There's lines worth quoting!
Thank you so much for sharing my piece! I am happy that so many people were touched.