Alisha Blanch: On Writing Epiphany and Her Newest Collection, Between The Lines

Poetry has a way of turning our deepest emotions into art. For the 17 year old poet Alisha Blanch, poetry is all of that and more. Having published Epiphany- a collection of prose and poems on life experiences and understanding, she is back with yet another collection.

Alisha Blanch is not only a poet but she is also a novel writer and a storyteller who writes not to tell but to connect. She has been published in The Mersian Magazine and The Up and Coming Magazine. When she’s not constructing verses and rhymes, you can find her writing book reviews on Instagram and articles on Substack. Her writing is entwined with themes such as growth, healing, identity, and the overlooked quiet moments. In this interview, we will be discussing about her journey, her collection Epiphany, as well as her latest work In Between the Lines.

What first made you want to become a poet? 

I always wanted a way to express what I personally couldn't always say out loud. As a child growing up, I often found myself overwhelmed by emotions or thoughts I didn’t fully understand, and when I was 14 writing became a safe space to explore them. Poetry felt natural because of its freedom: it felt to me that it didn't need rules or structures the way other forms of writing did. It gave me permission to be honest, raw, and imaginative all at once. Over time, reading the works of other poets showed me how powerful a few lines could be, and I knew I wanted to create that same feeling for others. As someone who lives with C-PTSD and Bipolar 2 Disorder, writing poetry has become a powerful way for me to process my complex emotions and traumatic experiences. It helps me make sense of the chaos inside my head and gives me a voice when words fail in everyday conversation. I truly believe poetry can heal, not just the writer, but the reader too, and that’s what inspires me to keep writing.

What does being a poet mean to you?

Being a poet means giving shape to the unseen. It’s about translating emotions, memories, and experiences, especially the difficult or messy ones, into something meaningful, something beautiful and something that resonates. For me, poetry is both a lifeline and a form of connection. It allows me to turn pain into art, confusion into clarity and silence into something that speaks loudly. Being a poet means reclaiming my voice. It means using creativity not just as a coping tool, but as a way to connect with others who might feel alone in what they're going through. There’s power in vulnerability, and poetry gives me a space to be vulnerable in a way that feels safe and empowering. It's more than a passion, it's part of how I survive, heal, grow and connect with others. 

What inspired Epiphany?

Epiphany was born from a moment of raw self realisation, one of those rare instances where everything inside you shifts, even if just slightly, and you finally see something clearly. For me, it was about recognizing the patterns I kept falling into, the emotional wounds I hadn’t yet addressed, and the quiet strength I’d developed without noticing. Living with C-PTSD and Bipolar 2, there are days when clarity feels impossible, but when it comes, even briefly, it's powerful. The poetry book Epiphany explores that quiet moment of awakening, where pain and healing coexist. It’s not about a dramatic breakthrough, but rather the small, intimate realizations that change how you view yourself or your past. Epiphany was my way of capturing that inner shift, of honouring the weight of struggle while also giving space to hope and growth. It’s deeply personal, messy, and beautiful, but I hope it speaks to anyone who’s ever had to rebuild themselves from the inside out.

What was the process of writing Epiphany like? Do you follow a writing routine or do you grab the pen when inspiration strikes? 

Writing Epiphany was very very messy. The process of writing was intense and very much tied to my mental state at the time. I wrote the entire collection over the course of 3 months, during a hypomanic episode. In that state, I felt everything all at once, creativity, urgency, emotion, and I couldn’t stop writing.

I wrote every spare chance I could. The poems came out quickly, almost uncontrollably, like I was trying to pour out everything inside me before it disappeared. I didn’t overthink them or edit much, I just let them exist in their raw form.

When it was done, I published it straight away. Looking back, the pieces are rushed and chaotic, but I think that is part of their power. They reflect a specific, vulnerable moment in my life. I don’t follow a set writing routine, my creativity comes in waves. I write when something grabs me, when I need to express or release, especially during emotional highs or lows. Writing poetry in those moments becomes both cathartic and necessary, just like breathing. 

In what ways do you think poetry allows us to find beauty and clarity despite every bad circumstance that we experience in life? 

Poetry has this quiet magic, it doesn’t erase the pain, but it gives it shape.

When we’re going through something difficult, everything can feel messy, overwhelming, and disconnected. Poetry steps in and helps us make sense of it. It allows us to take even the most painful, chaotic experiences and turn them into something meaningful, sometimes even beautiful. It’s not about romanticising suffering, but about transforming it into something we can hold, reflect on and maybe even share with others who have been through something similar. For me, poetry offers clarity in the way it slows things down. It forces you to pay attention, to words, to emotions, to the spaces between them. And in that process, you often discover truths you didn’t realise were there. As someone who has a mental illness and speaks up about mental health awareness, I’ve found poetry to be a kind of mirror and medicine. It doesn’t fix everything, but it helps me find light in the dark. It reminds me that even in pain, there’s still language, still art, still connection, still beauty within the darkness, and that’s something really powerful… because even the moon and the stars shine brightly in the dark. 

(A little note: We had an interview with Alisha back in April 30th however, because of urgent matters that had caused us to become inactive for a while, we weren’t able to publish the interview a little sooner. So here you’ll see how Alisha felt before publishing her book and what she feels now that she has published it.)

You will be publishing Between the Lines on May 5 2025, how do you feel about it? 

Honestly, it’s a mix of emotions, excitement, pride and a little bit of nervousness. Between The Lines feels like such a personal, vulnerable piece of me, it holds so many emotions I’ve lived through, processed and poured into poetry. Knowing that others (besides my current beta readers) will soon be reading those thoughts and feelings is both empowering and terrifying. But more than anything, I feel ready. Ready to let it go, to trust it will find the people who need it. This collection is about everything we often keep hidden, our quiet struggles, our inner battles, our moments of hope. Releasing on Kindle for preorders on May 5th, and Paperback releases on May 30th, feels like an act of bravery and growth. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and I hope Between The Lines helps someone else feel seen, understood or a little less alone.

How do you feel now that you have published Between The Lines?

Honestly, it feels surreal. Between the Lines started as something deeply personal, a way to process emotions I couldn’t always say out loud. Seeing it published, knowing other are reading and resonating with my words, is both empowering and humbling.

I feel incredibly proud, not just of the book itself, but of the growth and healing that came through writing it.

It’s also taught me that vulnerability can be strength- and that sharing your truth, even when it’s raw, can create powerful connections. I feel grateful, lighter, and more inspired than ever to keep writing.

Blurb : 

Between the lines is a deeply personal collection, bringing together every poem I've ever written into one unified volume. Spanning a wide range of themes-from love and loss to the mysteries of the cosmos and the fragility of the human experience-this book offers a glimpse into the evolution of my creative journey.

Each piece is a reflection of the emotions, thoughts, and moments that have shaped my writing over time. With raw vulnerability and lyrical beauty, between the lines invites readers into the ever-changing landscape of my poetic world, where every word is an exploration of the heart, mind, and soul. This collection is not just a book of poetry - its a testament to growth, discovery, and the power of self-expression. 

“ This book is for the dreamers, the wanderers, the ones who have felt too much and spoken too little. It is for those who find themselves in the spaces between heartbreak and healing, between darkness and light, between who they were and who they are becoming. May you find solace in these pages. May you find pieces of yourself between the lines. — Alisha Blanch”

Lastly, what’s a piece of advice that you wish someone had given you and would love to give to aspiring poets? 

I wish someone had told me that your poetry doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. When I first started writing, I was so caught up in making everything sound “right” or “poetic” that I forgot the real heart of it- truth. I also lost sight of what really mattered, being honest, and speaking from my heart. The truth is, some of the most meaningful and impactful poems I’ve written aren’t polished masterpieces or technically perfect, but they were honest and came straight from my heart, unfiltered and raw. They came from a place of real emotion, and that’s what connected with people. I was a writer who started completely on my own. I didn’t have access to many writing communities or resources, so I had to teach myself—through trial and error, through late nights, and through sheer persistence. Over the last five years, I’ve grown so much—not just as a writer, but as a person. Now, I do my best to give back. I post writing tips on my page, support fellow writers whenever I can, and try to be the kind of help I once needed and couldn’t find. 

So to any aspiring poet: write for you first. Let it be messy. Let it be raw. Let it be vulnerable. Don't be afraid to grow at your own pace. You're allowed to take up space with your voice, and your story is more than worth sharing. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or mood - just write.

Your voice matters, even if it shakes. Especially if it shakes. Poetry isn’t about impressing people; it's about expressing something real. And trust me, that's more than enough. 

Alisha Blanch is not only a poet but an embodiment of what it means to be brave. As you get to the last word of this article, let her story be an inspiration to never stop writing, to be bold, to never be afraid of being true in your words no matter how messy it is.