On May 6th, 2026, we spoke with 2026 - 2027 cohort finalist Bella Dowd to talk about poetry as representation, storytelling, and a means of connection among young artists. Bella attends Delta High School.
Why did you start writing?
I started writing poetry more in seventh grade because I was up dealing with middle school and mental health. It was easy for me to express how I felt in a story. When I write poetry, the poems are usually about memories or turn into stories.
Are you inspired by any specific stories at the moment?
My friend Connor Stillian is a songwriter who is super into music and writing. I think it's beautiful to hear poetry turned into music and hearing their songs has been very impactful for me. It was a great experience to be able to meet someone like that and share personal pieces of writing–like poetry or song–these things that are deeply representative and artistic.
Do you try to surround yourself with other artists?
Yes. My grandpa is also very into poetry, and since I was little he's given me poems he's written. He's always shared his work with me and been supportive.
How do you see yourself growing within the YPL program?
I’m working to learn more about the craft. I haven’t ever taken a poetry class, but I have a writing tutor who I meet with once a week, Sonja Solter. She’s a mentor as part of a writing organization for young students called Young Inklings. It's geared toward creative writing and they have meetings and interviews with authors. For a long time we worked on creative stories and she helped me build structure, like sticking to a project and working on it every week. We would sometimes take a break from the bigger projects to focus on poetry. She helps me when I apply to writing contests, too. But I’m always looking to learn more.
What does poetry mean to you?
I see writing as a hobby and passion that I’m invested in. I very much enjoy writing creative stories. It used to be something I was really into, the idea of publishing a book. It feels vulnerable to have people read and know my creative stories. I haven't shared them with anybody except Sonja. But it's a huge struggle to share poetry especially because it comes from such a vulnerable place.