Meet Tyler Boivin | Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tyler Boivin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tyler, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Pursuing a creative career has never felt like a choice for me. I was born a creative and there is no escaping that reality. There was a time when I tried other paths and did not focus on writing for long periods of time, but it would always creep back up on me. There would be an urge – or a daring line that popped into my head as I watched a person saunter past me on the sidewalk – and I wouldn’t be able to ignore it’s gravity. I would end up writing, no matter what. I finally decided to quit ignoring my calling; I jumped straight in and let my passion consume me.

My creativity trickles into other areas, as well. I often find myself mixing mediums between writing, painting, and drawing. Music also plays a huge part in my creative process. The words don’t flow the same if I do not have a constant stream of music floating in and out of my ears. Sometimes people are born with a brain that processes numbers effortlessly and it leads them into careers of engineering and mathematics. I was born with a brain that tells me create – whatever it may be, or look like, or sound like – create something and impact others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a writer and my focus is in poetry, engulfing the majority of my work. I do not follow a classic style of poetry, but the greatest perk of writing is that you don’t have to follow any rules! I prefer to let the words fall as they may, but line breaks are calculated. If I read my work and it doesn’t flow, I rewrite it until it does. I strive to capture raw emotion with each stroke of pen and click of a key.

I am most proud of how far I’ve come over the years, and even more than growth, I am happy to be here at all. Life has a strange way of getting you where you need to be, and I’ve gone through the ringer many times, but I am beyond proud to see myself in the position I am in now. Confidence and clarity consume me, which is a level I strived to be at for many years. I have one anthology under my belt and another, much stronger, anthology in the works – not to mention many, many more ahead of me. Putting in the work was a challenge. I had to find time to write through my day job, mom duties, and keeping my sanity. However, I believed in my ability, and will power brought me through it. I wish I could say my achievements came effortlessly, but I spent many nights sitting on cold tile, wrapped up in a blanket, with heavy tears sprinting down my cheeks. Words flew out of my fingertips like bats escaping the light and I couldn’t catch a single breath. Droplets of salt and water lined the sheets of paper I could barely see through blurry eyes. Yet, those sleepless nights produced some of my best work. Creation doesn’t always look like a brave caterpillar cocooning itself in a warm silk home, only to later turn into the most beautiful version of itself. Sometimes creation is laying lifeless on your kitchen floor, begging for the moon to sing you to sleep because that’s the only other way you’ll get your thoughts out of your brain.

I hope my audience sees me as a lifeline, a bright ending to a dull day, or a gasp of air when they felt they were suffocating. I hope to make someone feel understood, to help the lost souls feel found, and to be a band-aid on a broken heart. Mostly, I want the world to see my work as one last chance. If I can impact anyone in a positive way, I have done my job as a writer. No one needs to remember my name, but I hope they remember the feelings my work drowned them in.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
An itinerary for a week spent with me in my area would look like the following:

Coffee shop mornings at Island Roasters in New Smyrna Beach, FL.
Meal trips to The Taco Shack (NSB), Lan Lamoon (South Daytona), and The Grind (Ormond Beach).
Late night drinks are a must, but that’s a more fun experience kicking it at the house surrounded by good company.
I’d sprinkle in trips to MOAS, the outlets, and of course a trip to catch some fresh air at the beach. Bookstores and thrifting would occupy the weekend. The most interesting places to check out are the shops on Beach Street and a walk with a beautiful view over the Granada bridge.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are endless people who deserve credit for what I create. As artists, we draw inspiration from everything around us. However, there are a few individuals who deserve the extra love. My second grade teacher, Nancy Flynn, was the first person to truly push me towards a career in writing. She believed in me with nothing to gain from it. My sister, Jordyn Lee, my brother-in-law, Robert Lee, and my mother, Lori Doran, are all my biggest supporters and pushers. They encourage me daily to continue the creativity and allow myself the time to focus on my craft. Without them, I would never finish a project. Most importantly, a shoutout belongs to my guiding force, God. Prayer saves me on most days and gives me the strength to keep moving.

Instagram: @gnarrrbabe, @thewritingcoop