Sitting at a desk to write can be one of the most daunting experiences. It’s just you, the page, and the weight of your own thoughts! Writing demands focus and control, and often leaves you sitting there alone, staring at your words, or worse, at the blank page. No matter how rewarding the act of writing can be, every writer, at some point, needs the company of other writers. Not just for good-old validation, but because only another writer can dissect your work in all honesty. Knowing what works and what doesn’t is critical to a writer’s growth.
We have had all kinds of gatherings in the history of our literary civilization. We had Greek symposiums, we had Mushaira, court poetry, romantic salons, and many more. Delhi Poetry Slam also, in a way, falls under this tradition. It was founded with the goal to bring poets together. The Writer’s Launchpad was engineered with the same vision in mind: to provide a platform where emerging voices could grow in skill and confidence, while building a sense of camaraderie through art.
We selected 21 poets from across India for this edition. Some were familiar faces, others were new yet carried with them voices that were fresh and exciting. We were happy to bring poets with versatile styles on board because “Unity in Diversity” rocks! A sentiment even shared by our school textbooks.
The Launchpad series took place in the last week of June, right at the height of summer. As the heat pressed in outside, our poets logged into their first online session, greeted by the warm presence of mentor Karuna Ezara Parikh—an eminent poet and author of The Heart Asks Pleasure First.
Karuna, like the poets she was about to guide, was eager to begin. She opened the workshop by talking about the importance of writing honest poetry — work that doesn’t just dress up in clever words, but truly respects the reader’s time. Her voice carried the reassurance of someone who had lived these words, someone who knew the weight of writing truthfully.
From there, she moved into the practicalities of the publishing industry. She spoke candidly about the poetry market, noting how often poetry gets pushed aside in favour of louder, more commercial genres like raunchy fiction. But she was quick to point out that this wasn’t the end of the road for poets. Thank god. There are still many open doors, she assured them, and many ways to make a poem stand out in the crowded world of literature.
One point that struck many of us was her perspective on social media. While Instagram poetry has made a comeback, Karuna reminded the group that it’s not the only path to publication. “Some of the best volumes of poetry that have come out in the last few years, I found, are written by people who have no social media presence,” she said. But she also added, “It is not a bad idea to put your poetry online.” Look, her point was simple: while poets don’t need to chase trends, they should also remember that poetry is meant to be read and felt. And that means finding an audience.
The second day of the series shifted the conversation into even more practical territory, led by Sristy and Saumya, the founders of Delhi Poetry Slam. Picking up from Karuna’s session, they discussed the ins and outs of getting published, offering the kind of advice that comes from direct experience. They also spoke about the role of online spaces for poets, not just as performance stages but as archives of their work.
“Traditional publishers are great,” Sristy said at one point, “but what if they do not give you the hand? What will you do then?” Her question lingered in the virtual air. She encouraged the poets to take ownership of their visibility, to be proactive in seeking recognition. “A lot of writers are already doing this,” she added, emphasising a carpe diem mindset.
Sristy also introduced the poets to platforms like Medium and Substack, explaining how writers can earn an income by sharing their work there. But she was also aware about the other side of online landscape, warning against spreading oneself too thin across every available platform. Because in the current state of internet, many mainstream platforms like Instagram, YouTube, etc are overflowing with content, making it difficult for new poets to mark their space. In which case, spaces like Medium and Substack, that are especially created for writers, become better territories.
The poets, by now more comfortable, began sharing their own thoughts and experiences. One participant opened up about her hesitation to post her work online for fear of trolls and harsh criticism. Sristy acknowledged the reality of such challenges, especially for those using video platforms or revealing personal identity, but reminded them that part of a creator’s growth is developing a thick skin.
Still, the core concern of the series was poetry itself. Saumya brought the focus back to this, reminding everyone: “One of the most important things as a poet, as a writer, is to have a body of work. The writing process itself reveals many things to you.” She spoke about the quiet discipline of consistency and the importance of exploring themes. The session also pointed out that readers often seek books that mirror their own emotions and experiences, and that a clear thematic thread helps them find the work that resonates.
The highlight of The Writer’s Launchpad was when Karuna invited our attending poets to read out their own works. Sitting in front of her laptop, patient and smiling, she gave each poet the kind of attention that fuelled them more than any advice.
The poems were as varied as their writers. Amala read about the clouds she watches from her balcony each day. Kadambari spoke of the fragility of life. Divisha shared one of her earliest poems, the very piece that convinced her to keep writing. Upamanyu’s work was deeply cathartic. Anvesha reminded us that the personal is political. Parnika’s poem was filled with emotional intensity. Sonali wrote of her grandfather, carrying his memory in her lines. And Ankita Sharma closed with a poem that bloomed with floral imagery.
Because representation has always been at the heart of Delhi Poetry Slam, we collected these works in an anthology hear me first, which also features poems by Karuna. The anthology is more than a book; it is a tangible testimony to these poets who shared their voices and vulnerability.
The experience of The Writer’s Launchpad was, in every sense, a shared journey. It offered not just skills and industry knowledge, but the rare and necessary feeling of community. For the poets, seeing their work out in the world, bound in pages, ready to be read was a surreal and affirming experience. For us, as organisers, it was a reminder of why we do this work in the first place: because poetry, at its best, brings people together.
INTERVIEWS
We interviewed the poets to find out their inspiration to write and how they see the world.
Yashas Acharya, Ankita Gupta, Shiva Sharma, Anvesha Dixit, Bhaavya Bangotra, Divisha Sharma, Sonali Bawa, M. Amala Durga, Upamanyu Sengupta, Amrutha Manoj, Muskan Kaur, Divyansh Jai Purohit, Parnika Sharma, Krithika Sudarsanam, Kadambari Gupta, Hasini Narayanaswamy, Mehar Arora, Jijnyasa Jyotirjayasha Routray, Anwesha Aggarwal, Mehar Nanda, Dr. Neha Singh
THE BOOK
The anthology 'Hear Me First' is now available on Delhi Poetry Slam. Get your copy!