Featured Interview With Michael Nyers
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m a blackout poet, mixed media artist, author, ENFJ, mental health advocate, doer, dreamer, and all around funny guy, from Youngstown, Ohio. My passion is blackout poetry — a mixture of poetry and art made by taking printed text and blacking out words to create a poem or statement — which I see as a look into the subconscious mind that can promote mindfulness and creativity, benefiting overall well-being and mental health.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I first got into blackout poetry around seven years ago when I was working as an art director/graphic designer/web designer.
I can’t narrow it down to a particular moment, it just seemed that one day my stress and anxiety had started to rise. Overloaded at work, marital issues began to surface and other personal matters were starting to take their toll. Pretty soon, I was in the middle of a divorce, and lost my dream house.
I soon fell into a deep depression, my anxiety was unmanageable, and my OCD tendencies had spiraled out of control.
I couldn’t focus and concentrate at work and, as a result, was eventually let go. I was absolutely devastated.
Diagnosed with Major Clinical Depression, severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and severe OCD, I truly felt that I had hit rock bottom.
I literally couldn’t function. I was at the lowest point in my life.
That’s when I discovered blackout poetry one day while browsing on the Internet.
I found it so fascinating that I immediately ran out and bought a book and a Sharpie marker. I thought I would give it a try and hope that it would hold my attention for at least a couple of weeks.
I attempted a few poems and then posted them on my personal Instagram account with the hashtag “#blackoutpoetry.”
All of a sudden, I started getting some likes and comments on them. As it turns out, there is an entire community out there revolving around blackout poetry. Not only was this community kind and encouraging, but they also gave me the courage to start a separate account for my work.
Over time I got more involved in the art form and within the blackout poetry community.
The support I received was truly amazing. People from all over the world were supporting me and becoming my good friends. It was incredible. Blackout poetry changed my life. It gave me a sense of belonging and purpose. Honestly, it saved my life.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I am inspired by many well known authors such as Bukowski, Edgar Allen Poe, E.E. Cummings and others. However, since my form of writing is a combination of poetry AND art, I have also been inspired by artists such as Gustav Klimt, Cy Twombly, Franz Kline and Robert Rauschenberg just to name a few. Abstract Expressionism and Neo-Dadaism are definitely two of my favorite art movements.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
I recently published a book of blackout poetry through Dawn Valley Press, a small publisher based in Beaver, Pa.
The book, “Finding Light in the Darkness: a collection of blackout poetry,” is a collection of blackout poetry and other ramblings through a journey of depression, love, loss, life and starting over. It features dozens of colorful works, which I created as a way to deal with anxiety, depression, and Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Through the encouragement and support of so many people, I was able to find the strength to reinvent myself. Now I am helping people struggling with similar issues through my work. I also regularly hold workshops and a portion of the proceeds from my book are going towards various mental health organizations.
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