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

Hi Rachel, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“The words ‘I am…’ are potent words; be careful what you hitch them to. The thing you’re claiming has a way of reaching back and claiming you.”

– A.L. Kitselman

This quote reminds me of the importance of words— and especially how you use them on yourself. How you speak to yourself influences your entire outlook on life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

My time is split between many different forms of art. I cycle between poetry, writing, graphic design, photography, backstage theatre work, and planning artist retreats. I’ve published seven of my own books since 2019, helped over 50 poet clients publish their books since 2021, worked backstage on my first Broadway tour earlier this year, and I’ve hosted two international artist retreats to Italy and France in 2022 and 2023. My days are rarely the same from start to finish and I love the spontaneity of this work. An artist’s lifestyle has no map to guide where to go next, so I take each challenge one step at a time and rely on the advice from my creative friends and the encouragement of my family to navigate through the harder days. The fulfillment that comes from working with fellow artists and the freedom that freelancing allows make those difficult days worth it.

A part of me always knew I’d become a poet and artist full-time. It was all I wanted while growing up. Many years of trying and failing have led me to this— and I still feel like I’m just getting started. I’m beyond grateful that my voice has reached all over the world this early in my life. I now take this responsibility incredibly seriously— I am dedicated to my readers, as I have felt their dedication to me. This bond only grows the more I create and the more they read. I know I am not able to save eight billion people from feeling alone, I will never be able to change the entire world. But that’s not the point— if I can reach one person. If a word, or a poem, or an entire book reaches one person and changes their own little world— somehow— for the better. If I can make one person feel understood, seen, like they aren’t alone in this— then everything, all of this is worth it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Food & Drink – Adopo, Frothy Monkey, Nama, Fable Hollow, and Five Thirty Lounge

Exploring Cade’s Cove, Knoxville Zoo, and Seven Islands Birding Park

Shopping at Union Ave Books, Addison’s Bookstore, and Saturday Farmer’s Markets Downtown

Catching a show at The Tennessee Theatre or The Clarence Brown Theatre

If wintertime— skating at the Ice Chalet on Kingston Pike

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
‘Letters to a Young Poet’ by Rainer Maria Rilke highly influenced my creative process as a poet and artist.

Arthur Smith, my late poetry professor at UTK. I wouldn’t be an author today if it weren’t for his teachings and influence.

Website: https://rcliftpoetry.com/

Instagram: r.cliftpoetry

Other: You can find my books by searching “r clift poetry” on barnes & nobles, amazon, or google

Image Credits
Magnolia & Ember (Feature horizontal photo with me writing in journal)

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