Silvia Sotomayor writes and teaches from the same place: the conviction that words only truly make sense when they are shared. A Spanish Language and Literature teacher at Mirasur School and coordinator of the school’s Debate Club, she has recently been one of the award-winning authors in the International Free-Theme Poetry Competition organised by Ediciones Caleidoscopio, thanks to her poem “Goodbye, Summer”, selected from nearly 1,500 entries from different countries. This recognition has led her to be included in the book Mapa de lo indomable, a collective work bringing together texts by 142 authors.

The author of two published poetry collections, Sentir en verso and Placeres y pecados, Silvia combines her teaching work with literary creation and cultural outreach. “I’ve always written and collaborated with online media; I studied Journalism, then Humanities, and finally became a teacher,” she summarises, describing a life journey in which writing has always been a guiding thread. We spoke with her about poetic creation, the importance of writing from emotion, and the value of encouraging young people to share what they write, now that the Certamen Joven de Relato Breve de Pinto has opened a new call for entries.

 

How did you react when you heard that your poem had been awarded in an international competition?

With great surprise. When I take part in competitions like this, I never do so with the idea of winning, but rather as a personal fulfilment: I feel that I have something to contribute and I want to share it.

I experienced this particular one with great excitement and emotion, because you inevitably think of the people you would like to share it with who are no longer here, like my parents. There is nostalgia, but also a lot of joy: for friends, for family… and because it gives you strength to write and to keep creating.

What does it feel like to see your poem published and to share pages with authors from so many different countries?

Vertigo. A lot of vertigo. But alongside that feeling comes enormous satisfaction: seeing that the poem has quality, that it has been recognised internationally, and that the emotional weight and intensity involved in creating poetry have been appreciated. Writing poetry is a way of contributing beauty to the world.

Do you remember the first time you saw one of your texts published? How did it make you feel?

t was in 2016. It’s a huge source of pride. It gives you the feeling of “I’m doing something right,” and at the same time it encourages you to improve, to try other genres. That little spark never goes away.

I’ve since published short stories on different platforms and I collaborate with organisations that fight against all kinds of violence, writing about bullying, gender-based violence or gender identity, such as Jupsin’. There are topics that need to be addressed.. There are topics that need to be addressed.

What drives you to write poetry? What do you find in it that you don’t find in other genres?

My grandfather was a poet, and poetry was always present in my life: sayings, popular songs… but I began writing poetry as part of my grieving process after my mother passed away in 2016, when I was pregnant with my daughter Martina. I wrote as a release; it was the only way to channel that pain and anxiety. That’s how Sentir en verso, my first poetry collection, was born. For me, poetry is exactly that: creating something beautiful even out of the most painful experiences.

Do you think you need to “have something special” to write, or can everyone learn to do it?

I believe everyone can write. The key lies in intention, in wanting to do it and to share it. Writing, whatever it is, is always a good thing. There are very simple exercises; even just writing down what we feel is already a beginning.

Literature is emotion, and we all carry emotion within us. Talent helps, of course, but with motivation and learning you can go very far. In class we work on creativity with our students and give them guidelines to help them express what they feel. They are adolescents grappling with their inner world, and writing helps them release fears, project hope and feel seen.

For someone who writes privately and hesitates to take the next step, what would you say to them?

Go for it. You have to take the leap. It’s not just about winning a competition, but about the fact that what we write can help other people. The satisfaction of sharing is already enormous, whatever the genre.

As a Language and Literature teacher, why do you think it’s important for students to write, beyond grades?

In such a highly digitalised era, writing is essential. Not only as an academic skill, but because it connects us to reality. It doesn’t matter the subject: Language, Mathematics or Biology. Writing is the link to what we live. We are very used to writing mechanically, but writing from emotion means truly connecting with what we want to say.

Last year you encouraged several students to take part in the Certamen Joven de Relato Breve de Pinto, and they ended up winning it. How did you experience that moment as a teacher?

With immense pride. There is enormous talent in this school and a great deal of curiosity, not ambition, but a genuine desire to learn and create. Students like Nahia González, Paula San Jorge, Alba García, Ana Isabel or Irene Pina have extraordinary sensitivity and incredible motivation. I’m very persistent and I always encourage them. The creative process, the way they come to ask questions, the trust they place in you… it’s beautiful.

They also felt very supported by their classmates, by the Language Department and by the school as a whole. That shared commitment is fundamental.

What do you think a student gains when they dare to share what they write?

They gain self-esteem, initiative and self-confidence, which are crucial during adolescence. It’s hard for them to stand out or put themselves forward, but the school environment helps a lot. Here, participation in competitions, the debate club and similar initiatives is encouraged naturally, and students are encouraged to feel proud. Sharing what they write is an honour, not just for the school, but for everyone.

A new edition of the Certamen Joven de Relato Breve de Pinto has just been announced. What would you say to students who still feel intimidated about entering a competition like this?

Don’t even think twice. Write and get to work on those wonderful stories you create. We are here to help and support you. The Language Department is a very committed team: all of us — Gustavo, Olivia, Maite, Erika and Ximena — are passionate about our subject. We live it and enjoy it, and we try to pass that on to our boys and girls in the classroom… and of course, we feel incredibly proud and beam with pride when we see our students collecting awards!

To finish, complete the sentence: writing is…

What I need to live. It is a vital necessity.

For a time, I wanted to be a war correspondent, and that brought me face to face with the reality of the world. Today, literature allows me to channel what that reality means to me and to share it with others. In other words, journalism and the humanities gave me rigour and curiosity about the world; poetry gives me the freedom to interpret what I feel. They are two ways of telling the truth: one from the outside and the other from the heart.