Jennae Cecilia's 'slow burn' with writing is paying off
You may not know her name yet, but there’s a good chance you’ve seen her viral poem, “I Met My Younger Self for Coffee,” floating around social media earlier this year.
But for Cecilia, it was just another poem — one of many she’s posted online since 2015.
This one, however, quickly took off. People began putting their own spin on it — including well-known names like Jenna Bush Hager, Snooki, Barbara Corcoran, Sadie Robertson Huff and Molly Sims — along with thousands of others.
Despite its reach, Cecilia’s story is far from that of an overnight success.
“I’m not someone who had over 100,000 followers in a year,” she said.
She’s been writing her whole life but became especially interested in poetry in high school. It was during her early college years that she started writing more seriously.
“I’ve always had a really big passion for the arts in general,” she said. “I was really into painting and drawing — that’s just always where my brain goes.”
Once in college, she began to see poetry as something she could actively pursue.
In late 2015, she started posting her work on Instagram — before Stories even existed.
“I was working on a book and I knew I was going to self-publish it, so I knew I had to get out there and get my name out somehow,” she said. “I think I didn’t dwell on it too much — and because I didn’t overthink it, that was helpful.”
Since then, she’s fostered a strong community, especially on Instagram. But it’s never been about strategy or content calendars — it’s always been about organic connection.
“I like to connect with people. I like to know who’s interacting with my stuff, who’s buying my books. I want to be able to thank them and reach out to them.”
Much of that connection has come through DMs and comments, but over the past year, Cecilia launched a pen pal swap — an initiative that invites her followers to exchange snail mail, returning to a simpler, more personal form of connection. So far, it’s been a joyful experience.
Some have sent her long letters; others, personalized gifts — like custom pencils featuring her poetry.
So, what was it like to go viral?
“That was wild,” she said. “The only downside is my name kind of got lost in it.”
Still, that’s starting to change. With recent media attention and interviews with outlets like CNN and TODAY.com, more people are realizing the poem’s original author.
“Even now, I have people coming to me like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know you wrote it.’”
The viral moment has helped her audience grow — much like when her previous books were released or when Jennifer Garner shared one of her poems.
Has the growing notoriety changed the way she writes?
Not really. And she sees that as a good thing.
“I feel like I’ve just been doing the same thing I was doing before — I don’t think it made me feel like I had to write a certain way.”
That consistency and authenticity has paid off. Last year, an agent reached out to her — by then, she had self-published 13 books.
“I knew at some point in my career I’d probably make the pivot. There were options and chances along the way, but none of them ever really felt right.”
Signing with an agency doesn’t guarantee a publishing deal — they don’t make money unless the author does. Still, when she signed with her agency, it came at a pivotal time.
“I’d been toying around with the idea of, ‘What are my next goals?’”
One of those goals was more exposure. Until now, most of her reach has been online, with the occasional independent bookstore carrying her titles.
“But not every Barnes & Noble carries my book,” she said.
In June 2024, she signed with Andrews McMeel Publishing. After pitching to various publishers, she submitted her first manuscript in August.
Another goal? Making the bestseller list.
The process is very different from self-publishing — it’s no longer a one-woman show. She now has an editor and a marketing team.
“I think it helped me a lot because I learned so much of the business side of being an author on my own,” she said. “That’s a huge aspect of it, right? I think a lot of authors don’t realize that — you have to understand it in order to be successful.”
Having built that foundation herself, she knew what she wanted — and needed — when the opportunity came.
Her advice for other writers hoping to become full-time authors?
“You have to play the long game,” she said. “It won’t be instant gratification on social media. It’s not going to be an overnight success.”
She added, “I feel like most people’s overnight success is really a lot of years of trying — the behind-the-scenes stuff.”
Cecilia continues to show up every day for her audience — whether she’s swapping letters with pen pals or inviting followers to send her a single word to inspire a custom poem.
She’s in this for the long haul — not just a fleeting moment of fame.
If she could give her younger self advice, she’d tell her to slow down — not to rush into a perfect career too soon.
In addition to her books, a large part of her work now includes writing custom poetry for individuals — which she considers a dream job.
Her upcoming book, Deep in My Feels, will be released in August. It’s available for pre-order from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Bookshop and other major retailers. If your local bookstore doesn’t carry it, you can always request it.
To learn more about Jennae Cecilia, her poetry and upcoming releases, visit her website.
—Shelby Parker
(All photos courtesy of Jennae Cecilia)
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