Writer, Journalist and Educator Della Cassia
This week’s Writer Wednesday features writer and journalist Della Cassia of Bloomfield Hills!
Della immigrated to Michigan from Lebanon at age 16 to pursue her American Dream. After working for various media outlets and covering local and national stories, she transitioned to the nonprofit sector, where she spent more than a decade as director of communications and public relations for The Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD) and Detroit Public Television (PBS).
Della is currently an adjunct professor and freelance writer whose work has appeared in various publications, including Literary Mama, Her View From Home and Technology Century magazine. She is also working on a memoir about being raised in a war-torn country and coming of age in America.
We’re honored to have her among our Detroit Writing Room members. Read more about her below!
What was the moment or experience that inspired you to start writing, and how did that initial spark evolve into your current writing career?
I started writing poems in French and Arabic when I was about 10 years old, hiding in a bomb shelter during the Lebanese Civil War. We didn’t have power, so I would write by candlelight. Although my poems were rudimentary at best, they gave me a sense of peace and freedom to express myself at a time when freedom was a luxury. That feeling sparked my love of writing, and despite all my career twists and turns, I always found my way back to writing.
Have there been any mentors or influential figures in your writing journey? How have they shaped your approach to storytelling?
My mentors are the authors whose books have inspired my writing journey. I read as a writer — not as a reader. I always have a pencil, highlighter and sticky notes handy when I am reading, especially those books that inspire me or those whose structures or story arcs I like to emulate. For instance, some of my favorite works are “Something to Declare” by Julia Alvarez, “The Distance Between Us” and “A Dream Called Home” by Reyna Grande, among others. I feel those authors are speaking to me indirectly and inspiring how I tell my stories.
What does your daily writing routine look like? Are there any specific rituals or practices that help you get into the creative flow?
Writing is not my full-time job at the moment. So, I have to make room for it at all costs. My day starts at 4:30 a.m., and although I am an essayist and memoirist, I have to read a few poems to get my creative flow going. Some of my favorites are “The Journey” by Mary Oliver, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost and “Fear” by Gibran Khalil Gibran. I try to get at least two hours of writing before I start work, and then I write whenever I can during the day and on the weekends.
Are there any strategies or activities you find particularly effective when trying to overcome writer’s block?
I keep a writing journal where I unload my fears and frustrations. I also take a break and give myself some grace by doing different things, like taking a walk or going to the gym. Another thing I found helpful is to blog. My blog, “The Inspired Immigrant,” is like a reset button. It’s where I can freely express myself and publish my work immediately.
What do you hope readers take away from your stories? Are there particular emotions or thoughts you try to evoke?
First, I hope readers read my stories. Ha! All kidding aside, I write from a multicultural perspective and about places and experiences many readers may not be familiar with. My purpose for writing is to bridge a cultural divide, facilitate understanding of other cultures and traditions, and give readers a glimpse into a part of the world that may seem distant or scary to some.
What’s next?
I am working on my memoir about physical and emotional survival growing up an illegitimate child during the Lebanese Civil War and then immigrating to the U.S. at age 16 to live with my estranged father.
Follow Della on Instagram at @dellacassi_writer and check out her Substack.
Interview by DWR intern Jecholiah Marriott