Writers on Writers- Lisa Colón Delay
Well. It is the time for the last installment of this series Writers on Writers for the year. Never fear though, I have some lined up already and in the queue for next year. I am unapologetically inspired by the conversations that people have had with a series entitled “Actors on Actors” As I began to reach out to different writers that I value, I was nervous if anyone would say yes. Thank you to each and every one who has given your time, words, and energy to making this series happen! My last installment with
is still rich in my mind. Phew.Now, I hope ya’ll enjoy this post with
For a bit of background, I connected with Lisa years ago on the Twitter streets. I credit her for getting me started on much of the road that I am on now. She was the first person to really see me for who I am online. I had a few followers and she beckoned people to follow me, opened up her podcast to interview little old me, etc. I am not even the same person I was when I first interacted with her, but am so grateful that she has showed such generosity in holding the door open for me. We have connected over contemplative prayer practices, speaking openly about racism, and funny memes.What made you first take up the pen? Is there a certain memory you can go back to?
Probably my first memory of writing where I had a satisfying feeling is my memory of when I when 7 years old. I remember writing short freestyle poems and haikus. I mainly wanted to express myself in similar ways to the Psalms and also write about how I felt in nature. Free and unbound. I was always creating as a child. Making up games, maps, puzzles, stories, imaginary scenarios to playact, and I did a lot of drawing. I went into visual art more in high school and Communication Design in college, which let me have my creativity in graphic design on the computer. I enjoyed writing for English class assignments but writing went into the background until I started a regular email newsletter and a blog in the earliest days of blogging (on Xanga for all you OGs. If you know, you know). It grew in passion from posting about three times a week for years.
What is different about writing now, today, in these years?
For me now, my creativity goes into writing mainly for the purpose of creating my weekly podcast, Spark My Muse and for larger writing projects. Currently, I’m writing my second traditionally published book on Desert Spirituality and the spiritual mothers and fathers of Desert Era (300s-600s roughly). It’s a time when the Roman Empire was beginning to co-opt with the institution of Church as Christianity continued to spread despite many years of severe persecution and martyrdom. It was the dawn of Christendom which was about power, status, prestige, and conquest, and not about what the original followers of Jesus were involved with. These hermits and proto-monastics fled this poisonous Christian Nationalism for the abandoned deserts to find stillness, solitude, and lead simple devoted lives. I want to write about people who have been overlooked. This was true in my first book about spiritual formation called The Wild Land Within where I included the wisdom of historically marginalize people groups. It continues now in this book I’m writing which should be out in Spring 2026. A entire group of people came from Syria, Turkey, Palestine, Africa, Egypt, Italy, Arabia, and other places numbered a half a million in the desert places at one point, and too few have even heard of them. They are celebrated saints with feast days in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, but in the West, and especially in Protestant and Evangelical spaces, their lives and their wisdom remain largely unknown. I want to revive the stories of these amazing women and men so we can learn from them.
Who inspires you? Could be writing wise or in general?
Underdogs who remain hopeful and have big beautiful love inspire me. These are ordinary, not elite and powerful, people who persist through struggle and trials. These are also my own people from the impoverished island of Puerto Rico—of mixed ethnic background—who continue to regularly struggle for basic needs like power, clean water, medical necessities, and resources because of United States colonial power. They want agency for their future that has been denied to them and they have been crushed by disasters and hostility over and over for more than 125 years. They remain some of the most resilient, cheerful, generous, and hospitable people you will find. But they can also become horrendously discouraged too, of course. Their cries for help go unseen and unheard. People who are underestimated or disparaged but continue on with integrity, wisdom, and kindness—these are the people I learn from most and who inspire me most. They haven’t let the cruelties of people and systems make them hard or callous. They are the first in the Kingdom of God though they may be the least in the empires of this world.
What is one image that sums up your writing?
I like this question and I’m having a little trouble knowing how to respond. I’ll pick a stream that refreshes the trees nearby. I hope that I can bring encouragement and incite growth and even healing with what I write. But only my readers and listeners can verify if that is accurate.
Take us into a bit of your writing process? It’s ok if its scattered…how do you begin?
It tends to be that my mind is bubbling with thoughts and ideas. I’m very curious and I research and explore a lot of things and cull that into what I want to learn and share. I am delighted and inspired by the ideas and work of others, and interactions I have with interesting and creative people. That’s what gets the ball rolling for me.
What keeps you writing?
What keeps me writing is also what keeps me creating: My curiosity, my desire to learn, grow, heal, and meaningfully connect with others, the Divine, and myself. It’s something I do whether anyone sees it. It comes out of me because it overflows.
Give us a piece that you wrote that you are proud of.
One such piece I did is best described as a combo: It’s a Substack post, with an audio episode where I shared my thoughts and also read poetry from a book I love to come back to again and again. It has to do with the omnipresent love of God.
You all have a great end of the year :)
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