The telling
When I began building Nick’s character, I knew I wanted something about him to remain hidden - something no one would guess unless he let you in.
He’s a public figure, always performing, always watched. But underneath all that, he needed a quiet, private outlet. A place where his feelings could speak when nothing else could.
So I made him a poet.
Even if he doesn’t see himself that way.
I wanted readers to connect with him not just through dialogue or plot, but through his words. Through poetry. A way to show, not tell, what he’s going through - especially when emotions rise and he needs clarity.
That’s where this moment comes in. My idea is to have standalone poems as chapters from Nick’s perspective, letting the reader really know his thoughts and feelings.
Nick and Lizzie’s connection began instantly, but the deeper intimacy—trust, safety, vulnerability—will be built slowly with time. After their first kiss, something definitely shifts. And, like always, he reaches for the page.
This chapter is just that.
I’d love to hear your thoughts: Would you rather get inside Nick’s head while he writes? Or do you prefer the emotional landing of a standalone poem like this?
For the full experience, read the scenes leading to this from Lizzie’s perspective here: Part 1 and Part 2
The writing
Nick
She is a poem
Beautiful and full of meaning
She is a painting
A contrast of vibrant colours and quiet hues
She is a symphony
Every harmony in resonance,
with the deepest parts of my soul
She is a sculpture
Her soft curves make me feel alive
She is a manuscript
Written with all the secret ways to my heart
She is simply her
And I am utterly undone.
As for your question, I think a mix of both could work really well. Getting inside Nick’s head while he writes could let the reader witness his internal struggle in real-time, adding a sense of urgency to his thoughts. But the emotional punch of a standalone poem has its own power. It would let the reader feel like they’re reading a piece of his soul, a pure reflection of his emotions without the filter of his usual public facade.
I think it depends of the degree of involvement you expect from your readers. A poem is subject to interpretation. And many can interpret it in many different ways.
If you go with his thoughts you can “direct” more the way readers will interpret them.
Some readers will not get - I think - as involved as you’d hope and work on interpreting as much.
But both can be okay, of course - depends on what you want to achieve.