Some books are written over months. Others are written in moments of intensity that shape an entire chapter of life. ADDICTED by Agata Duma was born during one of those defining periods; a time of daily writing, emotional exploration, and creative discovery that resulted in hundreds of poems, each capturing a different thought, feeling, or turning point.
Written between 2010 and 2012, the collection reflects a deeply personal journey through love, longing, illusion, growth, and resilience. Now brought together in its Complete Edition, ADDICTED is not just a gathering of poems, but a portrait of a young writer finding her voice; and inviting readers to recognize parts of themselves within her words.
In this interview, Agata reflects on the origins of the collection, the emotional stages behind its three-part structure, and what this deeply personal project continues to mean to her today.
Q: ADDICTED brings together poems written over several years. How did revisiting and compiling work from different stages of your life shape the final collection?
I wrote the texts for Addicted between 2010 and 2012. It was a period of very intense creative work. During that time, I wrote 400 texts. They were poems and verses. I wrote a new text every day. It was always about putting a new thought or a different emotion down on paper. I felt so inspired that I wanted to write every day. From the beginning, I didn’t assume how long this phase would last. I was looking for perfect texts, ones that are as relevant today as they were then. One of the poems that is important to me is Irreversible, which talks about breaking boundaries and choosing a path in life. For me, it is, in a sense, a beginning. And that’s why I wanted my story to start with it.
Q: The book explores themes like love, loneliness, longing, and lost illusions. Was there a central emotion or experience that tied these poems together for you?
I wanted the lyrics in Addicted to contain part of my story, my feelings, thoughts, and emotions. I wanted them to express what I feel to some extent or talk about things that are important to me, even if I haven’t experienced those moments myself. I felt that with every poem I wrote, I was maturing. And above all, I wanted to write lyrics that would sound so real. I hope that everyone who reads my lyrics will feel that all these emotions are genuine.
Addicted is such a big part of my life.
Q: The collection is divided into three parts. What does this structure represent emotionally or creatively within the journey of the book?
When I started writing texts for Addicted, I wasn’t thinking about publishing a book yet. That came with time. It all started when the first publisher I sent fragments of my poems to offered me a collaboration. But then there were restrictions on the number of poems in the book. It was very difficult to choose 40 poems out of 400. And then the idea came up to publish three parts of Addicted, because that was the only way to publish more texts.
Q: Many readers describe your poetry as deeply relatable. Do you write with the reader in mind, or is poetry more of a personal dialogue for you?
I write lyrics that talk about things that are important to me, but I hope that everyone who reads my book will find something for themselves. Some of the poems are records of memories, and some sound like quiet confessions. There are several such texts in Addicted that touched something in my heart while I was writing them. I can admit that I believe that writing such texts really makes sense. I remember writing the poem Invincible, which is about how when you’re young, you believe everything you’re told, but only because you want to believe it all. The second poem is In Your Eyes, which reminds you that when you don’t know what’s in someone’s soul, look into their eyes. Because everything is in the eyes… And, of course, the poem Addicted, which emphasizes that you can’t stop, you have to keep going, even if all your plans and dreams are heading in the opposite direction.
Q: Time, faith, and hope appear in different forms throughout ADDICTED. How important was the passage of time in shaping both the poems and their meaning?
My book Addicted is about a certain stage in life. You can experience it very intensely. You can share every moment, make mistakes, and suffer setbacks. But eventually, the time comes when you have to close that chapter. Because all the experiences we’ve had should make us wiser. But that doesn’t mean we should stop remembering what we’ve been through. We should remember what made us stronger. That’s what I wanted to show in this book. Although Addicted has been published and is available for purchase, I am still working on it. Now is the perfect moment I’ve been waiting for to continue promoting the texts from Addicted. Especially since some poems, such as Irreversible, have been published individually in ebook form. In fact, I am already thinking about another poem from Addicted, which will also be published individually.
Q: The Complete Edition brings together 65 poems and an additional piece, “This One More Time.” What does this final version represent for you as a poet?
When it turned out that my book would be available on Amazon, I thought it would be a good idea to publish another edition of Addicted. One that would include all the texts from the first, second, and third parts. Of course, I realized that such an edition could not contain more than a hundred poems. I had to choose 65 poems. That is why Addicted only includes the texts that best define this stage, the ones I like the most, the ones that are special to me or talk about important things. “This One More Time” is a bonus text. I wanted it to be included in this edition. I am currently working on an audiobook with selected texts. It’s a completely different experience. It’s something else entirely. I have already recorded part of the material, although for me it is another stage on this journey.
Q: What do you hope readers feel or reflect on after finishing ADDICTED — especially those who may see parts of themselves in your words?
I would like everyone who reads my texts from Addicted to be able to identify with them. Because they have experienced it in the past, are experiencing it now, or will experience it in the future. I would like my book to be a kind of guide for readers. I want everyone to remember that no one is alone, that you can connect with others who are suffering in the same way. The most important thing is to have the courage to experience your emotions. Now I can see more clearly that no matter how much time has passed, the texts from Addicted are just as relevant today as they were then.
You can buy ADDICTED by Agata Duma on Amazon using the following link:
