PHOTO: Author J.R. Rice, award-winning novelist, poet, and spoken word artist, whose heartfelt stories reflect resilience, self-discovery, and the beauty of imperfection.
Blending Poetry and Prose to Inspire and Heal
J.R. Rice explores mental health, identity, and personal transformation in his work, drawing from real-life struggles, global travels, and spoken word artistry to inspire readers with deeply authentic storytelling.
J.R. Rice writes with an emotional depth and purpose that leaves a lasting imprint. An award-winning author, poet, educator, and spoken word artist, Rice crafts stories that illuminate the often-unspoken struggles of identity, mental health, and personal growth. His acclaimed novel Broken Pencils has received both the 2024 Literary Titan Gold Book Award and the Pencraft Summer Best Book Award for Young Adult Coming-of-Age Fiction. Continuing his creative journey, Rice’s poetry collection I Was, Am, Will Be further expands on these themes, taking readers through the next chapter of his character Jonah Tarver’s evolution.
From the classroom to international travel, and the stage to the written page, Rice blends lived experience with refined craft. His time abroad, particularly in Paros, Greece, under the mentorship of Bones of the Master author George Crane, sharpened his minimalist writing style and honed his narrative voice. Crane’s guidance encouraged him to eliminate excess and bring clarity and rhythm to every word—a technique Rice now carries into both his poetry and prose.
J.R. Rice is a fearless, lyrical writer whose authentic voice and emotional depth uplift, challenge, and transform his readers.
The influence of spoken word artistry is foundational to Rice’s storytelling. His writing is alive with repetition, metaphor, and a cadence that echoes performance. He uses this energy not only in his novels but to foster community, organizing events like the Bay Area’s SOCIAL SATURDAY series, where artists gather to share their voices and stories.
Personal hardship is central to Rice’s work. Following the loss of his father, a relationship breakup, and a layoff from his teaching job, Rice embarked on a transformative journey through Europe. His travels in Spain, Greece, France, and Amsterdam shaped the path of his latest protagonist, Jonah Tarver, who returns in I Was, Am, Will Be as a 25-year-old American navigating grief, identity, and rebirth. The poetry collection follows Jonah’s odyssey across continents and into the depths of his soul—a direct mirror of Rice’s own healing and growth.
Mental health is a recurring theme in Rice’s writing. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he draws from his personal struggles with depression, panic attacks, and suicidal ideation to craft narratives that are authentic and necessary. Through Broken Pencils, readers meet Jonah, a troubled teen from Oakland who believes life is as pointless as a broken pencil. The novel unfolds on prom night, which also marks the anniversary of his best friend’s death—a pivotal moment that propels Jonah into a search for meaning.
Rice explains that while the book began as a means to spotlight mental health from a Black teenager’s perspective, it evolved into a therapeutic exploration of his own trauma. It became a way to embrace his imperfections and ultimately discover beauty in survival.
Juggling creativity and career is not without challenge. As a full-time English teacher, Rice splits his energy between the classroom and his many creative outlets—writing, performing, hosting events, and mentoring others. Though this balancing act creates tension and self-doubt, he reflects on Thoreau’s words—“My life has been the poem I would have writ. But I could not both live and utter it”—to reconcile his multi-faceted pursuits.
To aspiring writers, Rice offers this advice: Stay authentic. Write from lived experience. Tell the stories that need to be heard—especially those of the unheard. Through vulnerability and honesty, writers can connect across cultures, break down barriers, and preserve the legacies of those who came before them.
J.R. Rice continues to use his voice—both written and spoken—to challenge, uplift, and inspire. His work reminds readers that stories, especially those rooted in pain and perseverance, can heal, unite, and empower.
This article was adapted from an interview with J.R. Rice in the latest issue of Reader’s House.
