Website

Alicia Cook

Professional Writer

Alicia Cook is a Professional Writer based in Newark, New Jersey. With over 12 years of experience, Alicia specializes in poetry and uses her platform to advocate for families affected by addiction and to fight to break the stigma against addiction and mental illness. Alicia is a bestselling poet with Andrews McMeel Publishing; her writing includes "Stuff I've Been Feeling Lately", "I Hope My Voice Doesn't Skip", "Sorry I Haven't Texted You Back", and "The Music Was Just Getting Good". Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets including the NY Post, CNN, USA Today, the HuffPost, the LA Times, American Songwriter Magazine, and Bustle. She was named by Teen Vogue as one of the 10 social media poets to know and her poetry mixtape, “Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately” was a finalist in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards.

Education

  • MBA, Saint Peter's University
  • BA, Georgian Court University, English Literature

Professional Achievements

  • Recipient, 2017’s Everyday Hero award from NJTV
  • Recipient, 2018’s Women with Voices award from the Women with Voices Foundation
  • Named a 2019 Healthcare Hero finalist by NJBiz
  • Recognized by American Songwriter Magazine, 4-time honorable mention
  • Awarded 2020 Distinguished Alumni of the Year by her alma mater, Georgian Court University
  • Commencement Speaker, Georgian Court University Commencement, 2021
  • Awarded "40 Under 40”, the Irish Echo, 2023
  • Featured speaker, Oxford University, 2023
  • Recipient, 2024 Becker Award, the New Jersey Council of Teachers of English

Favorite Piece of Advice

There is no cure for grief, so we must co-exist with it.

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Forum Comments (3)

How do I start writing a diary?
My number one tip for this is to write honestly. Don’t sugarcoat your diary…you’d only be lying to yourself that day. Write what you know, and chronicle your life in a way that will help you make sense of it. If a blank page feels intimidating, start small: write one sentence about how you're feeling, something that happened that day, or a song lyric that sums up your mood. Give yourself permission to write freely without worrying about grammar or structure. Your diary is yours! Let it be messy, real, and a place where you can show up exactly as you are.
What are some romantic things to say to your girlfriend?
If this is something your girlfriend has explicitly expressed she wants to hear more of from you, it’s important to understand what emotionally impacts her. What’s her love language? If she responds to words of affirmation, try complimenting her in a way that feels natural to you, maybe through handwritten notes, texts, or in-the-moment observations about why you love her. If she connects more with actions, pairing words with small, thoughtful gestures can go a long way. If saying things out loud feels intimidating, start by writing down what you want to say. Think of the little things you appreciate about her, and practice putting those thoughts into words. The more you do it, the easier it will become. You can always watch some of her favorite movies, which might give you some hints, too.
Need help writing my own wedding vows!
Once you have the overall guidelines (like how long you should speak for), you can start drafting. I would speak from the heart. It doesn’t matter if no one understands every reference, personal joke, or loving thing you are saying, as long as your partner does. Try to differentiate this from any other speeches you’ve given throughout your wedding season (including if you gifted them a written letter). It might help to pull a quote that has always struck you or a lyric from a song that instantly makes you think of your partner. If you're feeling stuck, start by writing down small moments that define your relationship, like the quiet gestures, the inside jokes, and the times they supported you without you having to ask. Those details will help you craft something that feels uniquely yours.

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