my journey

from private google docs to published poetry

Hi! Thanks for checking out my page. If you got this far you're probably wondering what my whole deal is…. Here’s your answer! 

My name is McKenna Graf and I am a poet, filmmaker, and aspiring arts administrator.

I self published my first poetry book at 19, my second at 20, my third at 21, and my fourth at 22. They are each part of a bigger collection that I like to call An Archive of Adolescence that documents my growth as a person and poet during my college years. 

I will graduate from Lafayette College in May 2026 having accomplished something I thought was only a dream. I still remember the first story I ever wrote in fifth grade realizing this was only the beginning. Since then I've written countless stories, poems, scripts. And I've collaborated with a lot of friends from similar and different disciplines along the way. Through that I became very passionate about making opportunities for student/rising artists. That is where my interest in arts administration grew. 

I love reading fantasy novels and stories where people find love against all odds. I can name my Letterboxd top 4 at a moments notice. And I value my family above all.

And why should you follow along on my journey? My main passion with art is thinking about archives, growth, and experiences. I want to archive my experiences and growth through the art that I make. I want to investigate what makes certain experiences worthy of that archiving. And most of all, as someone who defaults to perfectionism I want to highlight for others the way that art has become a way for me let go and grow with the process. I wrote my first poem while having a bit of an anxiety attack about a school assignment. Since then I have used poetry to process emotions I didn't understand and that is why I value it so much. It is a space for people to connect before they are ready to go out and find a community. Since I've become involved with poetry and film I have found myself and so many wonderful communities that have taught me even more about myself. 

We are all growing and making memories and I like the idea that through my writing and film I can preserve those memories and make something we can always look back on. So if you like that then you should stay! And if you don't, then why did you read for this long? Take a chance, why not?