Kelsea Ballerini says she learned a lot about songwriting from writing a book of poetry

Kelsea Ballerini took time away from her musical endeavors last year to write a book of poetry called Feel Your Way Through. She says the process has changed how she writes songs.

“I credit a lot of the openness and the more poetic side of the songwriting to the book,” the singer tells Billboard. “I feel like that opened my mind creatively and helped me work outside of the [standard song] structure.”

When she released it, Kelsea explained that Feel Your Way Through is her autobiographical exploration of her coming-of-age story. The poems explore family dynamics, sexuality, body image concerns and more.

In retrospect, the book did more than just allow her a different way to express herself creatively: it also changed how she thinks about her musical career, too.

“That creative freedom unlocked a part of me I hope to keep pushing in any project that I do,” she continues.

Kelsea’s next album, Subject to Change, is due out September 23.