Author Spotlight: Sanne Bentzen (Ocean S)
Sanne Bentzen (formerly Ocean S) is a writer and author from Norway. Sanne means lily, a flower often associated with purity and renewal, similar to some of the themes in her writing. She likes to write in poetry and prose. She describes herself as loyal, authentic, kind. She has a tattoo, two sisters, and enjoys time by the water. You can find her works on Instagram, Medium, and Pinterest. She posts weekly writing prompts on Pinterest that are a great resource for writers! Be sure to follow her, @Oceanssolitude.
Bentzen published her debut poetry collection, Never Enough by Ocean S is a deeply moving poetry collection that explores the lasting impact of inherited pain and struggles. Through raw and vulnerable verse, she captures the weight of self-doubt and the quiet suffering that accompanies the search for identity. The poems examine how our inner voice erodes self-worth, capturing the universal struggle with feelings of inadequacy.
This collection uses deeply personal and honest poetry to convey inner struggles, offering readers a window into the complexities of self-worth, trauma, and resilience. Yet, amid the darkness, there is a delicate balance, the poet does not dwell solely on pain but also embarks on a journey toward growth and strength. The verses provide solace, reminding readers that healing is possible, even in the face of generational burdens and personal battles.
Never Enough is an evocative and tender collection that speaks to anyone who has ever felt lost within themselves. It is a must-read for those seeking poetry that not only acknowledges suffering but also lights the way toward self-acceptance and hope.
Read more below to learn about Sanne’s writing journey.
What was the moment you knew you wanted to be a writer? Was there a specific book, experience, or person that inspired you?
The funny thing about writing is that I don't actually read books myself. I think they're too long. I can read one page and then I forget what I've read. But I think I've always wanted to be a writer, because as a child, growing up, there were a lot of things going on in my family, so I felt like writing was my way of processing my own feelings. It was a way of surviving in that environment because people around me were not good at regulating their emotions, therefore I feel like I never learned too. I think I wanted to be a writer, because I like writing. I feel like it's something that has always stood by me, even when everything else around me was not going well.
Do you have any writing rituals or habits that help you get into the creative flow? What does your ideal writing setup look like?
I don't think I have a specific ritual. I think coming from Norway, where everything is like a postcard scenery, going outside and being in nature helps me write. I feel very calm and safe, and I write best when I feel safe. So I don't have a setup, or I'm not doing anything special. I do like going for a walk, walking through the mentioned scenery, or sitting by myself on a bench to write and that helps. And around water, as I've grown up by the sea, the sounds and the smell make me feel very calm – so that helps me.
Your first published book was a major milestone. Looking back, what’s one thing you wish you had known before publishing?
The first thing that comes to mind is that, especially with publishing on Amazon, it's okay if you have typos. I'm very much a perfectionist person and I need everything to be just right. Which I think is reflected in the name of my book, Never Enough, but I think, as a perfectionist.. I should have been nicer to myself when editing and writing the book, putting everything together. I still struggle with the same thing in this book I'm writing right now. But it doesn't really matter because it’s not about the format, it’s about the poems. If you feel people get it when they read your book then it’s not about the typo on page 24 or something. It’s about how your words made them feel.
Great writing leaves a lasting impact on readers. What do you hope readers take away from your stories?
That’s a really good question. I feel like I want my readers to get validation, a sense of being seen or feeling heard from my words. The friends I have who had similar experiences with their family as me, cried when they read it and resonated with what I wrote because it was so similar to what they've been through.
Every writer has their struggles. Have you ever faced self-doubt or imposter syndrome, and if so, how do you push through?
I think it's like a roller coaster when I write, because I can read my book or my craft, and be like,” this is very shitty”. “This is very bad”. Then go back another day and I'm like, “Oh, this is not too bad”. This is actually pretty good. So I think every writer feels that way. I have asked you for advice sometimes on how to like, write better and improve, but I'm trying to not think that what I'm writing right now is not good enough, but instead think that I can be better, like it's still good enough, but I can improve and share my stories in better words, or in better light.
Which of your books challenged you the most to write, and what did you learn from the experience?
All of them, you feel very naked and being a girl who's had to tend to other people's feelings, suddenly taking space felt a bit threatening, like a bit scary, and also, like, if you take the physical side, it's not physical, but the other side, like the publishing and everything, that was more difficult than what I thought it would be, like with inches for example. We don't use inches in Norway. It's like, this page says it's this much. This page's states it's this much and I'm like, I want centimeters!
What’s a fun or surprising fact about the writing process that most people wouldn’t expect?
The realization that you can make your own book! As a child, you know, you make your own book with colored pages and then, write shitty songs and poems in it. We made a lot of books in my Norwegian classes when I was younger. I found that very interesting, and I really liked that. So actually being a grown person and now publishing a real book feels very nice.
If I can add, the fact that my friend illustrated the front page and all the art inside. That felt very special to me and to her, and for me to be able to put her name, like, everywhere I could, in the book and on Amazon and stuff like that. So I feel like she has a book now too.
If you could sit down for coffee with any author, living or past, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Nikita Gill, and I would ask her how she wrote poems and what inspires her, maybe, or why she started. Kind of like the questions you're asking me.
What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received, and how has it shaped your journey?
I think I tend to over explain things, so my sister told me once, when she read through my book, that I don't need so many words to describe what I'm trying to say. Even removing some words might make a lot of sense. So I think that shaped the way I was writing after that. I don't need to over explain. People still get what I'm trying to say. The fact that I'm a very literal person, I feel sometimes that it is difficult to write something that's not real or can't happen in real life, like magical stuff. But I’m trying to use more metaphors.
Can you give us a glimpse into your next project? Any exciting things on the horizon for your readers?
So, I divided it into three parts. The first part is written in the first person. The second part follows a rhyming style, but not in an exaggerated way, just enough to create a natural flow. I've incorporated different cadences into the poems similar to what’s done in rap. However, the writing has a more mature tone, if that makes sense. Then, the third part is more related to the archetype, where I explain the concept behind the Wounded Healer. Although, traditionally a man, I chose to make her a woman in my book because it's my book, and I can do what I want.
For more on Ocean S, follow @oceanssolitute and purchase her book ‘Never Enough’, now available on Amazon.
