There’s something honest about admitting you’re still healing while helping others do the same. That’s exactly what Justin Floyd is doing with his debut poetry collection “Scars Taste Sweet,” a 36-page exploration of heartbreak, loss, and the process of turning pain into something worth reading.
Writing under the pen name FLOYD, the San Francisco-based poet brings his Native American, Black, and queer identities to contemporary literature through verse that doesn’t try to pretty up the hard stuff. “You will find the rawness of emotion in my work,” Floyd says. “I hope my audience can relate to the stories I tell and feel empowered to move forward from their own struggles.”
The book, available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon, tackles what Floyd calls “the anguish of parting, the nostalgia of romance, and the bitter realization that love can heal yet scar.” Each poem reflects a moment where connection and separation existed at the same time, offering what he describes as “broken fragments of my soul stitched together in melancholic poems.”
Floyd’s path to poetry started where it does for many writers, but the foundation was genuine. Growing up singing in church choir built his confidence for performing in front of people, while family parties where everyone showed off their talents kept creativity at the center of his world. His mom, a musician herself, gave him an early education in turning feeling into art. But it was heartbreak and loss that pushed him to write from somewhere deeper.
“The hardest lesson I had to learn is overcoming self doubt,” Floyd admits. “I used to question whether my voice mattered. Once I accepted that my story is valid, it became easier to create confidently.”
His creative process reflects that newfound confidence. Floyd starts at the beach, where he feels most calm and inspired, journaling thoughts and emotions that stand out. From there, he shapes those moments into lyrics or poetry, refining the structure until it feels complete. It’s a methodical approach that keeps the rawness intact while giving it form.
What makes “Scars Taste Sweet” work is Floyd’s refusal to position himself as someone who’s already figured everything out. “I am still healing too,” he says. “I create from a place of growth, and I hope my journey can help others feel seen.” That vulnerability runs through the collection, reminding readers that healing isn’t a destination but something you’re actively doing.
Floyd isn’t slowing down. He’s currently working on merch for “Scars Taste Sweet” and writing his next project, a collection titled “Crush” set for 2026. The title carries multiple possible meanings, from the weight of infatuation to being completely overwhelmed to breaking something into smaller pieces. It’s the kind of layered concept that suggests Floyd’s already thinking about how to expand what he started with this debut.
For readers wondering what they’re getting into, Floyd keeps it simple: “Use your voice and your story is worth telling. Even through pain, there is purpose. I want readers to know that healing is possible, and you can turn your scars into something beautiful.”
It’s a straightforward message that circles back to where this whole thing started. Floyd grew up in spaces where people were encouraged to share their talents, where his voice mattered because someone told him it did. Now he’s doing the same for anyone who picks up “Scars Taste Sweet,” proving that the best way to heal might just be helping someone else believe their story matters too.
For more information, visit Floyd’s website or follow along on Instagram.
