Reality and Escaping It

This post has not been worked on as much or proof-read as thoroughly as usual.

Reality:

I don’t have much time or energy on my hands.

I am facing things in my life and my career that I hadn’t expected to face.

Lately, I have been questioning what things in my life mean to me and weighing up my options for the future.

Right now, there is something keeping me from my work that is far more horrific. My grandfather passed away in a sudden and unfortunate way, leaving my family in a state of shock and grief. I could write about this, about everything he was and everything good about my family members who are hurting, but I won’t.

As I am editing this, I have just returned from the funeral. I am mentally and physically exhausted.

I have still planned a blog post for you. I am determined to keep to a schedule of alternating Wednesdays. I have thought through everything that I could say and found the easiest but most informative piece to write.

This, most likely, will not read well. My aim is to share something about myself as clearly and simply as possible despite the fact that it may look rushed or contain mistakes.

A short follow-up to my last entry:

I have been thinking more about my fears regarding people interpreting my work. While they remain, I have come to view it more positively after conversations with loved ones.

I think that marketing may also have to do with it. All kinds of people will find their ways to your work and your advertisements, but you can decide your primary target audience and push it their way as much as possible.

While reading the book ‘There Are More Things’ by Yara Rodrigues Fowler, I came across a page in which people discuss reading stories and relating them to their situations, despite them being from a culture separate from the author and the setting. This is because humans are humans and they wage war and rule countries and argue with each other all over the world, therefore it isn’t really a misunderstanding, but it reminded me that other interpretations can be positive. If my writing helps someone, I will be happy.

Escaping It:

This isn’t particularly insightful or technical. It is simply a piece in which I discuss my interests and inspiration in very basic terms. It will tell you what I want to do, what I am like, and how my novel could turn out. I think you will enjoy it. But also, for my sake, it will not take me long to write, nor will I struggle with it, and it will bring me fond memories of all the ways I distract myself from the weight of life.

When I name people I will not only name novelists, but screenwriters and songwriters too. Their skill is not always considered by their audiences the way authors are, but as a writer I cannot help focusing on writing wherever I look.

I would love to elaborate on the people I mention, but that is for another entry. I really cannot polish this one.

Something I’ll talk about a lot when it comes to writing is integrity. I believe that authors should not do things they wouldn’t do just because of fan criticism. I believe that they should not make a sequel or a new season when their story is over, or rush another part because it’ll make more money. Suzanne Collins, Reece Shearsmith, and Abi Morgan are perfect examples of this, but the majority of my inspirations are. 

I want my YA novel to reach a wide audience, staying both mature and accessible. I want to be taken seriously when writing for this age group. Taylor Jenkins Reid and Leigh Bardugo are my favourite examples of this.

I admire people who can write unique character voices, giving me a perspective that is entertaining and new. Suzanne Collins, C.A Fletcher, Sayaka Murata, and Camille DeAngelis do this impeccably.

I look up to authors who portray women’s struggles accurately as they are what I know. Abi Morgan and Taylor Jenkins Reid are great at this. For added madness, I adore what Julia May Jonas does. Less realistic, but the roots are there.

I wish I could play with language, metaphors and poetry the way Ocean Vuong and Hozier do.

I want to write stories nobody has read before, even when taking inspiration from other places. I want to do things that both break taboo and put people’s anxieties to rest. People who use shocking subject matter and clever techniques to create this effect include Ethel Cain, Sayaka Murata, Reece Shearsmith, and Steve Pemberton.