You See What I Did There?

By: Tia Love

You probably don’t know me very well (or at all), but that’s okay. I hovered over my notebook for several hours while at work, trying to find the best words to describe myself to you so that we could become more familiar. I could have said something along the lines of, “I’m a 5’8″ Pisces that enjoys all types of music, time spent with my laptop, and long walks to the fridge,” but there is so much more to me than that.

As you probably know, I am a writer, and for this first post, I wanted to talk about writers and writing. Boorrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnggggggggg. So I thought I’d spice it up and give you the inside scoop on a young,emerging writer. I interviewed this woman who oddly enough is a 5’8″ Pisces that enjoys all types of music, her laptop, and long walks to the fridge (you see what I did there?).

What is a writer?

An individual that can so effortlessly capture the souls of a million people with a few strokes of a pen. Taking command of any language in a manner that conveys a message multiple people can comprehend is no easy feat, believe me, I’VE TRIED IT. A writer is an artist. A thinker. A lover. A fighter. A believer. And so much more.

What do writers do?

Essentially, write. One day writing can mean expressing the joy felt upon hearing your baby laugh, the next day it can mean tearing your heart open and describing a dark pain you’ve never expressed to another living soul. Writers don’t just pen their own emotions and experiences, though. They help give a voice to the voiceless and turn mere words into perspectives.

How do you do it?

I just pick up my pen and start writing. SIKE! It is never that easy, at least not for me. Writing is an art, and just like any other art form, its a process. A lot of my time spent writing is actually time spent thinking and allowing myself the luxury of feeling. I step away from the cold and calculated version of myself and process emotions, and then I pick up my pen or turn on my laptop and let the art, art. I take a lot of breaks in my writing to always make sure that I am staying true to myself, my thoughts, my feelings, and my intentions.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Literally, everything! I remember working at a daycare a couple of years ago, and while the babies were napping, I stared out the window. It was the beginning of Fall so the leaves were just starting to separate from the trees and pile up on the ground. As I watched one particular leaf float on down, I thought of my son, who, at the time, was a newborn. I was suddenly hit with the urge to write, and so I did. A poem called, Musings: Autumn 2011 was born out of a moment that would have otherwise seemed so insignificant. If you ever need inspiration, take a walk around your neighborhood and look at everything with fresh eyes, or hop on your public transportation and just listen. I guaranty you’ll step away from those experiences not only refreshed and ready to write, but oftentimes with a new perspective on life.

Any advice for other young, emerging authors?

Write. Think. Feel. Read. And do it all as often as you can. Carry around a notebook or a voice recorder. As cliche as that may seem, ideas really do spring on you at the oddest of times, and you don’t want to be caught unaware and unprepared when your most genius idea is birthed. Don’t be afraid to share your art with the world. As artists, I know we can be sensitive about the things we create, but art is for the people. Give your gifts to the world and accept their feedback for what it is: a gift. Its a constant exchange between the writers and the readers; we need each other. Don’t fear sharing your work and the critique that is sure to follow. Fear being a writer that never grows in her craft.

That’s writing in a nutshell, for me. What about you? How did you start writing and why do you do it?