Describe your creative space. Do you work at home, in public spaces, etc.?

My creative space can be pretty much anywhere. I sometimes have random flashes of inspiration where I have to drop everything and write. It could be at the store, walking my dog, out with friends. For my brain, it doesn’t matter. I do prefer working alone in the quiet because it lets me think over what I’m trying to say. And when I need to read it back aloud to myself I don’t look like a lunatic.

What kind of materials do you use? Do you write by hand or type? What is your favorite writing utensil?

My preferred tools are simple: a (specifically) blue ball point pen, lined paper, and hours of alone time. I’m not entirely sure why I like blue ball point pens. The only thing I can think of that makes me really like them is how smooth they move, I guess. I like using loose paper because it allows me to easily look back on what I just wrote.

What is your routine for writing?

I have a structured system. I write what I have, expand on that, check tenses, then I add onto what I have until finally I type it.

How long have you been writing? When did you start writing.

I’ve been writing on and off for years but it wasn’t until about a year ago when I really started taking it seriously. I’ve been writing since I was little but I really got into it in high school and have been trying to incorporate it into my life ever since.

Who is your intended, or ideal, audience? Who do you write for?

I’ve never really thought about an audience. I want to write to those who need to express their emotions but just can’t. By that, I mean they’re almost stuck. One thing I’ve learned is that, personally, I can’t get anywhere without sorting out my feelings first. I know what it’s like to be stuck in a constant state for days, and days. It can drive the best people insane.

What inspires you to write? If you are blocked, what do you do?

My inspiration comes from my day to day life, even in stories. I try to take the highs and the lows of a day and turn them into something everyone can enjoy. I can make it rhyme, I can incorporate it into a fantasy story, it all depends on my mood. If I have a block I go and do something. It could be anything, it’s to jumpstart my engine and remember what my end goal is.

What other things do you do besides writing? Do you dance or play golf, etc.?

I like to draw and paint. I find it very soothing and at times, cathartic. It’s very nice to bring the people, things, or worlds that have been floating around in my head in both words and pictures. It helps organize my thoughts.

What is your favorite part of the creative process?

My favorite part is when it all falls together. It’s so rewarding. It feels like finding the missing piece to a puzzle you’ve been dying to solve and you finally did it, and it’s the most beautiful thing ever. It feels like a new kind of euphoria.

What is your advice to aspiring writers?

Use lots of emotion and this can apply to stories and poems. It’s emotion that drives us to become better. There’s never a moment when you’re not feeling, so it’s important to use that.

 

Check out Aloura’s work in Volume 4, Issue 2.