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

My creative space has everything to do with sound. In a chaotic setting, my mind automatically becomes dramatic. I can imagine the most that can possibly happen at that very moment. Intensifying every “what if” that enters my brain. However, with soft music, my feelings are tapped into. My deepest works have been created in the calmest of spaces.

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

Growing up my father would literally rip up whatever homework I completed with sloppy hand writing. He didn’t want me to have the same chicken scratch he and my siblings shared. Needless to say, penmanship is everything to me. I can always be found with a pen and some sort of paper. I have written full stories of post-its at work simply because inspiration hit. My work would probably not be the same in intensity had it been typed.

What is your routine for writing?

I wouldn’t say that I have a writing “routine” per say. I carry a journal and have a notes section in my phone where I jot down lines and ideas that pop into my head throughout the day. When I go back to reread them, I scan them to see if anything flows with something or if a new piece is ready.

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

I’ve been physically writing since around the second or third grade. Before writing, I was always making up songs and reading everything I could. Being a chubby kid, words were always kinder to me than my peers. Creativity was my coping mechanism of an escape.

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

Anything that I have ever written is for anyone who feels alone. My writing is meant to heal and be relatable. Often times isolation is stressful. People need to feel that they aren’t alone in order to understand that it will get better. Or that you aren’t a weirdo just because you’re a little different. I hope my writing to be timeless. Offering what is needed to all who read it.

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

Inspiration is befuddling. I can go weeks without a single entry only to follow with a spree of new writings. I’ve been inspired by anything from a song to the weather to a setting. Inspiration is both everywhere and nowhere.

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

My hobbies include traveling, going on adventures, anything music related. I also happen to be an introverted party girl. There’s a lot going on with my personality and the various activities I partake in.

What is your advice to aspiring writers?

Advice to aspiring writers. I cannot stress this enough: Not everyone is going to understand nor even like your writing. You may never find an author similar in style. That’s the beauty. Always continue your journey as a writer. Grow. Have fun and be true to yourself. ​

Check out Stephanie’s work in Volume 3, Issue 2.