Deep Dive Into Your Writing

The motivation and influences in my writing

Thanks, Subhi Najar for publishing the following questions as a writing challenge and tagging me. If you would like to join in, you can find his article here. It is always interesting to see the approach of other writers.

When did you start writing? Is there a specific story?

I was a scribbler as a child and teen, mostly over-dramatic tales of lost love. None of them survive, for which we should all be thankful, but as an adult, I never wrote for pleasure, although I did write articles and promotional materials in my professional capacity.

I always imagined that one day “when I had time”, I would write just for myself. And then, I left my job suddenly and I had time. You can read about that here:

With time on my hands, I decided it was now or never, and here we are!

2. Do you have rituals in writing? If yes, then please share them with us.

Not really, my writing is as chaotic as my life. I have a study (which I seldom use and has slowly become repurposed as a junk room), but I actually always write on my laptop at the kitchen table.

I see other writers comment that they like to have background music when working but to be honest, I much prefer silence. I do love music, but when I listen, I want to be immersed in the sound and when I write, I want to be carried away with the words. For me, it is one or the other.

3. The ugliest monster that writers are afraid of is writer’s block. If you have a recipe to deal with it, kindly share it with us.

I certainly do not have that recipe! Although I do not really have times when I don’t know what to write, I do sometimes choke on how to start.

4. Describe the process of finding ideas for your stories. Please elaborate

There is not really a process. Sometimes I get ideas from a conversation, a television program, or something I read or saw. Occasionally, something in the news makes me so livid, I just have to vent. Other times, I just have a light-bulb moment. If I am away from my workspace, I often note the idea in an email and sent it to myself to reflect on later!

5. As humans, we suffer without knowing it by choosing not to move outside our comfort zone. Do you have a “comfort zone” in writing (i.e. a topic that you always like to write about)? Have you tried to step outside your comfort zone and write something drastically different?

I like to write non-fiction and memoir but have not tried my hand at fiction, which is out of my comfort zone. I like the process of researching articles and am less confident in writing something original and compelling from scratch, but will give it a try in the future.

6. Besides Medium, do you use other writing platforms? Please share our experiences.

No, so far, I have only published on Medium.

7. Have you published a book? If yes, how and where…etc. Plz, feel free to share your links with us.

Not yet, although I do have one I am working on. Slowly. Time will tell whether it ever sees the light of day!

8. You write because writing provides you with something special. Could you share your experience?

When I sit down to write, I have a feeling of endless possibilities. I find a simple joy in words and their flow, which carry me away on their tide.

9. Do you write a paragraph, a chapter, or a story with the end in mind or not? plz explain

I usually begin writing with a point that I want to deliver… Although there are times when I change tack along the way and end up with quite a different story from the one I began.

10. Every writer has an idol. Who is yours? And what do you find inspiring in her/his trajectory?

It would be hard to single out one. There are many who have inspired me, but to name a few: on Medium, I would give mention to Jan Sebastian, whose light, conversational style makes you feel like you are reading a postcard from a friend. And off Medium, Jane Caro and Julia Baird and Van Badham are writers who have influenced me.

11. Does being on a writing platform like Medium help your writing plans? Plz, elaborate.

Yes, it does. Before I joined Medium, I knew I wanted to write, but not what or for whom. I find it tremendously encouraging when someone likes or comments on my work and although I write across different niches, I have begun to get a picture of my “voice”. I value the community feel of Medium.