So… what do you want to know?
My July Interview Answers for TBIN
Questions by Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) for writers of the Medium publication The Brain is a Noodle. Thanks for the questions, Lucy!!! Find these questions and more information here.
Interview Questions
[1] If you could go back to the beginning of your writing career, however far back that is, what is one tip you would give yourself?
I think my writing “career” is just beginning. But, I’ll give myself the advice I’ve read everywhere: Stay consistent. Keep going. Writing is hard, but it’s a muscle that is worth working out. The more I do it, the better I’ll get.
[2] In classic group-based ice-breakers format: “Share your name and one random fact about yourself”, how do you choose the fact to share? Do you come up with one on the spot? Does it change depending on who you’re talking to? Do you have one “go-to” answer for all of these ice-breaker situations?
Yikes. I have a hard time with these. I usually try to match what other people are saying so if everyone is talking about a unique trip they went on, I’ll throw in the time I climbed half of a waterfall (Dunn’s River Falls) in Jamaica. If others are talking about weird things about their body, I’ll toss out that I once had tubes in my ears. I definitely do not have a go-to answer.
If I happen to be first, I’ll try to use what others have said earlier in the conversation as a guide. In the case of this interview, I’d probably share that I just recently hit 150 followers on Medium (!!) (Thank you 🙏🏾 for following me!)
[3] In what ways do you take care of your mental health?
This is something I like to talk about. I have a base level of mental health maintenance, i.e., trying to get enough sleep, eating balanced meals, and doing one self-care thing per day. Sometimes, that one thing is writing. Sometimes, it’s journaling. Sometimes, it’s going for a walk. Often, it’s taking a bath. Occasionally, I need to do more than one thing to really re-center. I speak to my mom daily and to a therapist roughly weekly. (My therapist is the one who suggested the one self-care thing per day.)
I really do view my mental health as akin to my physical health. I get regular check-ups and if there are acute injuries, I try to take time to heal them before jumping into emotionally or mentally tasking activities.
[4] How has your culture or context shaped your beliefs about what work ethic or productivity looks like?
Context-wise: When I was younger (maybe age 10), I read “7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” by Sean Covey. (Yes, I was a nerd.) The last of the habits is sharpening your saw. Like the last answer, I learned early that I cannot do good, sharp work when my “saw” or brain is dull. I often test this boundary of work vs. over-work, but when I start feeling like “I can’t do this anymore” I try to take a break.
Culture-wise: I think the old stereotype of Jamaicans is that they work hard and often have 3–4 jobs at a time. This is not… untrue for me. I have always worn multiple hats. Currently, I am a Ph.D. student/microscope whisperer, technology fellow, writer/poet, blog writer/editor, and awesome girlfriend. (Wait! That last one doesn’t pay me…). My mom once told me it’s important to have multiple streams of income and multiple streams I have. (Albeit, most are very narrow creeks).
I come from a family line of people especially strong, matriarchs who take or took pride in their education and their smart and hard work. Working hard is not something I have ever been afraid of, but I want to put that hard work into something I both believe in and expect to reap benefits from. That benefit may be monetary (sweeet dolla bills $$) or through the satisfaction of knowing I helped someone in this world. As of right now, my writing/editing roles are heavy on the second half of the equation.
[5] What’s one food you like to make if you don’t want to think or plan or buy new ingredients at all?
Oh, I have lots of lazy day meals. I will pick one for every level of laziness.
- If I’m not as lazy: 🍚🌶 fried rice (premade rice + egg + meat + frozen mixed veggies + whatever fresh veggies I might have + soy sauce).
- If I’m semi-lazy: 🥗 grilled chicken salad (i.e. frozen grilled chicken + salad kit) — This is what I ate last night.
- If I’m super lazy: 🍕 frozen pizza (frozen sustenance + microwave or oven heat)
Fave or nah?
- Favourite moisturizer? Nivea
- Least favourite car? Hummers (because why?)
- Favourite chore? Used to be washing the dishes, but it is now folding clothes
- Least favourite tv show? Not a big fan of Spongebob…
- Favourite body part? On myself, my legs🦵🏾. On others, usually arms… strong arms put my linguines 💪🏾 to shame.
5 Articles to share
A piece that you published in your first moments of being on Medium This one and the one that spawned it are close to my heart. It really helped me break out of my shell with publishing my writing.
A piece that challenges assumptions I’m working on a piece that does this now. (Stay tuned!) But, this is a piece that challenged my own assumptions.
A piece related to food This one mentions food, but is really about a quintessential beach day.
A piece from a fellow writer you love Nia Simone McLeod is one of the first people I followed on Medium. I love her voice. So many of her stories deeply resonate with me.
A piece you think deserves more love I mean… It’s a poem comparing you to a beautiful and resilient flower, why don’t more of you love it? I have been warned not to use “you” in my writing. I might need to heed that warning.
If you want to learn more about me, check out my linktr.ee and website. Thank you for reading!