Who am I? You know, for being such a simple question, I find it difficult to answer. The simple questions are always the most complicated, I suppose. Well, let’s see. My name is Sara. I’m 18 years old. I’m currently in college. My major is Creative Writing. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I like the simple things in life and find joy in the underrated moments of this vast existence.
Could you tell us a little bit about your work in progress?
Well, I have two works in progress. One, is a book I started writing when I was 16 years old. I finished it about a month ago, and am currently trying to figure out exactly how to publish it. Yeah, yeah, I know, “Google it, Sara.” Well, I already have, and am still thoroughly confused. The book is about three fuck ups trying to make the insignificant moments of their lives seem more significant. It is an illustration, if you will, of how everyone has their own method of falling.
My second work would be the book I am currently writing about a woman who works at heaven’s gate, and a man who falls in love with her. The drawback? Well, he’s dead, of course. And an atheist. Sucks for him, right?
What is the first story you remember writing? What was it about?
Hm, the first story I remember writing is a story called, Raining Pennies. I wrote it in Kindergarten. It’s pretty self-explanatory, a kid finds out it’s raining pennies (which you think would hurt, but hey, fiction has many flaws sometimes. Oh, and I was five years old.) above their house. I don’t know why pennies. You’d think quarters would be better. Or Sacagawea coins. Whatever, little-me had much to learn.
Are you more of a “plotter” or a “pantser”?
Unfortunately, I’m a pantser. Yeahhh. I was never one for organization. Live in the moment? It obviously reflects in my writing too. The main characters have many tangents and you never know where the book will lead. Mainly because I never know where I’m going to lead it until my fingers are two inches away from the keyboard.
All writers need encouragement. Who first encouraged you to write, and who is it that encourages you today?
I was first encouraged to write by my mother. She is a writer. When I was younger, before I knew the alphabet, I would draw a story with little stick figures, and she would complement it with words upon paper. When I grew older, I was ashamed of my passion for writing. I stopped in Junior High and began to play guitar. I wrote many songs to get my fix. When I was in High school, I began to write a story for the newspaper. I’m pretty sure no one read it. But, hey, at least I can say it exists, right? Today, my friends encourage me. I have a lot of “writer” friends. We constantly e-mail each other works back and forth and give feedback.
Which authors have had a significant influence on your writing?
Hm, well, I have a strange taste in books. I read Kerouac, J.D. Salinger (Not just Catcher, don’t worry.), Bukowski, Nick Hornby, Dave Eggers, Hemingway, and much more!
What music, if any, do you enjoy listening to while you write?
Modest Mouse, Third Eye Blind, Violent Femmes. I can pretty much listen to anything.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses as a writer?
Weaknesses: Organization, finishing what I start, ranting, lack of confidence. Strengths: Dialogue, details, differentiation of characters.
What do you hope to achieve with your writing?
Well the obvious would be getting published, but aside from that, I’d like to achieve a sense of purpose. I believe that having a voice, or a purpose, would really set someone aside. Make them less ordinary, and more…content.
What was once traditionally a print medium is now rapidly branching out into many digital formats. What do you think of this trend?
Well, I honestly, like everything about print. I like the fact that it’s tangible. I like the smell of a book after you’ve opened to the first page, just about to dip your nose into it. I like the feel of the pages on my fingertips. The sense of accomplishment as each page is turned. After I sent my book to my brother, he printed it out, read it, and handed it back to me, and it was a surreal feeling, holding it, touching it. It made me feel like I’d accomplished something.
What was the last sentence that you had to re-read over and over again because of its awesomeness? What struck you about it?
"You’d better get busy, though, buddy. The goddamn sands run out on you every time you turn around. I know what I’m talking about. You’re lucky if you get time to sneeze in this goddamn phenomenal world.” – Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
Okay, I cheated not one sentence, sorry!
What struck me about it? Gee. I don’t know, it’s just one of those subtle ideas in the back of everyone’s mind. There isn’t time enough, right? We blink, and we’re ten years older.
What book(s) have you recently read that you would recommend to the readers of this blog?
Well let’s see, High Fidelity, The Sun Also Rises, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Trainspotting, In Someone’s Shadow (Poetry), The Perks of Being a Wallflower
What advice do you have to other aspiring authors out there?
My advice? Hm, well, I’m sure all of you are more experienced than I am, but I’d say, just live it. Be it. Breathe it. Everything else will follow. And if it doesn’t, you deserved better, anyway.
An apocalypse destroys the entirety of human literature, apart from the work of three authors that you can magically save with your wizardry – what do you save from imminent destruction?
OH NO! Wow, um, I would probably save Franny and Zooey (Salinger), Big Sur (Kerouac), Ham on Rye (Bukowski).
Our time is at an end. For our curious readers, how can we follow your progress?
Well, my blog here is http://holdenlyric.blogspot.com/. Thank you for reading!
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