Q1. What inspires you?
Answer: I get inspired by everyday things—a conversation with a friend, a line from a song or a book, movies, newspapers, my relationships, (past and present) my children, my cats, a walk on the beach or through my garden, my own experiences, my travels throughout the years, my imagination. Sometimes a phrase or a line will pop into my head and won't go away until I use it in a poem. I get inspired reading other writers on Wattpad, which is a great place to discover fresh new writers every day. I have also taken a few writing workshops where I have been inspired by my fellow participants and by the writing exercises/prompts given to us by the instructor.
Q2. What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Answer: I try not to see writing as a difficult thing by not seeing it as an onerous "I must write ten pages everyday" kind of task. For me it is a pleasant hobby that I enjoy doing and sharing. I write when something, some event, or someone has sparked an idea, and I don't try to force an idea to happen just because I think "I must" write. I do find writing prose quite difficult (compared to writing poetry). I have tried writing short stories but I have not been satisfied with my attempts so far.
Q3. Why do you write?
Answer: Writing poetry for me is an expression of self – my fascination with words, their sounds, rhythms, rhymes, meanings, origins. I love how words can be turned around and combined in fresh new ways, how they have the power to make a person laugh, soothe a sorrow, or give voice to the silent yearnings
in our hearts. I enjoy writing humorous poems especially –it is so satisfying when someone tells me one of my poems has made them laugh or smile. I also like writing reflective poems about nature, love, loss, and the process of self-actualization. I think poetry is a Celebration of life (hence the title of one of my collections – shameless plug #1)) in all its aspects, and a poem should be an enjoyable experience for the reader—even if it is a sad or serious poem.
Q4. Do you ever get writer's block, If yes, how do you get out?
Answer: This relates back to the question of what is the hardest part about writing. I tend to write only when I have something to write about and that's how I avoid writer's block. If I were to sit down and force myself to write, without feeling "inspired to write at that time" I would probably have a writer's block moment and stare at a blank page for a long while. Sometimes, in order to get inspired, I will search through quotes, or I will read, listen to music, or watch a movie, or use one of the many writing prompts that one can find on writing sites on the internet.
Q5. What book do you wish you could have written?
Answer: That would have to be "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez or "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll, if I could have a second choice. I love the magical realism of the Marquez novel and the pure magical un-realism of the Wonderland settings and characters; and of course I love all the word-play (have I mentioned I love words?) of "Alice". Both books have fed my imagination in so many ways from the very first time I read them, and all the times when I have re-read them.
Q6. What is your favorite quote?
Answer: I have so many favorite quotes, but at the moment my favorite is "You only live once—but if you work it right, once is enough" said by the incomparable Mae West. It also happens to be the title of my latest poem in "Celebrations" (shameless plug #2:))).
Thank you Thomas @5ifthproject for including me in the 5Qi project.
CaraɤMel
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#5Qi - August 16th, 2015
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5Qi
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