Interview Q&A with The Quiet Quill
We offer our first and exclusive Q&A Interview with The Quiet Quill, a writer whose multiple literary works have been featured on our Spillwords pages as well as being Author of the Month of August, 2016. The Quiet Quill is a writer that finds inspiration in the emotions found throughout the journey of life. Her pen name is emblematic of the literary beauty and emotional power she brings through her written word.
- Please tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I grew up and still live in Surrey, an only child to two wonderful and supportive parents. After High School I went to Sussex University to study Psychology. I left after 1 year as my heart wasn’t in the course and was instead with Theatre. So I then trained as an Actress and performed for a few years. I then became a Theatre Agent for 7 years and now work as a Voiceover Artist, as well as performing still from time to time. Through all the years, I would write poetry and short stories. I wouldn’t share them, I would just write for myself. Even from a young age poetry meant a lot to me and I have deep thinking poetry about poverty and homelessness from when I was 6 years old!
- Has the environment in which you live in influenced your style of writing? If yes how so?
I am lucky enough to have grown up with a loving family and home life. When I was younger I would feel almost guilty, thinking of those who aren’t as lucky to have the home I have or people in their lives like I have. It would really upset me. That certainly influenced my early writing. I would express my guilt and emotions through poetry. I have a very early poem from when I was 8 years old about an abandoned Dog and a homeless man that I re-discovered very recently. It made me very emotional that I had picked up on such mature themes at such a young age and was clearly quite profound of thought for someone so young. Coming from a theatrical background has also influenced me greatly. Surrounded by so many different personalities does often inspire me to write, hence why the stage and spotlight are so often themes in my work.
- What inspires you to write?
Like many writers, I am inspired by those emotional times that life throws at us. I have always used writing as a way to work through high emotions of sadness and grief, bouts of depression, confusions. Recently I have found myself writing more positively about real love and happiness. I am inspired by those around me, whether positive or negative, and the situations we find ourselves in emotionally.
- When did you realize you wanted to write?
I have always wanted to write. Not necessarily professionally, but I have always written and have always known writing is a very important thing to me. I have documents from when I was at Primary School and High School where I stated I wanted to be an author, so it has always been in my mind.
- Tell us a little bit about your writing process?
My writing process begins with writing down all the thoughts I have in mind, anything I am feeling, or have felt, and am now ready to face and work through (and to get rid of, if negative). I end up with lots of pages of scribbled words. I find this the best way to tune in to the real emotion of what I am, or have been, feeling. It comes from a raw place and helps me start to gather together key words or themes to start writing. I then pick out lines, or words and develop them from there into a poem. I will then revisit the poem a few days later and add in some more structure, or re-write pieces so they flow together better. I do sometimes ask close friends for their thoughts and adapt the poems’ words or structure from their honest feedback.
- What would you say is most fulfilling about writing?
For me, the most fulfilling thing about writing, is knowing I have created something on my own, from my own thoughts. It is a wonderful feeling when I receive emails from people who have read my work and can relate to it and feel something from my words, like I do with many other writers. It is a very special thing.
- Does the addition of imagery help to tell your story?
Imagery can help me to tell my story. Lots of my poems come from twisted versions of nursery rhymes or fairy tales and the imagery that comes from those certainly helps put my emotive words into a more narrative thread.
- What do you most enjoy reading?
I most enjoy reading Thriller novels. I love the twists and turns and trying to work out the mysteries on my own!
- Is there a poet or a writer that has influenced you? If so, in what way?
My earliest poetry influence was William Blake. He remains my favourite poet. I particularly love his ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ and still regularly read through his poems. I love the philosophical themes he presents, as well as the opposites of each of his innocent poems, which become mature and twisted in the experience poems. Similarly, Lewis Caroll has also influenced me and is my favourite author. His word play and childlike themes have always struck a chord in me and ‘Alice in Wonderland’ is still my all time favourite book. The most recent poets who have influenced me are Christopher Poindexter and Tyler Knott Greyson. Their writing is very emotional, raw and honest. I connect with so many of their poems and often think they are writing just for me as their emotions about love are so accurate to mine and my experiences.
- What are your ambitions as a writer?
My ambitions as a writer right now are to have my first book of poetry published by next year and also to complete and have published a Children’s book that I am writing.
- Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years I see myself as a published author, still writing children’s books as well as emotive poetry. Also performing and continuing with my Voiceover work as I do love it!
An open book with a few words tucked away. I have many thoughts to think and many feelings to feel, which I exorcise through poetry; my therapy.
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