Exploring the creative process

The title of this post is the purpose of my blog. I have long been fascinated by the creative process in any arena of art, be it visual (including design), performing, or literary. So when it came time for me to decide on the focus of this space, the choice was easy. 

I am an unapologetic lover of television and movies, and when I am not immersed in a sci-fi or fantasy series, I gravitate toward reality shows or documentaries that focus on the design process. Shows like Project Runway, Face Off, and the new Netflix series Abstract draw me in because they follow every step of the artist's creative process. I love watching how and why they make artistic choices, what inspires them creatively, and the struggles they face during the entire process from concept, to design, to fabrication. 

I've had several memorable conversations with artistic family members and friends, and I always feel enlivened and inspired afterward. I hope to mimic those experiences in this space through writing about different aspects of my own creative processes as well as explore the work of others.

I begin by sharing a small segment of an online interview I completed last year in which I explained a little bit about my writing:

YOUR WRITING STYLE:
My stories stem from questions I have about the unseen world around us, interesting medical conditions, strange images I stumble upon, or odd phrases I overhear. My writing explores the inner workings of the human mind in all its labyrinthine glory.

WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE AS A WRITER?
I have a realistic way of looking at the fanciful, a rational way to see the absurd, a morbid way of exploring life. I like to magnify tiny details, things no one else notices, and build a story around it--that thing you can't put your finger on, a feeling like deja-vu, the shadow in the corner of your eye, the untouchable sensations, the what-ifs.

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
I spend a lot of time searching for works of modern art that trigger an instinctual reaction in my gut. Usually it's something dark, weird, macabre, or fantastic. Then I try to capture that feeling within the realm of storytelling. I try to recreate that guttural response for myself and the reader. Angst, fear, anger, deep love, and longing.

WHAT CONSTITUTES A GREAT NOVEL?
Tension is key. Full immersion into the emotions of the characters is also a vital part. I like to feel something when I read, so the author absolutely must make me deeply empathize with the protagonist. I enjoy stories that have a satisfying ending but don't tie everything up with a pretty little bow. I like a bit of ambiguity, where I can carry the story on in my own mind and wonder what became of the characters.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE WRITING PROCESS?
Nothing compares to the initial spark of creativity, where I am writing like a madman, furiously spewing words onto the page. I start with the initial idea for a scene and then build the story around it. I always begin writing longhand in a notebook. It's meditative, sometimes almost trance-like, exhilarating and exhausting all at once.


I hope to perhaps engage others in a discussion about the creative process, or else, as the title of my blog suggests, I'll be writing with nobody reading. And that's okay, too.