Ask the Author: Ania Bula
Answered Questions (6)
Ania Bula
I've been thinking hard about this question for the last year.
Being a writer... it's an interesting state because it's about more than just what you do, but I think it's also about how you think. I experience the world through stories. In fact, those classes that managed to frame the learning as a sort of story were often the ones that I excelled at. I am also autistic and have ADHD, which means that I recognize patterns really easily, so that in a sense I see the story even in things like math and sciences.
Oftentimes my "writer brain" as I call it, likes to make up random scenarios about what is going on around me. Imagining a funny coincidence, or perhaps an ironic accident. At times this means imagining all the worst possible things that could happen prior to an event. At other times, it might come up with an interesting mystery or history for some object or symbol.
I don't know if every writer's brain works the same but its how it works for me and I love it.
I also love that as a writer, I often have people tell me their own stories. It is amazing what you can learn about people when they think you will listen.
Being a writer... it's an interesting state because it's about more than just what you do, but I think it's also about how you think. I experience the world through stories. In fact, those classes that managed to frame the learning as a sort of story were often the ones that I excelled at. I am also autistic and have ADHD, which means that I recognize patterns really easily, so that in a sense I see the story even in things like math and sciences.
Oftentimes my "writer brain" as I call it, likes to make up random scenarios about what is going on around me. Imagining a funny coincidence, or perhaps an ironic accident. At times this means imagining all the worst possible things that could happen prior to an event. At other times, it might come up with an interesting mystery or history for some object or symbol.
I don't know if every writer's brain works the same but its how it works for me and I love it.
I also love that as a writer, I often have people tell me their own stories. It is amazing what you can learn about people when they think you will listen.
Ania Bula
I'm working on a series of things actually.
(1) I have a book I just finished writing this year that I am working on editing in preparation for publishing it.
(2) I am writing a story about a school ran by Baba Yaga for abandoned girls. It's meant as a bit of a lighthearted fantasy romp.
(3) I am working on a cookbook!
(1) I have a book I just finished writing this year that I am working on editing in preparation for publishing it.
(2) I am writing a story about a school ran by Baba Yaga for abandoned girls. It's meant as a bit of a lighthearted fantasy romp.
(3) I am working on a cookbook!
Ania Bula
Writer's block can be horrible, especially if you also deal with depression and anxiety. Writer's block ends up also being troll brain telling you you can't do it and that you're a failure. When it hits that point, I have a few go-tos that often help.
1. Facebook - I post a question to my friends asking them what they would like to see me write about, or asking them if they have any questions for me.
2. WritingPrompt sites - taking the time to browse through writing prompt sites, and attempting one or two of them can be a good way to get the juices flowing again.
3. Work on something else - is there another story or article you've been pushing aside. Try working on that. Sometimes getting work done on something else helps you power through.
4. Brainstorm - if I'm suffering from writers block while working on a novel, I take a moment to think about the scene I am writing. What purpose does it serve. Why am I writing it. Where does the story go from there. Since I have an outline of major parts of the story, figuring out exactly what point is made by the scene can help you work out what needs to happen. And sometimes you discover you are blocked because the scene itself if useless.
5. Take a break - being too much in your head can also be a problem. Read a book, go for a walk, paint a picture, do something other than what you usually do. Sometimes writer's block is a sign you need to take a moment to recharge and refocus.
1. Facebook - I post a question to my friends asking them what they would like to see me write about, or asking them if they have any questions for me.
2. WritingPrompt sites - taking the time to browse through writing prompt sites, and attempting one or two of them can be a good way to get the juices flowing again.
3. Work on something else - is there another story or article you've been pushing aside. Try working on that. Sometimes getting work done on something else helps you power through.
4. Brainstorm - if I'm suffering from writers block while working on a novel, I take a moment to think about the scene I am writing. What purpose does it serve. Why am I writing it. Where does the story go from there. Since I have an outline of major parts of the story, figuring out exactly what point is made by the scene can help you work out what needs to happen. And sometimes you discover you are blocked because the scene itself if useless.
5. Take a break - being too much in your head can also be a problem. Read a book, go for a walk, paint a picture, do something other than what you usually do. Sometimes writer's block is a sign you need to take a moment to recharge and refocus.
Ania Bula
The book I just finished writing, which isn't out yet, I got the inspiration from the Baltimore protests. I ended up involved in several arguments about privilege and oppression, and at some point I was so frustrated that I said something about people literally needing to be tattooed before a certain person would acknowledge a certain oppression exists. From their the idea sort of took off.
Ania Bula
There are different things that inspire me, it depends in part what I'm working on. Some of my best articles are written after something manages to make me a certain level of angry. I get inspired to "educate" and I sit down and produce an article in a reasonably short period of time.
Sometimes I have something I want to write, but I'm not as driven as I am when I'm angry, so it takes a bit longer. these are articles that I get inspired through seeing something happen over and over again, to questions I've thought about a lot. Some of these articles can take a few nights to a few years to write. Some of them are as much about developing my own opinion as looking to change or inform someone else.
When I'm looking for inspiration, I find reading to be very effective. Often a story will give me an idea I want to develop or a way an author handled a situation or character or plot point will bother me and I will create my own story to sort of "fix" it.
I like to browse writing prompt sites since sometimes their suggestions can spark a different idea. Sometimes its not so much about the inspiration so much as its about the challenge. Following a writing prompt can give you an idea or forcing yourself to think along a certain path can be good practice.
Sometimes inspiration comes from silly conversations with friends, or just random funny thoughts. I wrote a story recently that I came up with because I sneezed while reading a fairy tale.
Sometimes I have something I want to write, but I'm not as driven as I am when I'm angry, so it takes a bit longer. these are articles that I get inspired through seeing something happen over and over again, to questions I've thought about a lot. Some of these articles can take a few nights to a few years to write. Some of them are as much about developing my own opinion as looking to change or inform someone else.
When I'm looking for inspiration, I find reading to be very effective. Often a story will give me an idea I want to develop or a way an author handled a situation or character or plot point will bother me and I will create my own story to sort of "fix" it.
I like to browse writing prompt sites since sometimes their suggestions can spark a different idea. Sometimes its not so much about the inspiration so much as its about the challenge. Following a writing prompt can give you an idea or forcing yourself to think along a certain path can be good practice.
Sometimes inspiration comes from silly conversations with friends, or just random funny thoughts. I wrote a story recently that I came up with because I sneezed while reading a fairy tale.
Ania Bula
Read as much as you can.
Occasionally I run into people who say they are or want to be writers and they don't read at all and I'm just flabbergasted. *note that reading and listening to audiobooks both count in my opinion.
Whether it's articles, books, short stories, poems, comics, blog posts, fanfiction, reading a lot is in many ways the backbone of being a writer.
Reading lets you explore different voices and learn what works for you, what kind of stories you like, what sort of characters. It's a way to broaden your horizons as a writer.
Occasionally I run into people who say they are or want to be writers and they don't read at all and I'm just flabbergasted. *note that reading and listening to audiobooks both count in my opinion.
Whether it's articles, books, short stories, poems, comics, blog posts, fanfiction, reading a lot is in many ways the backbone of being a writer.
Reading lets you explore different voices and learn what works for you, what kind of stories you like, what sort of characters. It's a way to broaden your horizons as a writer.
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