ARYA'S WRITING & READING BLOG

I'm so grateful to Neda Aria, a Thailand-based writer, artist, researcher and lecturer, for inviting me to do this interview about my writing and writing in general. Neda is a transgressive writer too and features fascinating profiles and essays on the subject of transgressive lit and art on her website. Anyone interesting in what underground writers are doing now should peruse and subscribe to www.nedaaria.info/blog. Enjoy!  https://www.nedaaria.info/post/writer-vs-writer-arya-f-jenkins

I might be wrong in guessing that most writers are rebels--if not out front, open and proud, then in the closet--but I doubt it. Respecting and nurturing your inner rebel is necessary to the writing journey, which has a lot of bumps, many of them in the form of others constantly telling the writer what to do. Well-meaning friends, readers, other writers and critics will always have an opinion about your work. Whether those opinions are good or bad, encouraging or not, should not be taken to heart, but viewed like snow on your shoulder soon to dissipate. Here and there, you might take hints about what direction to go in as a writer, but the meat and potatoes, so to speak, will always be yours to conjure, develop and serve. Trust your gut first and that precious guide that is your true best friend and teacher, your inner rebel. Speaking of rebels, I will soon be moderating a banned book club and I can't wait. First on our list is Alice Walker's classic,  The Color Purple . Other ...