Center Stage with Gina C.

*** I'm keen to republish the interviews I did for my series with Vocal creators. It's been a few years and I thought it might be nice to revisit these wonderful conversations. I'll be releasing them one at a time for a few weeks/months.

(Although some have left the platform or have stopped publishing on here, I'd still like to highlight those creators as they are wonderful friends and fantastic writers. With persmission, I'll try to add where they can be found now.)

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Welcome to the Center Stage: Creators in the limelight series. I'd like to take a quick moment and explain my vision for these mini interviews before getting into the chat session I had with my lovely guest, Gina C.

I had the idea a few weeks ago that I wanted to know more about some of my favorite creators. I always love a behind-the-scenes peek into the creative or technical process of just about anything, whether it's a documentary, interview, or biography. This center stage series seemed a natural extension of my general curiosity.

My end goal is to give a small glimpse into what makes up these amazing creators through a fun and informative format. I've left the interview method up to them, either through facebook messenger chat, audio call or video call. I've also asked creators to come up with a question or two for themselves as this is to aim the spotlight on them. I hope you enjoy this new series!

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My very first and thankfully willing guest is the wonderful Gina C. I first 'met' Gina through some Vocal-related facebook groups and quickly came to love her work. Over the last few months we've gained an online friendship, and I'm confident in saying she is a true gem. Not only is she an amazing poet and storyteller, she's also a supportive reader and a very active member of multiple facebook groups.

You can feel her passion and care in every piece she writes from the beautiful word choices she uses, to the amazing afterwards she includes in almost every piece. Please consider taking a look at her profile and subscribing so you won't miss a thing.

For Gina's interview, we went with a facebook chat session. I hope you find it as engaging as I did.

H: So, I plan to ask you a question and then we chat back and forth about it. When you feel done with your answering, we'll go to the next. Sound ok?

G: Yeah, sounds great!

H: Awesome! Question 1: What is the most difficult part of your writing process?

G. ...

H: There is no wrong answer :)

G: Ok so I kinda wrote my whole process here and then realized I needed to pick one, so here is the toughest part 😅It depends on if I'm writing a poem or a story. If I'm writing a poem, it's the puzzle work of putting my rhymes together - and choosing rhymes I like. (I don't like to use words JUST because they rhyme).

H: That makes a lot of sense.

G: If it's a story, it's definitely the plot.

H: Yes, plotting is a completely different kind of thing. I find it interesting that though both rely heavily on pacing, poetry and storytelling.

G: Yes, definitely. Also, lately, a lot of my poems "tell a story," which overlaps the two challenges. 😅Here is the rest of what I wrote for the poetry process and then deleted it, LOL: Each word is very carefully selected. Then, there is also the creation of the flow. I write free form - which is wonderful because it gives me endless, well, freedom - but it can often feel like TOO much freedom. Then, there is deciding on the structure. Many of my poems have "song like" structures - containing semi-repetitive stanzas - and others do not. Then there is the highlighting and bolding of words that I oddly do, which I started doing as a way to create rhythm.

H: Thank you for those additional notes. Do you write the piece first and then go back and choose the bolding and highlighting and such or is it a part of the writing?

G: I'll usually write a few lines and then go back and decide where I want the emphasis to be. So I work on it as I'm creating the poem.

H: I find that so fascinating and a wonderful part of your work :)

G: Thank you ☺️

H: You're welcome! Are you ok to move on to question 2?

G: Yeah! I think I was just going to add that the rhymes and "style" can be fun and also very frustrating. But, in the end, I usually feel really proud of the work I put in...even if it's not the best 😅

H: I love that! You should be very proud.

G: Thank you! 🥰

H: Great! Okay, I'll ask the next question and then after we can go to one of your questions. How have you seen your work change at different stages in your life?

G: I can't exactly remember when I first started writing poetry. I used to always try to write stories but I felt I was not good at it because I didn't have much life experience. Around 15 years ago, I wrote a poem called "Silent Warrior" that was pretty much the birth of the style I use today. Sadly, I have lost that poem, but my poetry has always been pretty uplifting as a way to inspire myself to keep moving forward with life. Recently, I've been incorporating some darker elements into my work, which I'm really quite enjoying. I would say that as far as stories go, my writing has improved from joining the Vocal challenges and also just finally having that life experience.

H: Wow, it's been some time then since you've found this as your creative outlet. I find that wonderful. I don't find it coincidence that the older you've gotten the more the dark elements have more of a draw. I think it's a natural thing as you experience more life. I love that the Vocal challenges have given you more opportunities for growth.

G: Yeah and also what I've enjoyed about the darker shades is that people relate to them more.

H: Yes, that is very true. I know I do. Anything else you'd like to add for this one?

G: I don't think so, I think that's good.

H: Great! Okay, so time for one of yours then.

G: Ok, should we do the music one? I also think I had a good response for the favorite drink. I wish I could have thought of a more creative one 😅

H: LOL, people just like to know other people! Do both if you want :)

{What kind of music do you like to listen to while writing?}

G: Ok, so regarding this music - this is really weird - but I really love listening to "ambient space music" 😅😅 when I write. There are some tracks on YouTube by Julien Mulder that really get me into an ethereal, mysterious zone, and really spark my creativity.

H: I love that!! Do you have a link to one? I kinda want to listen to it :)

G: Sure! Let me grab one...This is one of my favorite ones. It has both an enchanting but also eerie feel. There are a few others that I use for slightly different vibes. There is a brighter sounding one that I used when I was writing "Lilith of the Valley."

H: Oh that is soooo soothing.

G: Yeah it really gets me in the feels 🥰

H: I find this so fascinating as I've seen your work described as ethereal and floating, magical even. And this music gives those feels. How cool! Thank you for sharing.

G: I'm so glad you like it.

H: Well this may lend well to the next question if you're ready for it. Do you have a certain writing routine or environment that you like to work in?

G: I am definitely at my most creative in the early morning. We're talking 4am with a cup of coffee. I've always enjoyed the early morning (even though it's hard to wake up) and taking that time for myself before work. I think it's an introvert thing. After work - which is very EXHAUSTING since I'm a teacher and it requires me to be an extrovert - I come home and try to write, but it's never the same. The early morning is definitely my most creative, peak hours. And it's always on the couch, in my jammies, with a big ass cup of coffee 😅also with the space jams.

H: Ahhh, I love that! I feel that each of us has a part of the day that is our 'it' time. Where we're at out best creatively. I agree with you on the big ass cup of coffee, but I tend to be a night owl. I know quite a few teachers that consider themselves introverts and NEED that downtime when they get home. I appreciate that you get that time before work and make it a priority. Ok, so how about another fun one or two and then one more serious one? What is your favorite thing to drink? What/who (lol) is your spirit animal?

G: My favorite thing to drink is definitely coffee, although I've been trying to cut back lately. I've been trying this stuff called "mud water" which is like a coffee alternative and I've gotten used to it as an "afternoon coffee."

H: Oh, I've heard of that!

G: Yeah the mudwater is pretty good I think... it tastes like chai when you put creamer in it.

H: Creamer makes everything better, lol

G: I feel like my spirt animal is horrifically cliche, but it's a butterfly. I'm really into the metamorphosis concept and it is embedded in a lot of my work. I also have a really poetic, true story about butterflies, which I plan to write about someday.

H: Metamorphosis is such a wild concept. I've seen the butterfly influences in your works and love that it means that much to you. I look forward to hopefully reading that story someday.

G: It's honestly kind of an embarrassing story but also an inspirational one ☺️

H: I'm definitely intrigued to know more as embarrassing and inspirational sound like a fun pairing!

G: I'll write it soon.

H: I look forward to it. Alright, last question...I'll let you choose which one to answer: What does literary success mean to you? How do you picture it? OR What would you most like readers to know about you as an author?

G: Hmm

H: You can answer both if you really want to. I don't mind.

G: I think the second one, just thinking of my answer.

H: Perfect! I'm listening to the uplifting one now. {An additional music link she shared with me.}

G: It starts off kinda mysterious then gets brighter ☺️I guess what'd I'd like readers to know about me is that although my pieces tend to come out very "other worldly"...or as I often say "ethereal," I am actually very human. I mentioned that a lot of my work can be considered inspirational. The reason I write that style is because I'm actually talking to myself and reminding myself there is a bright side despite the darkness. Although my pieces with notable darker elements I think many times tend to be more relatable, my uplifting stuff is coming from a place of doubt and insecurities.

H: I love that you can use your work to both inspire yourself and also others and at the same time write out your dark side too and connect with those same people in a different way. Beautiful.

G: Thank you so much 🥹❤️

H: I have definitely felt both when reading your pieces, so thank you for that.

G: Yay I'm so glad 🥰

H: As we finish up here, are there any last thoughts you'd like to share with readers?

G: I don't think so, other than saying thank you so much for reading and the support!

H: Wonderful, thank you for taking the time to do this with me! I appreciate it so much.

G: Thank you for giving me the opportunity! This has been really fun and exciting.

H: You're welcome. I had so much fun!! And the listening music was great. It just ended. Perfect timing.

G: I love that you love the music.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into Gina's world. I highly encourage everyone to check out her amazing work. Here is one of her pieces that I fell in love with:

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Interview conducted via Facebook chat in January 2023 and originally published in February 2023.