Sarah Parker, A Vocal Writer From Albuquerque

Hello fans! It has been a while since I interviewed anyone on my Vocal Blog. I like to introduce you to Sarah Parker, from Albuquerque.

She started on Vocal this summer 2024 and has written over 400 stories. She has five Top Stories on Vocal. Her first Top Story is Hometown Hero.

Mariann: Happy Halloween, Sarah !!! I am so glad you answered my request to interview you on Vocal. Where are you from?

Sarah: Happy Halloween, Mariann, and hugs to you!!! I am from New Mexico, U.S.A. I was born in Albuquerque, but lived in this country most of my life, around Pecos, New Mexico.

Mariann: When did you start writing and why?

Sarah: I started writing professionally in 2019. I graduated in May 2019 with a BA in English and a minor in writing, and wanted to make this a career for myself. I'm still not earning a full-time income, but I love to write, and so I do. I started writing because it is so cathartic for me, and I've always been inspired by stories and seen them as an escape. This was especially true in middle school when I started reading Harry Potter. As you can see, I'm a pretty big fan.

I know this might be kind of odd, but my Harry Potter collection inspired me to write, particularly The Order of the Phoenix. I mostly write from my couch, but I am also inspired by a piece of art I painted a long time ago, so that might be a more interesting image. Let me know if that will work. :)

Fun Fact: Sarah Loves to paint, below is a copy of her artwork.

Mariann: What other hobbies do you have?

Sarah: I enjoy crocheting, taking long walks in the countryside, and drawing with pastels. I used to do some paint, and the image I sent is actually from a wine and paint class I attended with my family. :)

Mariann: What's your main goal in writing on Vocal?

Sarah: My main goal is just to have fun. I want to make online friends and earn some money from my work. That's about it.

Mariann: What's your favorite Vocal feature and Why?

Sarah: I love the Top Story feature. I like how they highlight their favorite creators, and it's such a nice feeling if/when my stories get selected! I like pretty much everything about Vocal, including the official challenges they host and the bonuses they often give creators. :)

Mariann: If you could add or eliminate features on Vocal what would they be and why?

Sarah: Well, I would eliminate the paid subscription feature. I don't like having exclusive content based on what people can (or can't) pay. I think it's unfair, to be honest. That said, I have two paid subscriptions, which I am grateful for, but I offer everything for free—readers have the option of monetarily supporting me, but they don't have to.

Mariann: What does your writing space look like?

Sarah: Usually, I just write on my couch, but I have a room with a computer and a desk. I have a bit of art hanging on the walls, including the painting I took a picture of. I have a shelf with old typewriters which I have an affinity for. They don't work due to sticky keys, but I enjoy the ambiance. I also have an enormous bookshelf full of books on my TBR shelf. The vast majority are fiction. I have another small shelf with my urgent TBR items, which includes every item in the Cormoran Strike series by J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith that I haven't yet read.

Fun Fact: Sarah has a very sweet terrier named, Jasper.

Mariann: If you were a book what title you give yourself?

Sarah: I have no idea, lol. That is a good question. Maybe I would title it Work in Progress.

Mariann: How do you promote your stories on Vocal?

Sarah: I don't actually. I don't have any social media. It interferes with my day and I'm so tired of the all political noise right now. I just read other people's work and participate in official and unofficial challenges. It works for me.

Mariann: How do you fit your writing into your daily schedule?

Sarah: I don't have a job, at the moment, so I'm grateful to have quite a bit of time to write. I enjoy writing because it fills a good part of my day. That being said, one can still procrastinate, even with all the time in the world, so I will often get up and work on my Vocal pieces first thing in the morning. I'm still figuring out how to balance my writing with other aspects of my life. For instance, I want to exercise more but haven't found the motivation.

Mariann: What advice would you give Vocal Creators when they stumble into writer's block?

Sarah: I experience this all of the time. I find that writing prompts help a lot. Reedsy Prompts has some great ones.

Mariann: Thank you, Sarah Parker it is a pleasure to get to know you. I hope Vocal creators will enjoy reading this interview.

I will leave you with another one of her Top Stories.