The New Writer Interview

Continuing the theme, editor@unheardwords.com interviews new writer Stella Okafor to find out a little about why she writes.

editor@	Stella Okafor
When did you start writing and why do you write?
	I started writing about 2 years ago, after wanting to have started many years ago, but just never getting around to it. I mainly write because I enjoy it, and I look at it as a pastime. Through writing I have gained more confidence and I enjoy giving and receiving criticism within creative writing.
Have you noticed any major themes in your work?
	No not really, but then I guess I may not have written enough for this to be really noticeable. However in the ideas that I have for further writing I wouldn’t say that there were any noticeable themes.
Who are you talking to through your writing?
	Absolutely anyone and everyone. There really isn’t a particular group or kind of person that I’m trying to target in my writing. Although I can fully appreciate that my style of writing isn’t for everyone. Also perhaps the themes that I have written about in the past and are currently working on are again not to everyone’s liking.
How versatile do you consider yourself to be as a writer?
	It’s hard to say. I don’t think I’ve been doing it long enough to really know. Also I feel that I haven’t had my work challenged enough to be able to discover my versatility within writing.
Does your art seek to change the world or simply entertain it?
	I think perhaps a little of both. The next play that I shall be writing is about the War Camps in Germany and relates to actual events. Whereas I don’t wish to be callous in presenting this viewpoint for entertainment, I would like people to be able to think about the content and perhaps understand it. The first play I wrote was about fanaticism, trying to understand the lengths people would go to for their beliefs. Again quite a serious subject. I would say that I want to bring a little enlightenment into peoples’ lives and if this is through an entertaining medium then so be it.
Is there a piece of your work that has a particular significance for you personally? Tell us a bit about it!
	Yes I think there is. I can see a lot of myself in a character in my new novel ‘Proximity’. I have probably based her entire personality on mine. I’m not too sure why, but it really feels very natural writing about her and understanding her. She has the same weaknesses as me and I know how to write about her vulnerabilities. She’s shy in the same way that I am. It will be interesting to see whether she develops her own personality later in the novel. And whether or not I’ll start wishing I was more like her.
How interested are you in getting your work published in print?
	I think I’m fairly interested in getting my work published, though I think it really is early days for me at the moment.
Have you tried and if so have you encountered any difficulties?
	I’ve never tried.