Member Spotlight: Jessica Natalie Reino

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? Writing is important to me because it is a way for me to explore things going on in my life and the world around me through different genres. On a larger scale, I think writing itself is important for the world because it explores the depth of what it means to be human and the choices that we make.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? Don’t overthink things. Inspiration can come from anywhere and the easiest way to cure writer’s block is to live life. The next easiest thing is to jot down some ideas of what inspires me and what topics I want to write on. Then I can start forming a plan and a concept.

What is your favorite time to write? My favorite time to write is actually at night when the rest of the family is asleep. Since I write YA paranormal, it sets the tone and the environment for inspiration.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? The best piece of writing advice I have ever received was “What makes this YOUR forest?”. It was a great prompt to get me thinking clearly on what I can offer to the story through my lens and my perspective. It helped me focus on tone and my writing voice. I think it is so important to leave your creative mark and vision within a story no matter what genre you are writing in.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? What excites me most about being a Young Adult paranormal and contemporary fantasy author in today’s age is how I can explore themes going on in the world and relate that to what teens are going through in their daily lives. I want teens to feel seen and entertained.

Jessica Natalie Reino’s Coming Up for Air is out now with Fire and Ice Young Adult Books.