Member Spotlight: Hayley Reese Chow

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? I’ve always looked to writing both as an escape and as a way to process the world around me. I find it amazingly cathartic to channel emotions into new worlds and characters to bring new perspective to the challenges and relationship we face every day. Then seeing that new understanding and release echoed through reader connection brought a whole new depth to my writing experience. It’s like an echo from author to reader over and over, across time and space, reminding us that we are not alone. And in world of billions, where loneliness is as pervasive as the air we breathe, that human connection is invaluable. Especially when technology increasingly divides and darkens, we need art that is human and real to bring us together. We need books that remind us that we too can be the hero.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? I don’t know if I so much get writer’s block as writer’s burnout. Though writing usually recharges me, sometimes I just flat out run out of energy to begin. In that case, I let myself take a break. For me, a week of K-drama bingeing and daily exercise usually gets me sorted right out. Then I come back brimming with ideas and excited to write. I will say, when I’m starting a draft or a revision after a break, sometimes I get this spike of doubt that maybe I won’t be able to do it again. But as soon as I start writing, that fades pretty quickly. So to sum up when in doubt: take a break, recharge, and pick up again where you left off.

What is your favorite time to write? When my children are otherwise occupied. I love them, but it’s kind of hard to get into a flow state when you’re being peppered with questions about the scientific name of a water bottle (real example) every five minutes. Other than that, if I’m awake, it’s a great time to write. The longer the time window, the better, but I’ll take fifteen minutes whenever and wherever we’ve got.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? I have two that have been huge for me. One is a Banksy Quote: “If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.” Honestly, I feel like I’ve been able to apply it to so many areas in my life. Taking a break is not quitting, and if you regularly rest, in the long run, you will be able to go farther. The other I can’t remember the exact words, but essentially they said: “Writing is 90% thought and 10% getting it down on paper.” That totally revolutionized my writing process. Before then, I thought I had to have huge windows of writing time in order to get my thoughts together and write, which as a working mother of young children, seemed incredibly difficult. When I realized that I could essentially think out the story throughout the day, and then be ready to whip out words at 100 wpm when I finally got to sit down at my computer, everything started moving a lot faster, and I could use writing windows of any size.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? I love having options. So far in my writing career, I’ve self-published, I’ve published through a small press, and now I also have the experience of being an agented author. I love that even incredibly niche books now have a chance to find their audiences in social media spaces. And I love that I have the ability to connect with both readers and authors directly through social media. I’ve built lasting friendships through the online writing community, and I have hope that as a community, we’ll continue to stand up for human artists, writers, and creatives as we navigate an ever-changing age.

Hayley Reese Chow’s Fangs, Fate, & Monday is out today with Whimsical Publishing.