Winter 2020 Volume Contributor Spotlight
On February 17, 2021, The Aurora Journal took to Twitter to announce this interview competition– a chance for our followers to vote for their favorite author to be interviewed from the Winter 2020 Volume. You all chose… Shyla Jones! Our EIC, Sophie, had a wonderful conversation with her about her journey as a writer and person.
This volume’s honorable mention goes to runner-up Kelli Lage!
Now it’s time to grab a snack and start reading this inspiration-packed spotlight.
Q: What was your inspiration for to the girl at the city laundromat? And going off from that, what generally inspires you?
A: Honestly, I saw a really cute, pastel-colored picture of washing machines on Pinterest, and I was obsessed. I opened up a Google Doc and just went off of that feeling-- bright colors, sunlight, yearning. This is usually how my process goes with inspiration! I'm always scouring Pinterest for a random picture to inspire me. I always seem to gravitate toward things that are super colorful and have this warm feeling, and I hope that's how my writing comes across too.
Q: How did you first get into the literary journal scene?
A: You guys were actually my first ever acceptance! Which is why this is so exciting! I started submitting to literary mags when I was around 19 or 20 after one of my professors told me to submit my final short story project to one. At the time, I was not very present in my school scene because of mental health issues, so I didn't really even know what a lit mag was. I googled it, found The New Yorker and other BIG journals, and thought I'd submit my little school story, thinking I would definitely get in... Obviously, I didn't, so for a while I just wrote for myself. I'd submit here and there, but only to one place at a time and, like, three times a year. In 2021, I told myself I would start taking it seriously and finally put myself out there, and it paid off!
Q: I know you’re the EIC of your own magazine, Superfroot Mag! Why did you start it and how did you do it?
A: Yes! My three best friends and I started Superfroot after years of wanting to do something like this together. We're a mix of writers and artists, so we wanted Superfroot to have an emphasis on both and to be a fun and unique addition to the literary scene.
Q: What is your typical writing process like?
A: Chaos... The other day I had three Google docs open and was bouncing between all of them, writing one or two lines at a time. I also don't outline anything ever, not even my novel, so. Chaos.
Q: What was your journey as a writer like?
A: I've been writing since I was six! I've always loved to write and read so much. I think my first ever inspiration was Junie B. Jones. I did amazing in school when I was a kid, but slowly my grades went downhill as I got into high school due to a lot of mental health issues that I didn't know were mental health issues. While I majored in writing in college, I struggled and went in and out of schools until I decided to just take a break. In 2020, I started my undergrad again and have been doing a lot better! Now I plan to finish undergrad and shoot my shot at some MFA programs here in Massachusetts.
Q: What was the best learning or growing experience you’ve ever had?
A: I think opening myself up to criticism and letting people read my writing and help me make it better has helped me grow the most as a writer! I used to be scared to let anyone read anything I wrote in fear that they'd hate it and that'd mean I was terrible and should quit. But really, letting people help me make my stories and poems better and offer their own perspective has helped my writing grow and has helped me gain a lot of friends!
Q: Why do you write?
A: Oooh. Well, for one, I love it. It's my biggest passion and has helped me through almost everything. But also, I just believe in my words now and think that they should be out in the world. Something I write might help out just one person, whether it's through relatability or making someone laugh, and that's so rewarding!
Q: What are your goals in the future?
A: For now, I'd like to finish my first novel, which is on its third rewrite. Help. Hopefully I can start querying it late this year or early next... Then we'll see.
Q: Do you have advice for other fellow writers?
A: Yes! Write for you first! It's always important to enjoy writing and not over-stress about acceptances and schooling and grades and etc. If you love your writing, that's the most important thing. Credentials and accolades don't make a writer. You're a writer, because you write! Period!