ACSutliff Interviews kaltopsyd
An aspiring psychologist sheds light on her writing and personal philosophies
1. KAltoPsyD, you have mentioned that you always carry a notebook with you, just in case inspiration hits. What motivates and inspires you, and why do you write?
Anything and everything inspires me. Sometimes the lyrics of a song can set off an entire story in my head. Most of the time, it’s the things I observe around me or the circumstances I have experienced, either personally or through people close to me, that inspire me. I write because… I guess it’s just in my heart. I can’t imagine not writing. It’s my catharsis, my passion.
2. You write about so many different topics. How do you pick topics to read and write about, and what is your favorite Hub as a reader and as a writer?
Hmm…. For my psychology articles, I get all my ideas from my research and from lectures. I love to research on my own so it’s always fun to share my findings. As for other topics, I write what is in my heart. Sometimes topics randomly pop into my head without a discernable trigger. I really do enjoy fiction Hubs. I like writing them but I really enjoy reading them. There are so many awesome fiction writers on HubPages. I always feel honoured to comment on their brilliant works.
3. Tell us what life in Trinidad is like compared to life in the United States. How has moving influenced you, both as a person and as a writer?
Ah… let’s see. Well, life in Trinidad is very different compared to the US. It’s a small country so everyone knows each other, or at least they know someone connected to someone else. It was very… shocking to move to such a large country where life is always “go-go-go!” You know? I remember I first started “seriously” writing when I moved to America. My mum gave me a diary to write my thoughts and experiences in. Yet, when I look into my old diaries now, I realise that I usually wrote observations; I wrote about external factors, things happening to other people connected to me. I guess that’s how I began writing. Writing is the time when I take a break from the hustle and bustle of American life.
4. You are an aspiring psychologist who also loves to write. How does your background in psychology help you develop your wonderful characters and guide you down the path of writing?
Ooh, deep question! Studying psychology has enabled me to look at things from many different perspectives. Especially when it comes to envisioning things from other people’s perspectives. Studying human behaviour helps me see the person as a whole. When I develop my characters, their behaviours always have a very deep, underlying emotional component. I am very in tune with my characters’ emotions.
5. What personal code of life do you live and breathe by?
Treat others the way you want to be treated. Operate with fairness and be slow to judge! I always try to approach every situation with several perspectives. I don’t like to judge people because you never know what someone is going through. I know I wouldn’t want someone to prematurely judge me and treat me badly as a result. That’s just not right.
6. If you had to start your life over tomorrow with nothing except for one person or possession, who or what would you take with you?
I would take my mother. My mother is my provider, my best friend and my worst enemy. She’s my biggest fan and my nastiest critic. If I were to start life over with her, then I’d have everything I need.
7. If you were the editor for the story of our world, what is one thing (past, present, or future) that you would edit?
I would edit the holocaust; erase it from history. I mean, I know slavery was terrible but the holocaust didn’t just affect the Jews. It affected anyone who was different. Mass genocide in history has only continued to the present and it seems as though it would continue to the future. In my overly unrealistic theory on erasing the holocaust from history, I will hope to save the present and future as well.
8. You have been with HubPages for half a year. In that time you have published over 150 Hubs on a variety of subjects and have made quite a following for yourself. Two of your Hubs have been nominated and won HubNugget awards, and you have participated in the 60-Day Hub Challenge. How have your experiences on HubPages influenced you as a writer?
I’ve been most strongly influenced by the relationships I have formed on HubPages. It’s not just another blog site. It’s a writing community in the best sense. I’ve had so much encouragement from Hubbers I look up to. I’ve also have some useful and constructive criticim. I believe the HubPages community has helped me grow as a writer. I’ve always been motivated to write but HubPages has even pushed me to completing a full story that I was previously unable to finish. I’m grateful to the people I’ve met on HubPages.
|
