Interviews With Women Writers: On the Creative Process

I’m so excited for another installment in our Interviews With Women Writers series! Some of you may remember my friend Lexi from the couple times I’ve mentioned her over the years. She’s amazingly unique, super supportive and also happens to be a writer too! In fact, I think it’s one of the big things we’ve bonded over, though I admit that I could NEVER make writing fiction look so effortless. Anyway, I asked her if she’d like to answer a few questions for this column and she was game! Read on for her writing goals and inspiring advice to young writers… xoxo

Name: Alexandria (Lexi) Baisden
Where are you from: Kirkland, Illinois. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a tiny town in the middle of nowhere surrounded by corn.
3 words to describe me: Joyful, hard-working, creative
Website/Blog:Writing portfolio

Tell me a bit about yourself…what do you do, what are your hobbies, etc.?
Right now, I’m a remote transcriptionist. I get to work anywhere, as long as I have Internet access and a keyboard — a warm cup of coffee is also a must! I do some occasional freelancing, and I’m always looking for opportunities to stay active in the field, whether that’s through readings, conventions, slush reading, etc. I’ve interned for Curbside Splendor Publishing, worked as an Associate Editor at Columbia’s Publishing Lab and spent time as a Fiction Writing Tutor.

I LOVE writing fantasy. Most of my published work is of flash length, but I also write short stories. It depends on the piece, but my work is generally either really light-hearted or really heartbreaking. I’m currently working on a high-fantasy novel, and I also dabble in playwriting.

As for hobbies, I’m into researching medieval weapons and combat. My book has a lot of action, and even though there’s definitely magic involved, I want to add some realistic elements into the battles. I also play video games like Pokémon, Dragon Age and Super Smash Bros. I go on adventures with friends, cosplay and volunteer with my church by helping out rehabilitating schools, hanging out with kids and dancing with special needs students at a Night To Remember!

When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer? Was it always something you wanted to do?
Before I knew how to write sentences, I would create stories by drawing pictures. I’d staple the pages together like a book and ‘read’ them to my family. One was about a goat who owned a clothing store, but he kept eating all of his clothes and thus, had no profit. The other was a series of adventures about a bumblebee named Jack. So, I was always making up stories even as a little girl.

The first time I was really aware that I wanted to be a writer is actually because of Harry Potter. The Mirror of Erised scene was the first time words on a page had a physical impact on me. I was heartbroken for Harry, and I decided I wanted to move people through my writing too. I remember deciding I was going to write a fantasy book and I did! I finished my first book when I was eleven.

What writers/books did you admire growing up?
Harry Potter was the first series I became truly engrossed in, but Junie B. Jones definitely got me into reading — I used to call up my grandma and read the chapters to her! Other books I loved: The Magic Tree House series, The Giving Tree, Holes, The Giver… My fifth grade teacher read us books like Frindle and Running Out Of Time. She made learning so much fun! My mom also used to read me The Friendly Duck every night before bed for years!

What is most rewarding for you as a writer?
The moments that stick out to me the most is when I find out my work has touched someone. When I hear a piece has made someone laugh or cry, it makes me feel like I’m doing my job as a writer.

One story I’ll never forget is actually from a fan fiction I wrote when I was around 18. This girl told me how my story would crack her up and make her day a lot better. We started messaging back and forth and reading each other’s work. She was in remission for cancer at the time. She didn’t show up online for a few days. Her best friend wrote a message for all of her followers – the cancer was back. We kept in contact. Her best friend would read my messages out loud to her and write back. She even read her parts of my fan fiction. Her best friend told me how much she loved me because it was the one thing that made her friend laugh in a long time.

She ended up passing away, and I was devastated. I’ve never forgotten her. What I hold onto the most is how my work brightened her day during that dark time. I want to keep doing that. I want to keep writing stories that move people’s hearts.

What issues do you think women face as writers?
I’ve heard J.K. Rowling used her initials because they thought young boys wouldn’t want to read a book written by a woman. I’ve heard Jodi Picoult’s work getting called ‘chick-lit’ even though her books center around topics like the Holocaust, suicide pacts and school shootings. I’ve heard there’s a higher percentage of reviewed books written by men, and women are typically less widely read and taught in high schools. It’s a lot of the same stories over and over again.

What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were just starting out?
I used to think I had to write chronologically — like, there was absolutely no other way! I’m not sure why I thought that. Maybe because that’s what I heard a lot of other writers were doing. I would get stuck on so many projects and not move forward.

I started writing scenes that took my attention instead. For the most part, I don’t write chronologically — sometimes I write the ending before I even touch the beginning! So, I would tell new writers what may work for one person may not work for another, and that’s perfectly fine. Do what works best for you!

What would you tell aspiring writers today?
Jodi Picoult says, “You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” If you want to be a writer, it’s important to write. Don’t worry about getting it perfect the first time. You can always go back and change things!

Is there anything else you think I should know?
I keep a baby dragon on my desk. I talk my ideas out loud to him sometimes — his name is Wilson. Everyone should have a Wilson.

Here’s to having a Wilson in our lives! Thanks so much, Lexi. As always, feel free to email me at mellow1422@aol.com with ideas or if you’d like to be interviewed for this series! We women have to stick together, right?!?!? Write on!! xoxo