Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?

I started writing poetry in my teens and would write poems once every ten years, or when I felt very depressed about something.

Recently I’ve been exploring more forms and techniques. Poetry can be a great way to jot down ideas, get to the heart of a matter quickly, or try something new without getting bogged down by considerations in a longer project like a novel.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer and how does that affect your writing?

I’m a part-time creative writer and I work in the digital content field. It works out well in terms of balance because having some regular income frees me up creatively. That’s something very precious to me that I deeply appreciate!

How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

In the past, I was more impulsive and interested in cross-genre writing. I simultaneously also felt more pressured to neatly fit into a commercial genre if I wanted more sales. 

Nowadays, I try to do what makes me genuinely happy in terms of the actual writing process. I’m also more thoughtful and look before I leap when it comes to a new project.

How did you decide how to publish your books?

Many years ago, I self-published some books under a pen name. I decided to submit my manuscript to small presses this time around to try something new. I wanted more credibility and a bit of help with design, editing, and formatting tasks for my debut poetry chapbook.

Did you make any marketing mistakes that you would avoid in the future?

At one point in my self-publishing journey, I got desperate and was just throwing money away to try and fix some problems. I ended up wasting a good chunk of change on marketing services that did very little. Nowadays I’m much more intentional with marketing and promotion, whether it involves social media or paid services. 

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Focus on self-validation.

Enjoy the journey of bringing out your best as a writer. 

Stay inspired, and not necessarily through the written word only.

Can you share with readers a little bit about your latest book? 

let it rip is my debut poetry chapbook. I had a small collection of heartbreak poems sitting around and I polished them up. They came about from depressive episodes where I’d mull over what went wrong in past relationships.

What is your next project? 

I’d like to complete an animal ghost horror short story collection one day. I’d also like to improve my poetry skills and try to complete a full-length poetry collection.

What is one great lesson you have learned as a writer?

Life isn’t always predictable and there’s always something new to learn or discover. 

Want to learn more about Jess Chua?

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