Introduction
Apologies that this post is so late! I came down very sick at the end of December and was unable to publish this last post. This Creative Spotlight is all about Taryn Riddle, in support of her poetry book, “NOISE.”
In our interview, we talked about what inspires her, how her brand has grown, how she got into writing and so much more. Read the interview below!
The Interview
How and when did you start writing?
As a child, my parents always gave me diaries/journals as gifts. Every year, it would be a hardcover book with empty lined paper inside; I would always decorate it with stickers and gems. My parents encouraged me to write in these journals and they promised to never read through them.
To my knowledge, they kept that promise. Writing became my private way of coping with my feelings. I journaled almost daily from the ages of roughly 9 to 16. When I was 17, I thought to myself, “I wonder if other people would resonate with my experiences... What if I published these diaries”?
With my parents’ full support, I did just that, and I titled it ‘NOISE’. A collection of journal entries and poetry about my eating disorder; ‘NOISE’ was published in 2019 and is now available at all major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Waterstones, etc.
What did you start writing? Like poetry, novels, short stories?
I have never been much of a storyteller. I began writing journal entries and as I got older, I have grown to specialize in poetry and short vignettes! I was first inspired by minimalist female poets like Rupi Kaur, Nikita Gill, and Amanda Lovelace.
In college, I also found inspiration in women who focus on mental health issues, including Sylvia Plath and Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
Where do you draw inspiration from the most?
I am inspired by emotion. My experiences, trauma, social and romantic life, and relationship with myself. Sometimes I write during an intense emotion as a coping mechanism. Other times, I channel those emotions retrospectively. I have found the latter to be very healing and cathartic.
I think that is why I will never stop writing. It is part of how I cope with the world and my life. Whether in private diaries or internationally published books, my words are born from the same place: deep within my heart.
What was the biggest challenge you experienced in creating your brand?
The biggest challenge I have faced during my time as an author came about right after I was first published. ‘NOISE’ received some major backlash on Goodreads. Some of the bad reviews were from bullies at my high school, but the ones that hurt the most were from strangers.
The thing about publishing a memoir of my real life is that criticisms do not just critique my writing style. They cut to the core: sometimes, they chastise my own life decisions. And trust me, I’ve made many errors of speech and behavior in my teenage years (and onwards).
But I am learning about the publishing process through these experiences. A few things I have learned are:
(1) not all bad reviews are ‘bad’. They may be right, or they may be opportunities to learn. It is okay to be humbled for a good cause.
(2) critics do, fortunately or unfortunately, have a seat to fill in the publishing arena. However, they are a very small fraction of the community I have built around my writing.
How did your brand tie into your writing?
I will joke to my friends, “I LOVE to talk (write) about myself”. Some people are interested in topics, but I am most interested in myself. And I say that in a sincerely unassuming way. I like to think that my social platform @kellyyriddle is honestly just a public exercise of healing my internal scars by writing and sharing my writing.
How has your brand brought attention to your book?
Since I began building my social media presence, I have experienced a surge in interest in ‘NOISE’. Even when I had 200 followers, I would receive messages from people who told me they had my book at home.
The first time I received a message like that, it was very surreal. As my Instagram presence grew to 20,000, those messages came more often. I am always very honored by them. The online writing community not only has brought more readers to my writing, but also has made a huge reader out of me!
And I love that I can partner with other writers from across the world and mutually support each other’s books.
Have your favorite writers influenced your own brand?
Definitely. As I mentioned above, some of my favorite writers are Rupi Kaur, Nikita Gill, Amanda Lovelace, Sylvia Plath, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. I also have been lucky to read poetry by Alex Beil (author of ‘Reckless’ and ‘Poems for Healing), Leisly Ann (author of ‘Living in Phases’) who have both become good friends of mine since meeting online.
In building my brand, I am inspired by aspects of things I like about other writers’ works or profiles. The amalgamation of what I love about other writers as well as unique features of myself are what ultimately have made my brand what it is today (and what it will be in the future).
If you were to write an autobiography, what would you title it?
That’s a tough question. I am going to say ‘NOISE’, for now, because all of the books that I have written or partially written are autobiographies! Each one focuses on a different aspect of my experiences and my character. I am excited to share future books with my readers very soon— there are so many autobiographical updates that need to be shared since I was nineteen (when ‘NOISE’ came out)!
Conclusion
That was Taryn Riddle! I can’t wait to see what else she publishes in the future and I can’t wait to read more of her poetry. You can buy here poetry book, “NOISE,” and follow her on her socials by clicking here.
A small update, I will be taking a break from posting again. The Coffee Shop Ramblings Blog will be back soon, so stay tuned.
Thanks for reading and Happy Writing!
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