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Welcome to the newest post in Writing While Healing, a series where I speak with indie authors who’ve found light through writing during their darkest times.
Today, I’m honored to feature Sibyl. You can learn more about Sibyl here.
Please introduce yourself!
Hiya! I go by Sibyl. I’m a 30 year old from Texas, my pronouns are she/her, and I am an aspiring author. Currently I am working to improve my writing and do some video content while I try to find employment.
Please tell us a little about yourself and the kind of stories you write.
I used to write fanfiction as a kid, dropped it for a few years, then briefly picked that up again after graduation college in 2017. I stopped updating my fanfics around 2020, and now they’ve been deleted. But I’ve always been brainstorming ideas for original work, and they tended to be fantasy flavored.
Lately I’ve been dipping my toes into doing short stories with writing prompts or contests, but haven’t gotten anything published. I’m in the planning stages for my first novella, which is set in a magic school. I do want to branch out a little from speculative fiction, I have a draft in the works based on a trip to Walmart I had. 😅
Please share a bit about your mental health journey, as much as you are comfortable with :)
People like to joke about the smart students who burn out and don’t amount to the “potential” placed on them, and I was definitely one of those kids. Except, I think I burned out at around age 15. Since I was a good, quiet student I hid it pretty well. I spent many years bottling up my emotions, break down in tears and frustration, only to bottle it all up again. In 2023, I had to admit to myself that I needed to change something, but I was scared. It took some searching, asking my parents for financial help, and procrastination for me to find a therapist that works for me. I’ve only known her a year but she’s been a big help in getting diagnosed with inattentive ADHD, depressions, and general anxiety. I’m starting to take steps to better my situation.
How has your mental health influenced your writing process or creativity?
I definitely avoided my budding interest in writing and other creative hobbies because of my mental health. I have to deal with paralyzing executive dysfunction– I struggle with planning and starting tasks, even the things I want to. I procrastinate so many things because it’s easier to mindlessly scroll on social media. I don’t like to practice, and I don’t like the drafting stage of writing because I just want to be good at something now. I daydream a lot, which is a bad and good thing, since I enjoy brainstorming ideas but don’t get around to finishing them.
Do you find writing to be healing, challenging, or a bit of both?
It’s a mix of both, maybe leaning more towards challenging for now. It’s hard at the start, but once you find your groove it turns rather calming. Then you get stuck in the middle, only to feel overjoyed once you solve that hurdle.
Has your experience with mental health shaped the themes or characters in your stories?
I have a lot of snippets in my brainstorming notes featuring characters who are lost in their lives. They’re mostly young adults or older, cuz I believe it’s never too late to have a coming-of-age arc. Many of these ideas, the protagonist is starting at a low point in their lives until something or someone sparks a need for change. The novella I’m working on right now touches on these ideas, but it’s planned to be a portal fantasy so there’s themes of escapism in it as well. I think that ties into my mental health struggles quite well.
Are there any writing routines, boundaries, or self-care habits that help you stay grounded?
I try to keep to-do lists and alarms for my day to day routines, but it’s all through my phone so it’s also a distraction. When I’m getting ready to write I often use a timer app called Forest which plants a virtual tree during the time you set. You’re suppose to set it so that your tree dies if you exit the app, but I turned that off and just try not to touch my phone. Besides that, I like writing with lofi music on and recently I found a cheap candle lamp so I can finally feel safe using this lavender candle I’ve owned awhile.
What advice would you give to other writers who have similar struggles as you?
If you struggle with procrastination and a need to write perfectly, consider recording yourself or use voice-to-text! I’m learning it’s a way to get my ideas out there instead of sitting and staring at an empty screen. With voice-to-text there’s a lot of spelling and grammar issues that can be annoying, but I believe it can also help tackle that perfectionist attitude
Have you ever taken breaks from writing to focus on your mental health?
Not exactly. If I look back at myself before my diagnosis, my mental health worsening would make just not want to write. That’s sorta a break, but I didn’t know how to improve myself. Right now where I’m at, I see writing as a way to work on my mental health.
What’s something you wish more people understood about being a writer with mental health struggles?
Maybe it’s that people shouldn’t romanticize us as writers. There’s that famous archetype of the struggling artist who suffers for their art, and the pain is what gives it value. That is a load of BS. It’s one thing to draw inspiration from our struggles, but we don’t want to be completely miserable while writing.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the readers?
I could share a long term dream I have. I’d like to write a game one day. I’m not sure what kind of game and I’d have to learn most of the coding myself, but I think there’s a lot of fun to be had in reading a story while also interacting with it by making choices.
Where can readers connect with you and your work? (Socials, website, books, etc.)
I’m @sibylewrites on Instagram and Threads, and I have a Substack @sibylespada.
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Thank you for reading!
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