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In this interview, we talked with Farishta Anjirbag, one of our star writers here at GenZ Writes. Scroll down to learn more about Farishta and advice she has for aspiring writers.  Photo credit: Farishta Anjirbag Introduce yourself. Who are you? What are your hobbies? Interests? Hi, my name is Farishta Anjirbag. I’m a 19-year-old college student in Mumbai, India, with plans to major in English Literature. For the most part, I’m just trying to make my way through the general uncertainty of being 19. I’m a huge fan of appreciating the everyday, and so spend most of my free time drawing and writing about the small things around me, or just looking out of my window to some good music. What are your favorite topics to write about for GenZ Writes? I can’t say I have any favourite topics, but I usually try to write about issues from my own society that have been playing on my mind for a while. I think our generation is increasingly being exposed to a plethora of information and issues from the world over. My experience with media consumption has shown me that it’s really easy to get swept away by other people’s opinions online. So, at the moment, my main interest is in getting my readers and myself to really think about and question our beliefs before making them their own. Why do you enjoy writing? Why did you choose to write for GenZ Writes? Writing helps me understand myself and the world a little better. Moreover, the writing process is something I find to be extremely challenging. It pushes me to expand my thinking and look at the same things – whether it’s a sentence construction, a worldview, or an abstract idea – in many different ways. It’s only when I write that I can really make my ideas and opinions unique to myself. I chose to write for GenZ Writes because, through my work, I wanted to draw attention to the issues that matter to me. I’ve always believed writing and literature to be agents of social change, with the power to make an impact in people’s lives, however small it may be. When a friend told me about GenZ Writes, it seemed like the perfect platform to explore this kind of work, and find some semblance of a voice as a writer.  What is your biggest wish for the future? Biggest worry? My biggest wish is to gain clarity on how I can engage my interests and creative a positive impact on my surroundings in the future. My biggest worry, well, haha – I’m worried about things ranging from personal failure and mediocrity, to climate change and the abysmal social climate for women and minorities in my country. Each of them takes turns occupying my mind. Best piece of advice to aspiring writers? To always pursue authenticity. As I mentioned earlier, it’s really easy to get carried away by what’s popular in our peer and reference groups, but when we write about things we don’t relate to, it simply does not make for good writing. It took me a long time to realize this. Authentic writing is real expression, it’s what people want to read, and it’s the only thing you can stake your claim to. Challenge yourself to form ideas that are your own, rather than just repeating the dogma that makes up most of our thought. Write what you know, and if you’re writing about something you don’t know well, find ways to relate to it. 
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In this interview, we talked with Kiana Maria, one of our star writers here at GenZ Writes. Scroll down to learn more about Kiana and advice she has for aspiring writers.  Pictured: Kiana Maria Introduce yourself. Who are you? What are your hobbies? Interests? My name is Kiana Maria. I am a sixteen-year-old poet from New Jersey. My hobbies include writing poetry, roller skating, listening to music, and reading. I also enjoy cooking and playing with my little sister. When it comes to music, I love listening to Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Jessie Reyez, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Lizzo. What are your favorite topics to write about for GenZ Writes? My favorite topic to write about for GenZ Writes is student interviews. I love being able to share the stories of some amazing GenZ artists and role models I know. I have written about poets, singers, and even bakers. GenZ has a lot to offer, and I am glad that the voices coming from little towns in New Jersey are being heard! Why do you enjoy writing? Why did you choose to write for GenZ Writes? I started out writing poetry at the age of seven. I have loved poetry ever since. My first poem was about my little sister. As time flew, I still held on to my admiration for poetry, and even got to perform a piece in a youth arts off-broadway show in New York. However, during quarantine, I have delved in more to the idea of writing more than just poems and short stories. Writing articles for GenZ Writes has been an amazing experience. I chose GenZ Writes because I felt like it was calling me in a way. I had been looking for places to write for, and GenZ Writes kind of lured me to it! Ever since mid-June, I have been writing for GenZ Writes, and I wouldn’t want it any other way! What is your biggest wish for the near future? Biggest worry?
I have two big wishes at the moment for the future. Those two are, equality for all, and for the Coronavirus to have a vaccine. I know the second one is easier said than done, but seeing so many people hurting from this isn’t easy. Equality for all in this country should be a given, however, it seems as though it is out of reach. It’s 2020, it is time to see some real change. My biggest worry would probably have to be that the virus won’t have a vaccine. In New Jersey, the cases are slowly going down, however, I have family/friends from all over, and I don’t want it hitting too close to home. Best piece of advice to aspiring writers? My best piece of advice to aspiring writers would have to be: do you. No matter what someone says or does or thinks, you do you unapologetically. You want to write for the New York Times, you grab your computer and you start typing away. In middle school, the majority of my peers believed poetry was underrated, and I was often made fun of for it. However, I saw that they just wanted to take poetry away from me, and I was never going to let that happen. Words are not tangible. They didn’t have the power to take them from me, because I never gave them that chance. The cherry on top is that when we graduated I was Valedictorian, and they had to hear my speech, which by the way, was a poem. If you want to be a poet, let every stanza come from your heart. Don’t ever let anyone make you inferior to your art. |
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