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. 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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