Interview with Kira Aitch

How did you become a writer?

I always sort of liked writing in school as a kid, but the exact event that started

me on fiction writing was the day my father discovered a Smith Corona Spell Right

Dictionary typewriter in the basement. It smelled like dust, there were several

dead roly-polys in the cavity, and the rudimentary spell check would always beep

when I pressed the letter ‘t,’ but to seventh grade me, it was treasure.

I ditched it for handwriting two months later and wrote most of my books that way

until college. I was also always such a voracious reader, especially in middle school,

and it started to feel like I was running out of books to read from my middle

school library. I guess the easiest next step was to start writing my own.

What inspires you to write?

95% of what I write is just to send back to middle/high school me to read once the

world provides reliable time travel. I think she’d like what I’ve written. I think it’s

incredibly important for all different kinds of kids and young adults to be able see

versions of themselves in media, and this is my way of adding to the options.

How do you develop your plot and characters?

I have a series of writer’s journals that I take handwritten notes in. I’m not

volume five right now and I’ll do writing sprints and character breakdowns in them.

Sometimes I end up with what are basically essays on my own work, like color

theory studies or breakdowns of how power systems work. That way, I have a

guide to look back on and I have an easier time remembering it since I had to

physically write it out.

Could you share some of your challenges as a writer?

Taking big ideas and condensing them down. Often, my stories start out as a

collection of quotes, scenes, and vibes and it’s my job to squish them together into

a comprehensive story. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I have

definitely had a tough time in the past getting rid of a scene or changing a

storyline just because it wasn’t working or didn’t fit the overall theme. I find it

helps to store those sections elsewhere so I don’t feel entirely like I’ve lost them.

Tell me about your protagonist. What's your favorite trait and/or weakness?

My book centers around a pair of half-sisters, Jia Li and Jorie, with the main focus

being on Jorie. Jorie (or “Marjoram,” when she’s in trouble) is that one kid you

knew at summer camp who was absolutely covered in band-aids because of her little

“adventures,” volunteered first to go on the high ropes course, and definitely didn’t

have a live toad in her pocket at all times. Her motivations are exploration, chaos,

and the protection of her family. Honestly, what I love most about Jorie is her

willingness to keep trucking forward in the name of adventure and her complete

lack of hesitation to throw hands. Jia, on the other hand, brought a book to

homecoming and is definitely only going along with this nonsense because someone

needs to keep an eye on Jorie. She, too, is motivated by the safety of her loved

ones and knowledge, but what makes her stand out from Jorie is that big-sister

energy she carries with her at all times. She’s tired, she will make fun of you, and

she just “happens” to carry your favorite snack in her bag.

How does your antagonist create conflict?

I love antagonists who are terrifying, looming entities that seem to hover above

the world, ready to strike at any moment, with no indication on when they will do

so.

What are your current/future projects?

I’d like to see this series to the end, and then write some more! I’ve got a million

and a half ideas, mostly YA or middle grade and mostly fantasy, that I would love

to be able to write out and share. I’d estimate that I’m working on starters for

about three or four projects at a time, with as many as two or three dozen on the

back burner. The variety helps me keep my brain fresh to keep moving forward on

my current projects.

Do you have a routine you follow when writing?

I wish! There are some days that I can open a notebook or my document and slam

out chapters in one sitting and then there are days where I open my laptop and

immediately open Pinterest, or worse, my phone. My last few projects have had

outlines, though. They used to be barely comprehensible to someone without

existing knowledge of the project and they contain far too many exclamation

points, but an outline is an outline. I also find marathoning helpful for me, but I

know it’s something most people find punishing. I just really like creating a cozy

environment and churning through work for entire weekends straight. Honestly,

writing is a very “find what works for you and be proud of it” art.

The only real routine I have with my writing is my scent playlist. With my last

three projects, I’ve been burning a combination of two to six candles with scents

inspired by the story or environment. It’s a little way to immerse myself in the

story without putting on armor and climbing a tree.

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would it be?

I’d give myself two pieces of advice. First, I would go back to before my family’s

basement flooded the first time and tell myself to move my original writing into

something waterproof, and then I’d go back to high school me and warn myself to

only use black or blue ink. Really, what it boils down to is “save everything you

write.” If you think it’s garbage? That’s fine. Save it. Didn’t finish? Save it.

Save everything because you are going to want to look back on your old writing

someday. It might be a bit cringy but there’s gold there. Gold, memories, and

entirely too many commas. I’ve got several binders and folders and I wish I had my

very first pieces still with me to pull from.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Make sure you’re drinking water, cheap massage guns work great for hand cramps

after writing sprints, always have backup copies for your backup copies, and if you

start to hate your writing, take a nap or start a new WIP to refresh your brain.

What is your preferred method for readers to get in touch with you? 

My DMs are open on Twitter @Aitch.Kira