Lajward Zahra

What was your favorite book as a child?

One of my favorite books as a child was Sign of the Seahorse by Graeme Base. I remember always just wanting to look at it for hours on end because the illustrations were gorgeous and the rhymes were so satisfying. I think the book was also a little more special because it was gifted to me by someone I honestly consider my grandfather.

What was the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

Really general reasons. I grew up with my dad telling me stories he made up almost every night, and when I wasn’t hearing stories, I was reading. I was an insatiable reader as a child. I think I started to write poems around 4th grade that were the kinds you’d find on greeting cards. I’m sure I tried to plot out a novel in middle school. It felt just natural. Why wouldn’t I write?

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

A conversation. Several conversations across several years. Conversations that felt like Heat Lightning (Mitski), Howl (Alexandra Savior), Super Massive Black Hole (Muse), etc.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

Yes. Both. Sometimes I do playlists. Sometimes I play one song on a loop for a couple of days until I’ve leeched every drop of dopamine that song can provide for the foreseeable future. I listen to music most of the day, so it’s constant enough that I don’t find it distracting when I need to read or write, and it keeps me focused. It helps in creating a vibe too, and I’m not disciplined enough to work at writing without a vibe.