We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jeffrey Ashkin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jeffrey below.
Jeffrey, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
My drama teacher in high school told my class a straightforward rule when it came to pursuing a life in the performing arts. She said, “If anything else in the world makes you happier than being in the performing arts, do that instead.” Her words stuck with me for years since I found myself going from job to job while pursuing acting and writing on the side. However, it was apparent to me, that I really just loved to write and nothing in the world made me happier. Even as I approach my forties, I realize I can’t stop writing. It’s just something I want to do for the rest of my life.
Jeffrey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a writer, first and foremost. This is what I love to do. This is what I want to do for others. My passion began in high school writing plays for my class to perform. This morphed into a passion for writing screenplays in film school. Usually, I find myself helping others with developing their stories and correcting grammar. Occasionally, I find myself doing an acting gig. Which I find is also a way of developing a script.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I love connecting with people through my stories. When I hear somebody tell me one of my characters reminds them of a relative or a scene I wrote reminds them of a situation that person was once in, it’s heartwarming. This is especially true when it is a person I’ve never met before in my life. Connecting to a complete stranger or dozens of strangers in a large theatre is fascinating and also the most rewarding.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My main goal in my writing is to write the best story I can. I’m always rewriting and refining my work to make it more interesting, more complex, and more entertaining. I love stories I can revisit and find new things to love and appreciate. I want that level of complexity in my own writing. I love to challenge the reader with innovative ideas but also entertain that person at the same time.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffreyashkin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.ashkin
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyashkin/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeffreyAshkin
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jeffreyashkin
Image Credits
Headshot by Sage Kirkpatrick