Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarina Byron. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Sarina, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My most meaningful project so far has been my submission to the Yale Writers’ Workshop. I stepped away from a lucrative Investment Banking Career four years ago to buil a life I dreamt of since I was a child. The challenge was immense as I had a burning desire to be a writer but didn’t know the first thing about drawing a reader in and how to get published. I set one simple guiding principles – Only engage in meaningful projects that advance my writing prowess.

Over the first two years, I relentlessly worked at my craft to bring it up to the standard of published writers. This meant putting in an excruciating amount of hours into a project I may or may not discard or start again. With this kind of prepapration, I began to see success within the first couple of submissions. When my 100th article was published, I set the goal to be accepted into the highly coveted and prestigious Yale Writers’ Workshop. This workshop is run by bestselling authors and the writers compete for a precious few spots per genre.

As intimidating as this project was, I knew that it was the best thing for my career as an author. Carrying my guiding principle in my heart, I sat down to create a winning essay with only the final result in my mind. I imagined working on my manuscript with a bestselling author. I felt my heart soar at the prospect of walking the halls that once beheld the likes of Sinclair Lewis, Philip Barry, and Thornton Wilder. Holding tightly on that feeling, I created a winning essay that got me in within a week of applying.

This success could not have been possibe if I wasn;t clear on what this project meant to me. It was the purpose that drove my willpower and brought me the result I sought.

Sarina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Writer who knew at the age of the ten that this is what I wanted to do. However, the allure of a great network and power led me to Investment Banking for over a decade. I turned to Writing at a point when I realised I wanted to live with meaning, authenticity, and purpose. Starting with articles on wellness and business, I swiftly got published in other genres like book reviews, art of writing, psychology, travel, and fashion.

Here is where I apply my second guiding principle, to always create value for the reader. My articles carry a lot of relatable insight and are designed to leave the reader with something to think about. I play with the intended topic until I find a worthy angle and then create structure and key takeaways that enrich the mind. I believe it is this quality of no obvious facts, no cliches, and original arguments that keep me successful.

When my readers email me affirming the same, no other feeling could beat that. That my words would carry authenticity and touch someone’s heart because its relatable is priceless.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

That’s a really good question! I think the part that confuses most non-creatives is that artists may look like they waste a lot of time. For example, when I want to fully flesh out the idea for a chapter, article, or scene, I may do that whilst watering the plants or reorganizing my desk. To non-creatives it looks like the writer is not writing but actually the writer is doing something much more important – exercising their imagination.

For any artists who thinks that successful writers write all day and all night, I want to dispel that myth today. Hours spent is not directly proportional to productivity and good prose. If you take time to gather your thoughts, that is still work.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Another great one. The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the freedom I can give my mind to explore absolutely anything at all. Especially as a writer, i don’t need to restrict myself to certain subjects and expertise. I can play with anything I find interesting and fit it into my current project.

For example, like all writers, I am an avid observer of people but I also have a keen interest in psychology. So whenever I am turning a real person into one of my characters, I use their personality profile to map them as close to Jungian psychological types as possible. This simple but effective exercise combines the work of my imagination with many years of psychological science to create convincing shadow selves and fully rounded personalities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarinabyron.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarinatrodriguez/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarinabyron
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarina-tewari-rodriguez-52379318/