We were lucky to catch up with Tyrell Simon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tyrell, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
When it came to learning the craft, it started with a bit of natural talent. I’ve always had a knack for literature, but to hone a skill for consumption takes a conscious effort. Just like anything else, knowing your strengths and weaknesses is essential, and if I wanted to get a message across, I needed to know how to grab a reader’s attention. Using literary techniques like foreshadowing, imagery, symbolism, timing, juxtaposition, etc, took some time to perfect. I understood that I wanted my audience to know nothing more than what was displayed and feel the emotions I anticipated, which caused me to study everyday casual conversations.
What’s more realistic than real life? What’s funny? What’s scary? These are some of the questions that pop into my mind while writing. Do people actually talk like this? If they don’t, there is a reason; if they do, it gives a sense of relatability. Nothing feels better than someone saying, “This sounds like a conversation I had before.” That’s how I know I’m on the right track. Commonality pulled people in, and if I could combine that with techniques that followed a cohesive story, someone would feel like they’re reading something that can happen to them. They feel for the characters. They laugh or cry. But most importantly, they are engaged.
Knowing what I know now, what could have sped up my process is traveling more to see how different cultures communicate. Even in the United States, someone from New York communicates differently from someone from the West Coast—from the city to the suburbs, even from young adults to teenagers. There are so many ways micro and macro people use to get a message across.
The skill that I believe is essential is my ability to paint a picture visually. My use of descriptive vernacular combined with a level of easily placed tropes creates a smooth way for readers to digest what’s in front of them. The obstacle that stood in my way was fear. Putting yourself out there for judgment and displaying something you created alone can be intimidating. But fear promotes an opportunity to grow from an uncomfortable circumstance, so choosing against it can be liberating.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am an award-winning author specializing in horror/psychological thriller novels. I started writing professionally in 2022, hoping to share unique stories that leave a chilling impact on the reader. I believe writing is the most challenging form of art to consume because everyone perceives literature in their own way. For music, we all hear the same notes and strings; for paintings, we see the same strokes and colors. But for writing, saying, “There’s a woman in a red dress on a beach,” releases the author of creative control. Everyone will have a different woman, dress, and beach in their head. No matter how descriptive I am, what I put on that page will look differently in my head than in yours.
I’m an author who not only understands this but challenges this phenomenon. I desire to break the wall between the words on the page and the reader’s mind to regain some of that control, using the skills of redirecting, predicting, and shock value. While picking up any book I’ve authored, there is an expectation that something else is on the horizon when you think it’s all figured out. I am most proud when I can pull any emotion out of a reader. Knowing something I wrote, words can invoke an emotional reaction in a person, which is a compelling thing I do not take for granted.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn is that success comes from writing the stories that are trending or stories everyone wants to hear. In my first novel, “The Tragedy of My Masterpiece,” I wrote about a college student struggling in his last semester because he spent his prior years on an all-work-and-play schedule. As the story continues, he ditches his behavior medication as he descends into his madness while facing this new perspective of freedom. The dark tale takes twists and turns with unique highlights about a generation that is so popular with technology and social media but lonely when confronted with the truths of life. I took a risk from hearing the quote by Toni Morrison: “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” From that risk, “The Tragedy of My Masterpiece” has been read by many and recognized by an award. Creating my path allowed me to define what success means to me. My true success comes from writing stories that impact people emotionally, where they leave with a different perspective.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
What drives my creative journey is inspiring others. I always believed that no matter what you do, whether it gets millions of views or a few hundred. There is always someone out there watching your progress. That person could be looking for inspiration or something to relate to. Whatever you create can change a person’s day or mood, even if it’s just for a moment. What keeps me going is knowing that there is a possibility that someone is reading what I gave to the world, and it can provide them with a break from theirs. It’s like having a good dream while sleeping. My goal is to give that escape to someone without being physically present and do it for as many people as possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tyrellsimonbooks.com/
- Instagram: @tythewriter_
