Source: ivy lee / ivy lee
Creative writing is one of the most unique and personal forms of self expression that we have. In a world filled with social media news stories flying at you a mile a minute, it’s refreshing to still be able to sit down with a good book – one that contains actual pages – and submerge yourself into a modern day fairy tale.
Or a hood story. Whichever you choose.
Meet Ivy Lee. Someone who truly fits the often overused label ‘last of a dying breed’. Between being a full time mother, running a daycare and being a ‘counselor’ to her friend (her words, lol) she’s published four of her own novels through her publishing company, An Infinite Creation, which she founded back in January. Through that company she’s published books for other authors as well. She even assisted in editing Cleveland’s own Ray Jr’s Legit Paper.
Following is a Q & A that I was able to have with the young author. Be sure to keep up with everything she has going on by following her Instagram page: @_ivylee
Source: ivy lee / ivy lee
Matty Willz Question and Answer with Ivy Lee
Q: When did you know you had a passion for writing? Was there a specific moment or book that kicked it off?
A: I’ve been writing since I was a kid. My dad didn’t allow us to watch tv so it kind of sparked my creative side. I’ve always made up stories during conversations and later began to write them down. Writing was my escape from reality.
Q: Speaking of books, if you could only recommend one for people to read (not yours) – which would it be?
A: I would recommend Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill.
Q: Talk about your favorite characters (1 male, 1 female) that you created. Why are these special to you?
A: Black is one of my favorite characters from my first novel series Juicy Deception. He is my favorite because he represents real life. He had everything go wrong for him but he still kept living through it all and he stayed true to himself.
Peaches (his mother) because she is a lot like me; she will go to the end of the earth to protect her son.
Q: When you sit down to write, do you have a process? For example do you need a certain space, time or energy? How do you deal with ‘writers block’?
A: When I write I just allow it to flow. Mostly at night is my favorite time to write, not sure why, it’s just my most creative time. I write from my pain. Instead of crying I write, so every book I’ve written I’ve written while my heart hurt. I also use the energy of people around me to write. Its something about vibes that get me going. I never have writers block. I write whatever comes to my vision and if I don’t have a vision I just don’t write.
Q: How old were you when you were published for the first time? How did it make you feel?
A: I was 25 when I first self published. At first I didn’t think too much of it until the book was in my hands and then I was like wow… I did this. I really did this. It was unreal for me.
Q: Is getting published one of your greatest accomplishments?
A: My greatest accomplishment for me wasn’t publishing my books, it was actually getting my degree. I was never into school because I was always daydreaming and writing short stories, so as an adult when I promised myself I would go to college and finish so that my kids can have a good example set for them and I did it, that’s when I felt accomplished. I was able to check off a huge goal.
Q: Say you meet a young person who wants to write for a living… what advice do you give them?
A: I tell them to just start. Allow it to flow and don’t worry about who likes it. It’s billions of people in the world and your writing is for somebody.
