Amelia Danielle Bailey
ORP: What inspired you to begin writing or creating? Has that source of inspiration changed throughout your life?
Amelia Danielle Bailey: I don't know if I can articulate what inspires me to write; it is the essence of my being. My mom told me that before I was old enough to spell or write, I would tell her all sorts of stories. None of the stories made sense, and half the words were gibberish, but I was enthusiastic about sharing stories with her. That enthusiasm and innate desire to explore and understand people has never left me. My inspiration hasn't changed, but it has continuously evolved with every experience and deeper self-understanding.
ORP: What does success as a writer or artist mean to you?
ADB: Success is being fully engaged in the creative process from start to finish. I, for better or worse, spend a lot of time in my head. While I relish building these lived experiences that are both mine and the musing of my ancestors, my anxieties often seek to keep it all inside. So allowing my work to exist outside of my mind and body is success to me.
ORP: Does writing or creating energize or exhaust you? What aspects of your artistic process would you consider the most challenging or rewarding?
ADB: Just thinking or talking about writing energizes me. I love every element of the writing process, from researching and outlining to writing and editing. Even when I'm mentally exhausted from a writing session, my brain is still buzzing with energy and the desire to keep writing for fear of losing motivation or the vibe of that piece. The need to write every poem idea or feeling all at once is probably both the most challenging and rewarding part of the work for me. If I don't get it all out now, the energy for that piece kind of fizzles out because I get too in my head, and imposter syndrome starts to creep in. When I sit in it and let the words flow out of me, there isn't room for doubt. So despite the physical and emotional exhaustion that comes with staying in that sort of flow state, it is deeply rewarding because I feel like I'm able to tap into my higher self to create things that feel far beyond my perceived ability.
ORP: What would you say is your most interesting writing and/or artistic quirk? Do you have any habits that you believe help or hinder your creativity?
ADB: I'm not sure if it's quite a quirk or not, but I edit as I go. Many teachers stressed the need to draft and revise later, but I could never bring myself to leave an error uncorrected or an idea unfleshed out. It likely stems from the unfortunate perfectionist bug. As a kid, I couldn't bear the thought of making a "mistake" or having anyone see my errors. Now in many areas of my life, I work to put distance between myself and perfectionism. Yet, I've written this way for so long that it's become this automatic quirk that's just a part of my process. Some may argue that editing as I go makes me a slower writer, but it works for me. Instead of getting stuck on a problem, I stay in the flow and joy of creation.
ORP: What books have you read many times?
ADB: Helen and Troy's Epic Road Quest by A. Lee Martinez. Martinez's world-building and humor continuously inspire me. I would be honored if my poetry could move people even a quarter of the way Maya Angelou and Shel Silverstein's work moves me.