We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chimen Kouri. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chimen below.
Chimen, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
After publishing two books, writing became a chore. I was too focused on the logistics rather than the creativity of it. While writing book three, I promised myself I wouldn’t fall into a routine. I plan on playing with the next story as if I’m playing with Barbies. I think that’s what you have to do to keep the creativity alive – just have fun with it. Writing book three makes me feel like I’m returning to my childhood self – back to the days when I was a little girl playing mermaids in the pool with my friends.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am the author of the chapbook, Peach Milk, and the full-length poetry and prose collection, What Haunts Me the Most. Both collections emphasize the eldest daughter syndrome, tackling specifically my role as the eldest daughter in a multicultural household. Though, it feels good to finally put that story to rest and focus my attention on a project that showcases my writing strengths differently – and better, I feel. I’m currently back to co-writing my novel with my boyfriend, a story we’ve been working on for so many years, I feel like our relationship wouldn’t be what it is today without it. I’m so grateful for what this story has already provided for me, and I haven’t even finished it yet.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The most impactful skills in my journey are organization, my attention to detail, and the most important: patience.
You have to be organized to write a book. I know how exciting it can be, but I think jumping in without any knowledge of where the story is headed only leads to unfinished work. I’ve tried it before, and it brought me back to the start. Create an outline, but you don’t have to get too detailed with it right away. This is really important to remember when writing a book: nothing is permanent. You can always go back and change/add something!
My attention to detail comes from my background in editing. It starts off simple: cutting out unnecessary words from a sentence. Then you start seeing the story in ways you didn’t before by paying attention to what is surrounding it: the setting, your character’s eye color, the perspective the story is being told in. Everything you choose has a meaning. You just have to pay attention to why you choose it.
Lastly, patience is a big one for me. You aren’t going to write well in a rush. Take your time with your story. Really get to know your characters and the world you created for them. Writing isn’t meant to be hurried. If you want to create a good story, something you’re proud of, you have to live with it for a while.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
I have a lot to thank my parents for, but the most impactful thing they’ve done for me is instill in me my love for storytelling. I grew up watching my mom read Anne Rice and bodice-rippers, her bookshelves completely filled and still are! She introduced me to my love for books. My dad is probably the biggest storyteller I know, and a lot my stories were inspired by his. I always recall my favorite memory. It was a Christmas morning, and the power had gone out. I remember lying in bed with my parents, my dad occupying our time with his stories about Lebanon, me thinking how invincible my dad was. I didn’t know it then, but I think that moment set everything up for my future. If it wasn’t for my parents, I know I wouldn’t be a writer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chimengeorgettekouri.com/
- Instagram: @grandma_g0th
- Other: Substack: https://grandmag0th.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=substack_profile
Image Credits
Photos of book covers for Peach Milk and What Haunts Me the Most belong to Bottlecap Press. The other two photos/memes are mine.
