Meet Kaitlynne Rainne

We were lucky to catch up with Kaitlynne Rainne recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaitlynne , so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

I love this question! As a BIPOC creative, sometimes I walk into a room and I’m the only one who looks like me. But more often, I am the only one with my heritage or cultural background in the room. I’m from Belize, a small Central American/Caribbean country and my heritage lies in Creole, Mestizo, and East Indian culture. Growing up in Belize, I never once thought of it that way because I went about my days and everyone looked like or sounded like me. But when I came to the USA for college, I quickly realized that there would be more times than none when I wouldn’t have that around me.

What I’ve done to help myself recognize my own success is stay true to my writing philosophy – “Don’t Be Afraid of Your Voice.” With my background and being the only one in the room, I hold the key to being a portal into my world, my language, and my culture. It’s a great honor really, but I also need to recognize how scary it can be. And by scary, I just mean that it presents a bit of pressure. You start thinking, “What if I mess up?” or “What if I don’t represent this right?” But I’ve learned to simply be myself and to embrace all aspects of who I am. It may sound cheesy, but there is only one of me, and my heritage and culture give me a unique voice and one that I haven’t seen much in mainstream media. So, that knowledge alone motivates me to tell my story. Use my language in my writing and bring my country and culture to life on the page. It didn’t happen overnight though. Growing with craft helped me to grow in my confidence to embrace that success and find my voice effectively.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I can think of so many little words to describe who I am and what I do – writer, editor, producer, creative professional, journalist, designer, but if I had to choose one, it would be that I am a storyteller. Feel free to find and read my work at https://kaitlynnerainne.com/bylines

I’ve been writing since I was a little girl, probably about 7 years old, and throughout primary school, I kept writing and sharing my stories. Then, I just loved it, but now that I’ve grown and honed my craft, I’ve realized that the primary reason why I write is to give people a seat at the table. I spent hours reading as a little girl, wanting to, one day, do the very thing the authors I read did – give people a seat at the table. Books like The Wizard of Oz, Nancy Drew, Alice in Wonderland, and various YA teen fantasy novels – yes, Twilight included – became portals to worlds where I felt like I belonged. In these books, I had a seat at the table. As a storyteller today, I understand the importance of making my readers and audiences feel that way. Whether that’s through the fictional stories I write, the personal essays I share, or the copywriting I do, I know the magnitude my words hold, and I don’t take that lightly. In fact, I’m humbled every time someone takes a moment to read what I’ve written.

And when they can read my words and see themselves or feel heard, that’s when I know I’ve done my job. It’s the sweetest reward and coolest when you think about it. Writing is a solitary craft, but it has the power to bring connection.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think for me, the top three areas of knowledge that were most impactful to me were

1. Learning to Rest – this is such an important one that took me a while to learn. But if you’re on your creative journey or looking into any artistic endeavor, give yourself time to rest. Yes, it’s important that you find inspiration and keep creating and making, but taking time away from your work can be just as good. My favorite thing to do whenever I’m feeling creatively burnt out is taking a walk. It’s simple, but it gets me out of my work environment and gives me the space to disconnect which always leads to reconnection with whatever I’m working on.

2. Embracing Voice – a professor once shared this piece of advice and it’s stuck with me since I heard it in 2020. “Don’t be afraid of your voice.” Voice is probably the most powerful thing a writer or any creative can have. It’s your voice that gives your work a unique perspective. So regardless of what that voice is, spend time cultivating it and honing it. Especially when it comes to your craft.

3. Writing Routines – this applies specifically to writers, but I think it’s also important that any creative/artist creates their own routines. Figure out what time you create best. For me, I write better during the night. Something about staying up a little longer while the world is quiet gets me into the creative space more and I churn out my best work then. For others, they prefer the mornings, but really it all comes down to what works best for you. Then once you find a routine, it’ll be easier to keep practicing and working your craft.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

Believe in me and make the sacrifices to get me to where I am. I grew up in a small country, with not many art industry resources. Additionally, I grew up an academic. I had no real immersion into the arts while I was going to school, so when I began expressing an interest in high school in fashion design, my parents were supportive from the get-go. They did what they could to get me in touch with one of our few local designers and helped me with the research into art schools.

When it seemed impossible or “crazy” from the outside perspective, my parents remained steady in supporting me and letting me forge my own path. Without their unwavering and constant support, I wouldn’t be where I am. I wouldn’t have a BFA in Fashion Design or an MFA in Writing. Nor would I have been able to fully discover the woman and creative I am and for that, I will always be grateful to them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kaitlynnerainne.com/
• Instagram: @kaitlynnerainne
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlynne-rainne-haylock/

Image Credits

Feature Image: Fred DiLorenzo