Meet Layla Todd

We were lucky to catch up with Layla Todd recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Layla, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?
As a lover of words and a person who communicates best in writing, not being able to write is almost unbearable. My first instinct has always been to fight back but, during the ongoing course of my writing journey, I have found more creative ways to overcome writer’s block.

I am fond of writing about writer’s block as I find this is a good way to get past an inability to write by writing about a current struggle. And, while I do not think much of the gossip magazines that tantalize people at the grocery store checkouts (the English rightfully call them rags) reading something as poorly written and ridiculous as the stories in the magazines is a great way to get your writing juices flowing again, if only in outrage.

I have also found that reading a bad or controversial book or movie is a great way to find inspiration. There is always a book or movie circulating where common opinion is that it is bad. Controversially, there are also books and movies that spark massive discussion and beating of the dead horse over tender points within the writing. I find reading a book against something I believe in is a great way to get my argumentative thoughts flowing. Reading a bad book or watching a bad movie also sparks my confidence and tells me I can write well. This kind of inspiration is the inspiration that drives writer’s block out.

Ultimately, every block I have faced and will face is so different that my responses are constantly changing. What works for me does not work every time and nor does it work for every writer. Thus, facing writer’s block requires as much creativity as it does to write and is as much a part of a fulfilling writing journey as the writing itself.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a writer, blogger, and content creator who, over the past twelve years, has experimented with poetry, prose, fiction, and non-fiction and sought to learn as much as I can about each craft form. I started a blog, Nin Chronicles, five years ago as a place to share a daily poem and connect with the online literary community and it has evolved into a creativity space where I share pieces of my creative writing alongside articles that cover what I have learned whilst on my writing journey.

As a writer passionate about life where it intersects with writing, I also share gift guides and lifestyle posts aimed at the literary community in an effort to help every writer discover their unique taste in everything from notebooks to home decor.

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?
Passion, persistence, and a willingness to learn have been three of the biggest things that have impacted my writing/blogging journey and inspired me to stick with writing and blogging for as long as I have.

I encourage folks who are new to writing or blogging to really dig deep and ask themselves what they are passionate about. Without following a passion, it’s hard to stay persistent and consistent. You’ve also got to love what you do so that you become excited about learning to improve your craft instead of treating learning opportunities as bumps in the road.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I love collaborating and working with people who are passionate about creativity. Whether that means art, books, music, board and card games, or food, I am always open to having conversations with people about sharing their work on my blog and/or social media, as well as talking with small businesses and brands that are creating creative products that my readers may be interested in.

If you’d like to work with me on a blog post, talk about social media promotion, or get in touch about guest blogging, you can shoot me an email at jayaavendel@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you!

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