Today’s interview is on Jane Chong, an Intended English major going into her second year at UC Berkeley. She’s recently discovered an interest in cooking and baking, but she’s always loved writing.

1) When did you begin writing and how did it develop into your passion?

Jane: I began in the second grade, because the elementary school I transferred to had these young author fairs where everyone had to write one “book” by the end of the year. Everyone seemed to complain about them, but I always had the greatest time! I loved making up little stories and then illustrating them. Growing up, I always opted to read books instead of watching television, and I think that constantly reading really kept my imagination flowing. In middle school when writing stories was no longer mandatory, I realized that I still had a bunch of ideas running through my mind. I got into the habit of always making sure I had a pen with me so I could scribble down notes on napkins, or whatever other scrap of paper was handy. I realized that writing was something I couldn’t live without. It’s a form of expression, a way for me to vent my feelings, and a way to keep my imagination alive.

2) Are there any authors who have significantly influenced your work?

Jane: Do you ever finish reading a novel, then take a moment to close your eyes, and just say, “wow”? Well, when I read books by authors who can make me do that, I just get so inspired to write. I want to be able to write in such a way that I can manipulate my reader’s ideas and emotions just as previous authors have done to me. Books were always a way to escape from the world and just have fun; I want to be able to create stories that people can relate to and understand. I’m a big Harry Potter fan, so I’ll have to give credit to J.K. Rowling. If you think about it, essentially her series is about a group of teenage wizards who fight off an evil wizard with love. I’m oversimplifying, I know…but despite this somewhat silly plot, her books are written so wonderfully. They have this excellent mixture of humor and drama that appeal to all age groups.

I also am a big fan of Kurt Vonnegut. Most of his stories are quick and easy reads, but they have these insightful lessons behind each one. And this might sound silly…but Dr. Seuss. Every book of his that I’ve read have these wonderful morals that are still applicable today.

I guess I’m attracted to the authors who can spread powerful messages in simple ways.

3) Is there one specific piece of writing you are proud of? Why?

Jane: If I had to choose one I suppose I’d pick this one fan fiction story. (Cue laughter and nerd jokes here.) My first chapter was only 129 words, and it culminated in this 2,070 word final chapter. I suppose that’s not particularly impressive, but in length alone it shows the progress that I made as a writer. With the comments from other authors on the site, I was able to create a more detailed, and entertaining story. Not to mention, it was the first story that I had ever finished. Eventually, I got an email telling me that it had been selected as the site’s “Featured Fic”, which was a big honor. I suppose it was the first time that someone who wasn’t a friend or family member showed me that I wasn’t writing junk. It was a sort of validation of my abilities.

4) What are your future goals for writing?

Jane: I really want to start writing something and actually finish it. I have a habit of starting a lot of different things, but never completing them. At the end of senior year I began writing this Seus-inspired rhyming story, and would like to finish that. Once that’s done I’d like to work on a few other ideas that I have bouncing around inside my head.

5) Do you have any tips or advice for aspiring writers?

Jane: Try the best you can to write every day. Even if you feel like you have nothing to say, it’s good to keep in the habit of writing. Write about something that you know or feel strongly about, because that will show in your writing and make for a great read.

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