As an author with an interest in the broader creative industry, I interview others who dream big about their work and motivation. Today: German author Sabrina.
Big city life
The story she’s writing came to her in early 2022: “I was in Toronto at the time and I started taking notes. Sitting there in my Airbnb and looking at the skyline, I realized I wanted to write a book where all this big city magic is also happening. Step by step many ideas and little puzzle pieces came together and I felt the story evolving in my head.”
Although the inspiration came in Toronto, the story takes place in Chicago. “I don’t know why Chicago came up, I’ve never been there, but it just had to be Chicago,” she explains. However, travelling to other destinations is also something that happens in her story. “I already have some destinations in mind. Whether it’s a morning coffee and croissant in Rome or the noisy streets of London, I really want the feelings and the atmosphere to come across in the book so readers feel like they are travelling with me while reading.” If you know Sabrina, it’s not a surprise that travelling is included in the story. Just like spirituality plays a big role in both her own life and her fictional story.
Everyday magic
“I think it was around 2014 that I was introduced to affirmations, and then I kind of discovered the power of our own mind. I can see spirituality in many things, like in the way we prepare our coffee in the morning or we go for a walk. Even looking up at the stars is a spiritual moment for me. From the way I see it, it all comes down to living in the present moment and saying your wishes out loud to the universe or God or whatever you believe in.”
From the way I see it, it all comes down to living in the present moment
This is why Sabrina chose to intertwine spirituality with her storyline. “The story is about a singer based in Chicago, who meets a girl through many synchronicities in the city. Think of little magical coincidences, like a blocked street which means she has to take a detour that leads to her meeting him. Although the main plot is romance, I would say my main goal is to remind readers that everything is possible.” Of course, making sure spirituality is incorporated in fiction in a natural way can be a thin line to navigate. “It can certainly be a bit complicated to really incorporate it in a good way. There’s one character who reads astrology magazines and things like that, but I don’t want her to become the funny and strange woo-woo friend who does all this psychic astrology stuff. It goes deeper than that.”
Slowing down
Spirituality is also something that returns in Sabrina’s writing process. “Sometimes I feel like when I’m writing, I’m just channelling, so I really have to be in this calm state. I can’t do it whenever I’m in a hectic, rushed state. Ideas don’t come that easily then. But when I take the time to slow down, I just start typing and the words flow. I’m just in such a trance then. This happens mostly at night, that’s when I’m the most creative and the ideas find me without knowing where they come from.”
It always starts with a vision, we just have to shoot for the stars
Sometimes it even feels like the characters start being their own person, she explains: “I simply cannot control them. They come up to me and behave as they want and I can’t do anything about it. Sometimes it’s almost like they exist in some other world and I’m just writing their story. I think about them at random times and will actually be a bit sad when it’s finished because the characters have been accompanying me for such a long time.”
Already a success
The next steps after writing? Publishing, of course, but she’s not sure yet whether that will happen with a publisher or independently. In any case, the long-term goal is to have it translated in several languages. “I’m really manifesting and visualizing going on book tours in other countries. And you never know, maybe they turn it into a movie in 10 years. It always starts with a vision, we just have to shoot for the stars. Everything is possible and once it is done, I think it can go in any direction.”
In the meantime Sabrina is already happy with the work she’s done so far. “I still need to write and edit a lot, but it’s already a success because if you’re happy doing what you’re doing, nobody can tell you you’re not successful. I’m quoting Harry Styles here,” Sabrina laughs. “Oftentimes we only focus on money and ticking off our to-do lists, but we’re not happy while that’s actually so much more important.” This is coming from someone who’s lost her corporate job during lay-offs. “I actually wanted to quit before because I just wasn’t happy and my mental load was making it impossible to be creative, but eventually the universe took the decision for me. This was a blessing in disguise. I now get to be creative and put my own voice into the world, which I’m very grateful for.”
You can follow Sabrina’s journey on Instagram: @sabrinawoop (in English) and @sabrina_schreibt_ (in German)
Written by Nikita
Nikita – founder of Nikita’s World – is a Belgian author of feminist feelgood & a journalist specialized in pop culture and the creative industry.