Sophie Farthing
ORP: What inspired you to begin writing or creating? Has that source of inspiration changed throughout your life?
Sophie Farthing: I had a very lonely childhood, as I think many writers do, and books were a fascinating escape. Over time, my writing has become less fueled by desperation and more by enjoyment.
ORP: What does success as a writer or artist mean to you?
SF: To me, success as a writer and artist means being able to share my work with the world. But more importantly, it means communicating something meaningful in a beautiful and/or powerful way. Allowing a reader or viewer to connect. And doing that in a way that aligns with my values.
ORP: What books have you read many times?
SF: I go back to Jane Eyre again and again. I always will.
ORP: What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing or creating? What advice would you give to another writer or artist?
SF: You don't have to write every day. Especially for a working-class artist who is working a 9-to-5 (or longer!) job/jobs, writing every day is not always feasible, and that's okay. Do not berate yourself for tending to the other requirements for survival. Write when you can, and then when you CAN write, try to focus completely, even if it's just for fifteen minutes.
ORP: What do you hope readers (or your audience) will take away from your creative work?
SF: Much of my work deals with domestic abuse, especially in the context of religious fundamentalism. I hope the domestic abuse survivors in my audience will find some catharsis. I hope that people who may not be as familiar with those experiences are able to better understand how religion can be twisted to justify domestic violence, and not just physical violence, but a thousand small cruelties that are hard to catch until the victim finally breaks down. Regarding my other work, I hope that it encourages people to look twice at each other, and at boring things like road medians. Scruffy sidewalk grass. Things like that. But I think to some extent all poetry is about looking twice.
