In this insightful interview, author Lara K shares her approach to writing as a therapeutic outlet, drawing from her personal experiences of healing and resilience. She discusses how the act of writing allows her to process difficult emotions, rewrite her narrative, and find strength in vulnerability. Through her stories, Lara hopes to help readers see their own resilience and embrace both the pain and triumphs in their lives.

Can you share your writing process when you’re drawing from difficult experiences in your life?

That’s a really great question. For me, the first step is always feeling those emotions fully. I give myself time to sit with them until I have a bit more clarity. Then, I focus on the one emotion that stands out the most. Sometimes it leans more toward a feeling of revenge or release, while other times it’s lighter and more empowering, centered on healing.

Once I’m in that space, I grab my pencil and start writing whatever comes to mind the moment it touches the paper. That spontaneity is calming, almost therapeutic, and helps me clear my mind further for editing later.

One thing is consistent in everything I write—whether it’s a story or a poem, it always reflects the lesson I learned from that experience. It’s about balancing the acknowledgment of pain and so- called ‘negative’ emotions with a reminder of personal power and resilience.

How has writing served as a therapeutic outlet for you personally?

Another great question. For me, writing is a mix of different therapeutic elements. First, as a writer, I have full control over the world I create—over the plot, the characters, and their reactions. In my personal life, particularly with difficult experiences like those with my abusive mother, I often had no control. Many moments ended with her yelling, and no matter what I said, it wouldn’t change anything. But through writing, I can rewrite that narrative. I can decide how the protagonist responds, how the antagonist behaves, and what the outcome is. That sense of control is really satisfying for me.

Second, writing allows me to revisit these experiences with a calmer mind. It gives me a chance to look at them from a new perspective and see things more clearly. In the heat of the moment, I might be overwhelmed, asking myself, “Why me?” But when I write about it, I start to notice patterns and details I couldn’t see before, like the fact that I wasn’t to blame. So, writing becomes a way to break down those moments step by step, and that’s what makes it so therapeutic for me.

What specific writing practices or exercises do you recommend for someone looking to use writing as a means of healing?

For me, it all started with journaling and writing letters—either to my abusive mother or to my younger self. That was incredibly helpful. The most basic but powerful advice I can give is to simply write. Write whatever comes to mind and what you’re feeling. Be RAW and HONEST with yourself.

Here’s a simple framework that I found really effective:

1. What happened, and with whom?

2. What did you feel, and what did they say or do to make you feel that way?

3. How did it end?

4. What do you take away from that experience?

This exercise helped me process my experiences and emotions in a structured way, allowing me to reflect and heal through writing.

In your book, "The Power of You," you emphasise resilience. Can you describe a personal experience that profoundly shaped your understanding of resilience?

Trigger warning: this involves emotional abuse. It was a day after my mother had emotionally abused me, and I was sitting at my desk trying to write. She came in, acting all loving, and tried to hug me without acknowledging what she had done. She was trying to act like nothing had happened and that everything was normal. I couldn’t let her touch me, so I firmly told her that her words were abusive and hurtful and that I didn't forget what had happened.

That sent her into another rage. She started throwing my trigger words at me, one after another. But instead of reacting the way she expected, I stood my ground, tears streaming down my face, calling her out on her toxic behavior. Even though I was hurting, I found the strength to speak my truth.

Eventually, she scoffed and left the room.

In that moment, I realized just how strong I was. I discovered that resilience isn’t about not feeling pain; it’s about getting up each day and continuing to live, even when things are tough. It’s the little victories that matter: getting out of bed, cleaning your room, or just pushing through another day.

Those moments show true resilience, and they really count.

How do you hope your readers will apply the concepts of resilience and personal growth from your stories to their own lives?

The first thing I want my readers to know is that they’re not alone in whatever they’ve been through. I want them to feel that I’m right there with them, and that there are others out there going through difficult experiences too. You are not alone!

Secondly, I hope my readers can look at themselves from a new perspective—one that lets them truly see how amazing, strong, resilient, and capable they are. No matter what happens or how they feel, I want them to realize that they will always come out on top.

I also want them to understand that the road to growth, healing, and resilience is not a straight path. There will be hurdles and moments when they feel lost. But in those moments, I want them to remember: you are strong enough and capable enough to overcome anything.

In my stories, I emphasize not just the pain, but the overcoming. I want my readers to focus on both—the moments of hurt and the moments of triumph. I hope they learn to fully accept themselves, including the pain, scars, and darkness. Every single part of them deserves to be loved and acknowledged.

As a full-time student and educator, what strategies do you employ to maintain a balance between your academic responsibilities and your passion for writing?

I’ll be honest—my approach is more chaotic than structured. I don’t really follow a set schedule or strategy. When inspiration strikes, I immediately grab my phone or a pen and paper, no matter the time or place. That’s why I always carry a small notebook and pen with me wherever I go.

Whenever I have free time, like during holidays or when I’m not busy with work or studying, I use that time to edit and refine what I’ve written. Most of this happens at night, because I feel most at peace when it’s dark and everyone else is asleep. I’m less likely to be interrupted, and I can fully focus on my writing. In fact, my first-ever story was written at midnight!

Can you share a typical day in your life that illustrates how you incorporate writing into your busy schedule?

Sure! My days typically start at 6 a.m., when I get ready for my job as a teacher. My classes run until 1 p.m. After that, I grab a quick bite to eat and head straight to my university classes, which usually last until 6 p.m.

When I get home, I eat lunch and change, then I take a small break. Following that, I dedicate some time to revision for both my teaching job and my university classes. By the time I take another break, it’s often around 9 p.m. That’s when I dive into writing or editing what I’ve previously worked on. Honestly, I usually get lost in it until about 11 p.m., when I have to remind myself to head to bed to get some much-needed sleep.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers who are also balancing multiple commitments?

It really comes down to balance and prioritizing what’s most important in the moment. And most importantly, don’t beat yourself up if you can’t accomplish everything perfectly. A little grace and gentleness with yourself is key when juggling multiple responsibilities, or else you’ll risk burning out. Make time for yourself and the things that matter to you, and allow yourself some reprieve if you don’t achieve everything you planned for that day.

And to top it all off—don’t forget to take care of yourself, both mentally and physically. It can be hard to juggle everything, and it’s easy to slip into exhaustion while trying to meet all your goals. But self-care is crucial. It will not only benefit your health and happiness but also improve your writing in the long run. Make sure to take care of your own needs too.

Remember, you’re human, not a machine, and you need breaks too. Life is unpredictable, and sometimes things won’t go according to plan—and that’s okay. The important thing is to keep writing every day, even if it’s just a small amount. Consistency is key, but perfection isn’t.

Your writing is deeply personal and relatable. How do you ensure that your stories resonate with your audience on an emotional level?

I think it’s because I stay raw and natural in my writing. I don’t hide any imperfections or mistakes from my experiences. I write things exactly as they happened, and I don’t shy away from the emotions I felt, whether they were negative or positive. The stories and poems I create are pieces of myself in their most honest and unfiltered form. I don’t hold back—I put myself out there, and I think that level of vulnerability resonates with a lot of people.

While I understand that everyone’s experiences and emotions are unique, I believe that by sharing my truth, I can create a space where readers feel comfortable reflecting on their own journeys. My hope is not to assume that my experiences are the same as theirs, but to offer a raw, honest voice that might help them feel seen or understood in their own way. When readers can connect with that vulnerability, I believe it helps them engage with the emotions in my stories on a deeper level.

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