THE INTERVIEW with Ryan Winchester

Why did you want to revive Still Waters?

Creative writing has been a part of my life since I can remember, as it is for many Brooks students. Whether it is finding joy in a writing assignment for class or a piece written in free time, I came to find many of my friends and classmates feeling the same pull towards writing. With this in mind, I wanted to give Brooks students a place to share their work with the community as a whole. I always enjoy reading classmates’ writing to get to know their literary voice, and I see Still Waters as the perfect place for myself and others to do so.

What has the act of writing meant to you in your life?

Growing up, I could be found spending days on end in my room reading, bringing a book to read by the pool or at the beach, trying to set new records on how long of a book I could read in one day. Through absorbing an almost excessive amount of books, my mom suggested to me that I try to write my own story and illustrate it myself since I was also heavily involved in art classes. While I am sure it was terribly written and illustrated even more messily, I had discovered a new creative outlet. The volume I spend on free writing has decreased as my classwork piles up each year, but I still turn to writing in times of stress, enjoying the process even if the piece doesn’t end up how I intended it to.

Who are your favorite writers and why?

I’m someone who likes to read books and poetry from a wide variety of authors because my favorite part of reading is experiencing different writing styles and voices. My favorite literary voice at the moment is Ta-Nehasi Coates, the author of Between the World and Me. With the current movements against racial injustices in the United States, this book offers an incredible perspective through the structure of letters to his son.

Do you have a specific process when you sit down to write?

When I write, I like to play music which I find helps me focus and get into a rhythm of writing. Sometimes my most successful pieces of writing come from when I go into the process without a planned structure, letting myself go with whatever ideas come to mind in the moment.

Do you have any bits of advice for other young writers out there?

My best advice to other writers is to let the writing take you in the natural direction of your thoughts. Don’t try to force a topic or structure that doesn’t feel like it’s working out. This is the best way to write something authentic to you.