 She's an award-winning, published, and produced writer, author, performer, educator, comedian, accomplished playwright, and the list continues on. Her dedication to the fight for social justice is heard and seen while making sure you laugh along the way. Lucy knows the importance of reaching the younger creative minds and spends time writing to inspire and lift the youth to new heights. It goes without saying, Lucy is an amazingly spectacular creative soul and one to watch! By all means, see for yourself... ◆ How are you doing on this amazing day? It's a glorious day, full of possibilities. The sun is shining, I've fueled up on two cups of coffee and I get to speak with you. ◆ Writers are known for having thoughts at any given time. When do you have your best ideas? Pre-Covid, my best ideas often came to me at the gym during my workouts. That fact kept me motivated and fit. These days I find my best ideas come to me when I step away from the desk and go outside. Go for a walk, garden, explore. ◆ If you had to give a title to the blueprint of your life, what would it be called? Resilience, sung to the tune of "Tradition" from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. ◆ Do you remember the first time you brought ink to paper? I can't remember the exact date, but I know it was early. I grew up in a household where children were seen, not heard. I discovered I had a voice through writing, and it was my big secret superpower. I do recall one of my first stories was about a girl with supernatural abilities which I enacted with a blue globe agapanthus as my scepter. ◆ Other than writing, tell us what else you love that gets your heart pumping. Playing the piano. Dinner with friends. Traveling. ◆ The writing community is a huge network of authors, creators and so much more. Do you ever feel pressured to perform based on what others are doing? Yes, and no. Yes, there is always pressure to do your best, to excel, and to win bigger and wider audiences. If you're a person of color, there's tremendous added pressure to write to the gatekeepers, what others might want to hear, what others find acceptable, what has proven salable. But in the end, you can only speak and write your truth. Your truth is your gift to the world, the gift worth unwrapping and a joy forever. ◆ Have you ever googled yourself? I have to google myself regularly to catch illegal/unauthorized productions. In the process, I've learned there are many Lucy Wangs. I have many doppelgangers. Thank goodness. I used to feel so lonely. Anyhow, occasionally we receive each other's email and forward it to the correct one. I guess we could form a club now. Apparently there are a hundred million Wangs in the world; I'm one in a hundred million.  ◆ Writer's block is commonly heard of, but have you ever experienced readers block? If so, how do you pause and reset your brain? Interesting question. When I'm deep into my own writing, I usually can't read much because I'm trying to stay focused and protective of my vision/voice. I am a voracious reader and my tastes are very catholic, but once in a while, I find myself unmoved and bored by a book that so many of my trusted peers rave about. That's when I feel reader's block. I will usually set that book down and return to it later. Perhaps it is the timing. If I still can't get into it on the second go-round, I give the book away. As a writer, I know how much of our heart and soul goes into a book, so I do my best to give that book another home. ◆ You are given free plane tickets to go anywhere in the world, where would you go? During this pandemic, I've been watching a lot of travel shows. There are so many places I would love to go. It's very difficult to choose just one destination after being locked up at home. I'd love to write a novel in Italy -- spending half the time in the Cinque Terre, and the other half in Sicily. I fell in love with both places long ago, and vowed to go back someday. Why not now? ◆ In your opinion, what truly defines a writer? Curiosity, compassion, imagination, and perseverance. ◆ How many published books do you have and what are you working on next? For playwrights, being published is tricky business. Many theaters do not want previously published or previously produced work. It's insane. Many publishers don't want to publish you because plays typically don't generate a lot of sales. I wish more people read plays, you can learn a lot and discover great stories. I certainly did! Unfortunately, one of my beloved publishers, JAC Publishing, ceased operations in July 2019. You can find my Kennedy Center Award-winning play, Junk Bonds, as well as O'Neill finalist Good Mourning, America, Widow's Peak, at Original Works Publishing. Teen Mogul (excerpts are taught in the classroom through StudySync) and Gray Matters at YouthPlays. One Breast, One Nut: A Love Story at One-Act Play Depot. Two Artists Trying to Pay Their Bill, Best New Ten-Minute Plays 2020, Applause Books. My Aim is True, She Persisted series, coming out in Nov 2021, Applause Books. ◆ If you could go in reverse, what would you tell the young Lucy Wang? Yikes. How much time do we have? Have more fun. Laugh more. Travel more. And, learn more languages! ◆ Where do you pull your inspiration from? Everywhere I go, my curiosity leads to new adventures and discoveries. I am in awe of people who have overcome formidable obstacles. My students excite me with their fresh perspectives and energies. I also have a motto, joy in spite of everything. ◆ In closing, is there anything else you would like to say? Grazie mille. With sincere thanks Lucy! It was an absolute pleasure and I look forward to what's next for you ☺️
Connect with Lucy Wang: Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/Lucy-Wang/e/B0091W87E4 L Wang: https://thewritelucywang.wixsite.com/lucywang Twitter: @SensuousGourmet Instagram: thesensuousgourmet Facebook: Lucy Wang Original Works: https://www.originalworksonline.com/junkbonds https://www.originalworksonline.com/GOOD-MOURNING-AMERICA-by-Lucy-Wang_p_79.html Comedy Demo: https://youtu.be/IbcqZCYZbik A is for American: https://youtu.be/H3rrRI09Flo YouthPLAYS: https://www.youthplays.com/play/gray-matters-by-lucy-wang-290 https://www.youthplays.com/play/teen-mogul-by-lucy-wang-271 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/lucy-wang/5/276/a11 For a feature 'In The Writers Den' contact me - [email protected] ~AJ 💫
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AuthorAJ is a creative writer and storyteller writing from her home in Indiana. Archives
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"This is how you do it; you sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it's done. It's that easy, and that hard." -Neil Gaiman
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