The Writers Triangle Short Story Prize Interview: Angelo Lorenzo
R
Hello cinnabar moths or any kind of moth you’d like to be. Welcome to the Writers Triangle, Cinnabar Moth’s podcast for all things publishing and books. Today we are here with Angelo Lorenzo, the winner of the 2023 Cinnabar Moth Literary Collections Prize for Short Storytelling. Angelo, congratulations on your win. How you doing?
A
Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to share my testimony about my point of view of winning and also to receive the award, it’s been a great privilege to always be part of the cinnabar moth literary collections. And to the I’m my gratitude goes to all who have worked tirelessly and genuinely for bringing stories to life, especially the folks at Cinnabar Moth Publishing. Thank you so much for this opportunity.
R
Thank you for being a you know, sticking with us and providing us with the opportunity to be the ones to present your work, it’s always a pleasure to read it. And how does it feel to be the winner of the prize for short storytelling?
A
At first, it was surprising because I thought that Well, I originally had the idea that it’s it’s definitely competitive. And I believe that there are plenty of writers who are genuinely talented who have also submitted their entries. And I didn’t expect to be able to be recognized for this prestigious award. But when I received the email, I was overjoyed. And I actually received it when I was having breakfast one morning. Well, I wish I had this routine every day where I checked first, my emails, the inbox in my emails, and then I saw the message that the cinnabar moth has sent me. And I’m very, very thrilled. And I was very excited to have received the news. And literally, it made my day and I was happy all throughout. So it’s been a great opportunity. And it’s been a great experience.
R
I’m glad you had such a positive start to your day then with receiving it. What were the what were some of your first thoughts and feelings when you when you read that email, it informed me that you’d won.
A
Yeah, um, at first, I was kind of like, trying to keep myself awake, because like, I was still groggy from from after like sleeping at night, and then I woke up and then I prepared my breakfast. So I kind of like still have half of the coffee that I drank at that time, because the caffeine wasn’t really fully in effect. But I believe that when I read the email, or when I read the news, it was like, it was the caffeine that the one that kept me awake was not the caffeine. But it’s the news that I want. So my first thought was that is this real. But I read the message many times over. And I realized that oh, this is this has happened. Like they named me as the winner. So I’m very thrilled. And one of the first things that came to my mind was that I was grateful to be able to be given the chance to submit my entry, and also to be able to receive the opportunity to be recognized for this prestigious award. And, yeah, it’s been kind of like a rough journey and being a writer. But it’s awards like this that would validate our efforts in putting our stories forward and sharing our stories for the world to learn and for the world to understand us better.
R
I think that’s an awesome message to take from the award. And I’m glad that it helps to encourage your writing. Because as someone who is personally a fan of your short story telling you in your writing, I would like you to keep writing.
A
Thank you so much for us. And I would I would say the same for you as well. You’re very talented person, and especially the folks at Cinnabar Moth publishing, everyone is truly inspiring and influential in my writing process and all.
R
That’s very sweet to hear. And I’m sure the rest of the team will love to hear that when I extend the news to them, slash listen to the interview. Right. So I want to talk to you a little bit about your short story writing process. You know, this is kind of a key to what what you’re receiving the award for is your writing, right? And so, for you, how does a short story develop? What is your process that you go through to write some of these amazing stories that you’ve written?
A
For one, I can’t really say that I have a definite writing process. All I can say is that ideas come from anywhere when I was still residing in the Philippines, ideas come from personal experiences and it’s also the same Same that I’ve, it’s also the same kind of inspiration that I get that I’m currently living in Spain. So personal experiences, things that happen to us uniquely, would inspire us to write or to generate or to get to catch an idea. And then that’s when the idea would turn into words. So I always keep a notebook with me everywhere I go, I always have this. It’s not, I wouldn’t really call it a journal. Because when you’re having a journal, you write extensively about how your day went, and what are your thoughts were, but like word prompts that would fully explain these ideas. For example, I’ll give you an anecdote. One, one day, I was waiting for my time at the tram station, and was waiting for the tram to arrive. And then I saw a mother and her son trying to, like have breakfast at the tram station. So the mother was like, guiding the son to eat the bread. And then the son was also like, happy because he knows and he feels secured, that his mother was with him at that time. And it kind of like, reminded me that, you know, the Mother’s love is universal. So one of the short stories that I wrote, had that theme where a mother is basically, you know, everywhere you go around the world, the culture, whatever culture you’re in, whatever, whatever place you live in, it’s universal, the mother slug is constant, and then I think it would go the same with fathers as well. So it’s like a parent’s love is definitely universal, and would give them like, they will always give that a certain effort to make their children or their sons and daughters, you know, grew up with a meaningful life and to be provided with everything that they need. So in for my short story writing process, it’s definitely the first thing that comes is the idea that comes from personal experience, personal insights, and my observations about the world around me. And then I keep a notebook, and then I just write words that relate to that idea. And then later on, I will sit down whenever I have, whenever I have a free time or an available time, I would sit down, go over the words that I’ve written in my notebook, and then begin an outline. Or sometimes I write with an outline, sometimes the words just come through spontaneously. So it’s, it really depends on the theme as well. And it also depends on the kind of story that I’m writing. Because, for me, I don’t really keep myself limited in one genre, I want to write in as many genres as possible. I’ve written science fiction stories, I’ve written love stories, and I’ve written stories that are semi autobiographical. So every time I have these ideas with me, I always take time to think them over, sometimes I write an outline, sometimes I just write them spontaneously on a page without any guidelines at all. And then sometimes they just come along, and it’s all based on personal experiences.
R
So it sounds to me like you actually draw inspiration from your own life and all of the writing that you do. Definitely.
A
Right, right.
R
And it sounds to me like you also draw inspiration from your observations of other people’s lives and their behaviors. And so it’s very much a work from the world you live in.
A
Definitely, yeah. And sometimes they come along as you start writing. Some ideas would prompt you to write something from on the earliest, on the initial draft or on the earliest version of the work. But sometimes, when you’re actually just taking the time to write whatever comes to your mind, the ideas would come along. So that’s the time when there are certain writing process that don’t require outlines. They are just, they just go along with you as you try to actively put words on paper. And I think that the inspiration also comes from personal memories as well.
R
Yeah, I think that makes a lot of sense. And I, I do feel it for when I read your work the kind of in a way down to earth myths of it. I’m not sure that’s the right phrasing, but the realness of it is comes across really well.
A
Right, right. Because I think that in our case, as writers, the best stories come from our unique point of view, and every one of us, I believe that wherever we come from Whatever belief system we we tend to follow or whatever culture we practice or wherever, however we identify ourselves. One thing that makes us unique definitely is our personal experience. Not everyone can write that about us. But it’s only us who can write that about ourselves. So it’s one thing that makes us unique. And the best stories come from the truth of our lives, from what we have gone through what we are experiencing, and what we look forward to as well. So everything that we have personally experienced the by date, only US can, can tell it the best, the best way possible.
R
Yeah, definitely. I agree. And I do think from having read your work, that that messaging and that viewpoint comes across really well. And I connected with your writing a lot on the basis of like, really feeling the life of the characters and the life of the world that you that you draw, that you write out and that you paint for us with your words.
A
Definitely. Thank you so much, Rasta.
R
And so, with your work, you know, you’ve been you’ve been doing short story writing for a while now. And you know, you have you’ve won the same popularity, cinnabar moth literary collections prize for short storytelling? Where would you like your work to go next?
A
I’m definitely I’m always having this ultimate goal to publish a novel One of these days, I’ve had written some manuscripts as of late, and I’ve been actively submitting to literary agents. But so far, it’s part of the writing process and writers experience to, like, you know, some things don’t really go your way. And it’s part of the learning process, because it is only through, like, these things that you get to improve your writing capabilities. And you tend, you also find inspiration to to hone your craft. So definitely I’m, I’m always open to having my works published by mainstream publishers, or independent publishers, as well, as long as there is an opportunity or a platform to share our stories and tell it to the world for the world to understand us better for the world to learn about our lives and for the world to become a better place in general through our stories, then that is something that I look forward to. So the specific steps would probably be have my novel published. So like one of them, one of the manuscripts, or at least one of them, is going to be get to be accepted by a literary agent, hopefully by next year, or by an independent publisher or by a mainstream publisher. So that’s where my eye is on at the moment. And then I’m also actively collaborating with theatre companies in the states I’ve collaborated with, there is a New York based Theatre Festival, which I have participated in 2022. And it’s called topping Alvin, it’s a very good Theatre Festival, because it advocates for the, like the realities or the conditions of mental health. So these days, it’s definitely a way to tell people that you know, you’re not alone in in going through what you go through. So whatever mode of storytelling is open for me, whether it’s on the stage or theater, or in on or on pages in books, I’m definitely open for them. And I would very much like to innovate as well. So one of the thing, one of the initial steps for my innovation journey was when one of my short stories, I adapted it into a theater play or into a one act play. And it’s actually available on YouTube. The title is The Midnight catch up. And it’s it was performed during the toughing it out Festival in 2022. And it was about this girl who had an exam anxiety during the pandemic. And it was based on a short story that I wrote, which was published by the flyover country literary magazine, in in this in 2021. And then I’m, for future projects I’m considering to have my works adapted into either whatever medium that is available, like theater film, or like any kinds of platforms or mediums or modes of storytelling, storytelling opportunities that would that, you know, give ourselves a platform to share our stories to the world. So I’m always open to Collaboration, I’m always open to opportunities and for publishing experiences as well.
R
So it sounds like you’re doing quite a few different avenues of expressing your your writing creativity. And honestly, hearing that it’s exciting to me because I’ve never really thought about, for example, adapting a short story to a one act play.
A
Yeah, it is it is, it was quite like, there are different since they are different. These are different genres entirely, like short stories and one act plays. And I made it as much as possible, true to its original source material. Because if you’re adapting something, you have to make sure that the original theme or the original concept will not be hindered or will not be entirely diminished when they’re going to be converted into a new material. So that’s one of the challenges in adapting a work into another work. So it’s also a bit of like a challenge, but it’s a learning experience. And, and for someone like me, who is always curious, who is always interested in learning, that’s something that I’m always looking forward to do in adapting my work into something else.
R
That’s really wonderful to hear. And I am really excited to see how your work evolves and changes from the, you know, the variety of experiences that you’re having with your writing journey. Exactly.
A
So I’m always looking forward to it and thank you so much for your encouraging words.
R
So I wanted to follow up on that with you know, your your writing in a lot of different avenues, right, you’re writing you’re going with writing novel manuscripts, you have your short storytelling, your your playwriting, yeah, what sort of writing awards? Would you like to win? Or next? Or would you aim for, if you were to say, be able to choose one to go for next?
A
Um, well, the first thing that comes to my mind would probably be well, this may sound a bit too ambitious, but the Nobel Prize. But anyway, we start with small steps, okay. But yeah, that’s too ambitious. But for me, awards matter in some way, because they would help encourage us, they would, you know, give writers our, like, self esteem, and they would increase our reputation and literary community. But at the end of the day, we’re all storytellers of our own. And I would accept whatever awards that would come my way, as long as that. But one thing that I would make sure is that I will remain constant in my effort to make my stories matter, and to write stories that matter. So it’s like, whatever awards that come come my way, whether it’s a literary award, like the Booker Prize, or the National Book Award, or whatever, awards that are regarded prestigious these days, I will remain constant to making my work, you know, as important and as necessary to be heard or to be read as much as possible, and to be seen by people who are, you know, living the lives were the same as mine. It, I think that there is a an importance to underscore the stories of diverse voices. And these days, it matters. It matters most to, you know, to be able to tell our stories and to let the to let the people who may not really understand our experiences or our narratives, to let them understand even more through our stories, and to make them appreciate that we’re here to exist. And we are open to coexistence. And we are open to a world of tolerance. So awards matter in some ways, but at the end of the day, it’s the right thing that counts is the effort of producing a work and to be able to have a purpose in behind your writing efforts or behind your writing advocacy. That is the most rewarding experience, in my opinion. So when you’re writing about your personal experience, or when you’re writing about your collective experience in a community that has often been overlooked in the world, then that’s in itself. I believe it’s an award as prestigious as winning the Nobel Prize.
R
I think that’s a wonderful message. You know, the little words are nice because it means Uh, you know, you’re being recognized. And that might increase the amount of people that you connect with. Yes, your your core goal is to express the stories that you can express.
A
It definitely, definitely, that’s one of the things that keeps me encouraged to write is that this world has so much to learn as of the moment. And the only way for us to make it a step better is to tell our story so that the world would understand us better. And at the same time, we learn about the communities that we have often been overlooked, that have, I mean, the communities that have often been overlooked. So it’s, it’s our way of, as a writer, myself, I have this personal goal to you know, not just write for the sake of, for, for the sake of pleasure, or for the sake of achieving something prestigious, but the right for something that would, you know, help lives become better. And it’s, it’s with what’s happening with the world today, we definitely need stories to, to do that, like what’s happening in wars and a lot of diversity of thoughts that would lead to violence, I think stories matter in making each side of the coin, understandable to to one side or the other. So it’s definitely something that would help improve the state of the world that we currently live in. Because I think that it’s constant issues around the world is constant. So just as constant as these issues are, so do our efforts in telling our stories should be as constant as they are.
R
I definitely agree. And I know from having followed your work, that you’ve done a lot of work in trying to advocate for universal human rights to talk about mental health and, and to even include these in your writing to be able to help share these stories and help bring people together.
A
Right, great, thank you so much.
R
And so I wanted to follow up on that a little bit with, you know, you personally have talked a little bit about your motivation is to share your stories and to share your perspectives on these things, to help people understand each other better, is that what keeps you going when it comes to submitting your work for prizes, or some of your work for publication?
A
Yeah, because even in the age of like, we have this opportunity for, to self publish our works to get our work out there. But for me, I believe in the efforts of publishing companies and for committees that that provide prizes. So I believe in their capabilities in recognizing stories that matter. So that’s one of the motivations that I do in submitting my works to any kind of institution or organization that would underscore or uphold that, that type of work. So that keeps me motivated. The idea that there are organizations out there, whether it’s a Prize Committee for awarding prizes, or whether it’s a publication company like cinnabar, moth and other repute, highly reputed and highly prestigious publishing companies. I believe that they have this efforts, and I don’t think that it will go to waste any soon. Because, despite living in an age of like, social media, and now that we are in the prelude of the artificial intelligence, it’s kind of like bothering to, to know about the, there are some, you know, there are some, like direct way to, to produce works. But I always believe in the process, I always believe in the process of organizations that would uphold works that matter, and would reward works that are worth reading. So that keeps me motivated. It’s my belief in them, and it’s my trust in them, that would motivate me to submit to them for the recognition of my works.
R
I think that’s a really wonderful way to look at it and also a very powerful way to keep yourself going is that understanding that, you know, there will be people who will want to be recognized and uplift this type of messaging, and to have that positive view of you know, the people around us, but people do want to understand each other and so these stories will find purchase and connection, some
A
Definitely definitely you, you you word it really, you word it better? Yeah, but definitely it’s, it’s, it’s, it’s that idea that keeps me going.
R
And so I want to follow up on that a little bit with you know, you, you’ve now been writing for quite some time you have this experience with, you know, we’re connecting with publishers and with prize groups and with, you know, people around the world, as you mentioned, we are in this informational age we’re connecting with peoples is so easy, but at the same time in a way that can make things challenging for some people, because there’s so many options, right? Yes. And so I want to ask you a bit. What advice do you have for aspiring authors, or even current authors who may be struggling with the grading process? Or who may just starting their process of career? What advice would you have for them, without process?
A
For me the advice, the best advice that I would give for them, and I would also learn from this advice as well, because is that advice that I’ve always learned from writers that are already in a way for lack of a better term established in the field, I don’t know if there really are because a lot of writers are still are also, you know, struggling and in our careers and still actively submitting our work. So in the querying process, as well, the advice that I would give is just to keep going, you know, and in a way to keep going, where do we feel will our motivation to keep going, it’s our ultimate goal, to tell our stories, to, to unravel the truth that we have experienced in our lives to, to see that there is a much better impact that our writer brings other than just be appearing as a as a, as an entry to a page or as an as a, as a book on the shelf that there’s like a greater risk far greater or like, there’s definitely a more fulfilling result or impact that our work brings other than being in its completed form. And I think that one of the impact that it brings is that it definitely tells our stories, it tells the truth, and at the same time, it makes people appreciate that truth and to relate it in their lives. So for aspiring authors, and I think that I’m also one of them, because I I’m also still in the grieving process. And I would say the same for my fellow authors who are also in the same process as I am, to just keep going in order for us to tell our truth to make this world a better place and to, you know, make our stories matter. And I think that whatever stories we tell, whatever style we we follow, or whatever kind of genre we we tend to do or to categorize our works. And it’s the idea that whatever struggles we go through, our stories have that impact to change the world in its own little way. So we’ve seen a lot of this happen. We’ve seen a lot of like, for example, JK Rowling, or, I’m not sure, other authors as well who have gone on to have their works being recognized by literary prizes, or receive the opportunity to have their works being published. For over the years, like Ernest Hemingway, for example, we have seen a lot of them change lives for in their in their stories, and we never know that. As long as we keep submitting our works, maybe one of the, like publishing companies or price committees would would definitely see it, and they would give it an opportunity to be shared around the world. So it’s definitely that impact the result that the potential that our story can, can impact in the world can can change the world for the better. And I would also tell them that this effort or this endeavor is definitely unique in our own experiences. Some authors can when they’re starting off in their querying process, they might achieve early success, and that’s good, but there are also some authors that are who are who have been in the querying process for a long time and then they would achieve late success. But as long as you know, going back to our constant goal, to have to share our stories to to be able to write and to I believe in that goal to that our stories will change the world for the better, then that keeps us going, even when even when we receive early or late success, then it doesn’t matter as long as we just keep going with the process, writing process grieving process and experiencing life itself. And it’s, it may be a subjective industry, but in a way, our truth remains constant within us. And with that truth, then we have that motivation, we have that fuel to, to write our stories and to share it for the world to know.
R
And think that’s a beautiful message to give to, you know, authors, not just aspiring ones, but even current authors may have some experience is that that core message of our stories are ours to tell, and they will bind people.
A
Definitely, definitely.
R
And so I wanted to talk with you a little bit about, you know, you’ve shared your views on writing. Right, right. I ask you, how would you describe your writing style?
A
Oh, that’s, um, kind of like, a, an important question as well, because, for me, I, I would describe my writing style as something that is, I as much as possible, I want my stories to be understandable for the reader. So I didn’t I wouldn’t go to I wouldn’t like resort to using really, you know, deep words, in English. So I would make it as understood, understandable, and in a way simple for the readers to understand. So my writing style also revolves around my own voice, as a, as a storyteller, it comes from my experience. Well, English is my second language, but I feel more comfortable writing in English than in my native language in the Philippines. But in some ways, I have this, like, I’m have this I have this certain gratitude that some some English speakers or native English speakers, appreciate my stories that and I think that one of the styles that I have incorporated is to write as simple as possible. I don’t want to write pretentiously, like using deep words, or in some ways like highfalutin words, but in a way I wanted to, to have that simple effect, or to have that simple style so that it would be absorbed easily by the reader, and then it would make them understand even more, even even more easily. So I would also say that I’m also leaning more towards the descriptive form, because I love describing atmospheres, I love describing environments. And it also matters on the genre, when you’re writing for science fiction or fantasy, exposition is also relevant in the prose. And when you’re writing about like, I don’t know, like semi autobiographical. I think that being more insightful to your feelings, or to the character’s feelings is also relevant. So I think that it varies in genre. But for me, what remains constant is to write as simple as possible, so that the reader will be able to understand the story even better, and to get the message and to apply that message in their lives.
R
I think that makes a lot of sense and does come across in your writing, have, you know, from what I’ve read, there is a clarity to where, even if I don’t always have my full understanding of the context, going into the story of the world that you’re writing in, or the story that you’re writing, I always come out the other side understanding what the message was, or at least my, my understanding of the message because of course, things always get moved a little bit based off of the person who’s receiving it, right.
A
Right, right. And sometimes, like even when the genres vary, there are different different differences in terms of like the worldview or like the, the style of how the world functions, or how that environment in the story functions, whether it’s a fantasy, science fiction, horror or post apocalyptic or whatever genres that are present these days. One thing that remains constant is the the relevance of Message, like, whether you’re, we’re talking about the characters heroism, you know, I think that is the core value of, of the story, like, when and then there are some stories that differ in genres, but then they have the core message of, you know, love is the is the solution to the, the end of the world or somebody, or something, I’m just making something up as we go. But anyway, um, it’s the core message is applicable to, to reality, and in the real world that we live in, we can be as creative as possible and in writing stories, but then the core message is applicable in our lives, whatever conflicts we face in, like in science fiction, there might be some grand wars, or there might be some, and for historical novels, there might be some, you know, wars that have existed in the past that are, that have been devastating in the world or civilizations. But one thing remains true is that the core message is the goodness of, of what we what we believe in. So it’s, for example, the heroism of the character, the love shared by the family, or the respect that we give to each other, then we don’t need genres to explain these throughout. But in a way these virtues are these values are applicable in the current world that we live in. And outside of the pages that we read are outside of the stories that we that we write. So stories are, in a way tools to elaborate further about these core values, and then to entertain us at the same time. But at the end of the day, it’s the learning and application of these values that remain relevant, and that we should also apply in our lives.
R
It makes a lot of sense. And I definitely think that’s a great way to view writing, and is very well reflected in the work that you’ve done. And thank you. I’m a little bit curious, though, you know, with your goal of connection and telling these stories, and, you know, essentially, in a way of bonding with your reader, over an understanding of, you know, a variety of topics. Do you have a preference for the medium, versus, for example, short story writing versus like novel length writing versus playwriting would be have a preference between the new those or what are your thoughts about the different mediums.
A
I think that all mediums, or all forms of writing, are basically tools to tell our stories, but at the end of the day, for me, I would prefer basing it around the idea, like sometimes when I write, there are times when I originally planned it as a short story, but then it got longer and then turned into a manuscript of a novel. So it’s basically, it really depends on the idea because, for example, if you’re basing it out of your personal experience, then you have more insights about it, then you have more words to to, to explain that in those insights, or to explain the values that you’re advocating in that story, then you go for a novel, and then sometimes, for a short story, there are some ideas that remain like that can be explained better with as minimum words as possible, then you can do it as a short story. And then there are some ideas that are better depicted in conversations, then you can write a one act play or a full length play. And then there’s some there are some ideas that are better explained with music or songs. And if it’s if that’s something that you’re comfortable writing about, then you can write a musical. So it really depends on the the idea that that is the foundation of the story. So for me, I’m open to any kinds of writing forms, whether it’s short or long, or like, spoken or sung. So I’m open to all kinds of them. I’m open to experimenting. I’m also open to different varieties of styles and genres. But at the end of the day, it’s what matters most is how the idea is being executed or how the idea is being depicted or conveyed. So that’s the that’s the basis of, of which preference I choose whether this idea is good for short. Story are a long, longer form of work.
R
Okay, so for you, it’s less about a preference for writing a six style all the time, but rather, depending on the message that you’re trying to convey, you choose your medium based on that.
A
Definitely, yes, yes. And that’s when the challenge of adaptation also comes in. Because, like I said earlier, if you’re if you have an idea that is only good for a short story, but then you want to expand it further, then there’s an opportunity to adapt it into another form of writing or another genre or into another style of, of another medium of writing, you can transform it into a novel, you can transform it into a musical, or you can transform it into a one act play. And then they’re also why not plays that are adaptable into novel form. So we’ve seen a lot of these mediums converge and transform each other. So it also depends on on how well the adaptation comes along. But as long as the idea remains true, or the message remains true, then that’s as good as it gets.
R
It’s a great way of viewing it. And I definitely agree thinking about it, that there’s always been a lot of adaptations, even to say things like movies, for example, there’s a lot of movie adaptations of books, and, and such that already are like TV show adaptations, things like that, that really do illustrate how the medium can also change how easy some parts of a message can be represented to an audience.
A
Definitely, definitely, I would definitely agree with that. And it really matters on how well it is also received by people. Because there are some like ideas that are kind of like, detrimental or dangerous for other people to know about. So we we have to make sure that our stories are, can convey ideas that are not, you know, harmful to specific communities as well. So it matters on the execution or it matters on the practice or the application on on the picture of these ideas.
R
Yeah, definitely agree that there are there are some stories that have been written, that were meant to convey something about a community or group, but then it ends up not conveying the whole picture or even misrepresenting them can completely and is more detrimental than helpful.
A
Definitely. And our personal truth comes from the best way to represent a word is to be part of the community or to identify in the community where representation matters.
R
I definitely agree. And I think that if we’re trying to talk about community we’re not in, then it becomes very important to talk with and hear the stories directly from the members of the community so that we can and get their feedback on the writing that we’re doing to make sure that we’re being respectful and mindful to make sure that our message still represents Well, in the face of their truth, rather than just an idea of what we’ve made up in our minds.
A
Exactly much agreeable to that.
R
And so going into talking about your work, you’ve talked quite a bit, I think about what you hope people get out of it. And you’re the things that inspire you for writing in specific stories, which your or your experiences, but what would you say is your greatest inspiration for writing overall, let’s, let’s start with you with writing and what keeps you going as a writer?
A
Um, I’m always curious in some ways. So it’s the constant desire to learn, I guess. It’s my greatest inspiration. I would say that the people I’ve met, I’ve learned a lot from them, the people I’ve worked with, the people I’ve made friends with, and definitely my family. So the there are some, we may not directly know about it, but for in some ways, we have learned quite a few things and values that we gain from the relation relationships we have for the people we’ve met, whether it’s just a brief meeting or a brief acquaintance or a long distance relationship, you know it it all boils down to the connections we have with with people. And I think that when it comes to inspiration, one thing that fuels me is my desire to learn I always learn from the people I’ve met, I’ve always learned from the people I’ve collaborated with. And I think that that’s what keeps me going when it comes to, to my writing process, to be able to learn from the world, the world to be able to learn from people. And I think that writing itself, or the process of reading is definitely a learning experience. But writing itself, you’ll get to discover insights that you’ve never thought of before. And I think that it’s a very life changing experience when it comes to discovering something about yourself or discovering something more things about the world around you. And then you when you put them in words, it becomes clearer. And I think that it’s a very interesting practice where you reflect on what happened to you, and when you try to value the connections, or the relationships you have with, with people. And then when you also try to make sense of everything around you through writing, it becomes like a life altering practice, which I think indirectly changes you for the better as a person. So in that way, it it helps me manage about, there are some things that I’m kind of like curious about this world. And then when I try to, like, learn from it by reading about it, or by talking to people about it, and I would get their insights, I would get their opinions. And then it makes me realize, oh, there’s definitely a lot to learn about the world that I haven’t learned yet. So that’s, that’s what keeps me inspired. It’s the constant desire to learn to unlearn, and at the same time to discover things that I haven’t discovered yet, and would want to explore further, and I think the right thing offers me that opportunity and that chance. So it’s definitely something to do. And something that I always keep in mind whenever I write a new work.
R
I think that’s a really interesting view of writing as sort of its, its in its own way, a way to discover more about the world and gives you a, a method where you can connect with and get to know so many more people, and so many more points of view, and also to understand your own better. I had never thought of it that way. But hearing it, it’s really beautiful.
A
Thank you. Yeah. But I admit that I have still so many things to learn about. So I think life in general is a constant process, we’re not finished products, if we are finished products, then we’d be dead by now. But I would say that there’s always an opportunity to learn, we are always in the process of achieving, of trying to achieve the better version of us. And not only that, but in our efforts to improve ourselves. We indirectly also can improve the lives of other people. So I’m not saying that we are heroes, we definitely should advocate to become heroes or something. But it’s like, we just try our best each day in whatever kind of routine we have. Whether it’s that waking up or taking a bath or going to work, we try our best each day, even when it’s as minimal effort as possible. Because the only way to learn about more about the world is to live life to the fullest and by by living life to the fullest, it doesn’t mean that you have to be wealthy, you have to travel the world. I mean, those are options, but living life to the fullest is also like being kind, being courageous, being brave and saying hello to the people you meet even when you don’t know them or like greeting them politely. Or basically when you’re doing your job you just make sure that okay I will do my best to complete this job within the day or or if it’s not within your capacity then I will do my best to make the most of what I can do within the day so like whether it’s taking your your coffee or or meeting friends or attending parties. You know, making the most out of moments can help you learn more about yourself and more about the world around you and you get to appreciate life in general. And I think that it’s is applicable to to all of us.
R
I do think that the way that you look at your writing as a and learning and life As this constant journey towards learning is something that I definitely agree and share. And then the idea that writing is just a method where we can learn and share more easily with the people around us, especially as we get better and better at communicating through our words, is a great way to view it, and also to keep yourself feeling positive and motivated as you continue to grow and learn.
A
Definitely.
R
And so, I want to ask you, you know, is your work dedicated to anybody, when you when you write these stories, do you think this is dedicated to this person, or this person was a heavy inspiration, or is usually just a variety of experiences coming together.
A
I would say that each work that I write, is dedicated to the people who inspired me to write about them or something like that. Like, there are some sort short stories that I’ve written that are dedicated to my mother, and my family in general, because my mother has always been my inspiration. She raised single handedly, my sister and me when we were growing up, and like I owe a lot of my life to her, my sister also, well, she’s one of my inspirations in life, she’s a very brave person for going through a lot as well, because right now she works as a nurse, and she saves lives. And I’ve seen the struggle of many frontliners during the pandemic. So there are some of my short stories that are also dedicated to people who are in the frontlines during the time of crisis, when we all experienced the tools of the pandemic during two years ago, and then or Yeah, three years ago. And then it also depends on like, there are like, as for personal experiences, there are some ideas that come out of it. And in those experiences, I’ve met people who have, you know, been a part of that experience in general. So, in a way, subtly or indirectly, it’s also dedicated to them, because I could not have made these precious moments without them in it. So every time I have my work published, I always share it with people that are kind of like, have been a part of, of that experience and that moment, so I always tell them, Oh, this one was inspired by this memory, when you remember when we were together. We remember when we were at this place, or we remember when we were eating at this restaurant or something like that. So I always share it to them. And it’s one way to, you know, appreciate that. Appreciate them in our lives. So dedication to the people that I’ve been in touch and dedication to the people that I’m in contact and in my relationships that I’ve that I’ve cherished over the years.
R
That doesn’t mean that it’s something that I fully understand is, you know, that it’s not always necessary, even everything about a person, but even just single moments that you have with people can inspire so much nice, right?
A
Definitely, definitely.
R
And I do think that, you know, you mentioned the being a frontline with being a nurse and everything that that type of thing is pretty heavy during the pandemic. And those experiences can be quite emotional, as well.
A
Right? You definitely. And, you know, we all grew up, go through certain struggles in our lives, whether we work in a certain practice or in a certain profession. And I think that it’s constant. But in a way, one thing that would give us comfort is that we’re here for each other. Whatever we do in life, whatever we put our focus on, or whatever kind of efforts we’re doing, as long as it’s for the good, then that the reassurance that there are people that we can, you know, trust and lean on would help us get through the day and for me, it’s it’s my family, even when I’m away, even when I’m living basically continents apart from them. I would consider them as like my my foundation due to talk with them whenever things don’t go as planned. I always find comfort in the words of my mother and sometimes I always find reassurance in the words of advice of my sister. And yeah, it’s also the friends that we meet along the way as well because some friends stay with us for as long as we have expected, so for longer than we have expected, and I think that it matters. Yeah, it’s definitely something that we can find courage on and to rely on, especially in a world where a lot of things would make us feel sad, or a lot of things would trigger us to become, you know, to lose hope about life in general. And one thing that would enliven or to, to fuel that hope is to is a reassurance that there are people who care, and I think that all of us should need to realize that,
R
I think that’s a beautiful message, share theory, if there are people around us, there are people who care about us that we also care about. And there’s going to be opportunities as well in the future, as well as in the presence to have moments and memories and connections with people that could last our entire lifetime. Right? Definitely. I know, I definitely have some people who I’ve no longer in connection with now, but I still cherish the memories that I shared with them, you know, 5, 10 15 years ago?
A
Definitely. Yeah. And it’s, it’s, it’s what made it’s what makes life really worthwhile, you know, is the experience with with people who are special in our lives? Sorry.
R
And I definitely agree, I think that’s something where we, we both share a very similar opinion on it, but you expressed it very wonderfully.
A
Thank you. I try my best.
R
So I want to ask you, you know, you’ve connected with other authors, you connect with readers, you’ve you’ve have all these connections with people that you’ve met have for you know, your your time and your journey. Is there, a particular indie author that you might want to share with everybody be like, hey, check out this, this fellow writer who I think is doing wonderful work.
A
Oh, um, there’s a lot actually 111 that I can definitely mention is, she’s a friend of mine. I think that she publishes her works on her WordPress site. And she’s very, I love her bros. Alvie, Jane, Anton, and she’s very inspiring, inspiring show because she and I are college friends. And she has I think, as I believe she has published self published three designs at the moment are the three compiled works of her poetry and her bras, which are really beautiful. And they’re all like, like, advices, about how to, like, get through life and when you’re in your adult, and I think that, as young adults as we are, I think that we are definitely in need of advice in especially in moments that are still new to us. discoveries that are quite like, we still haven’t touched about them during our younger years. So definitely. I think people should check her out LBJ aren’t done. And I’ll probably add her WordPress or substack account on in the descriptions, but I, I am in full support of her because she’s also inspired me in many ways that she has. I we might not have imagined, but she’s definitely a good person to look up to. And also for the rest, I would definitely say the authors that have been published by cinnabar. Moth publishing, I think that you guys have definitely produced a lot of really, really innovative, unique voices as of late. And I think that it’s a good way to, to explore more stories, because there are diverse stories in there that should be heard and should and people should read about. And I think that it’s also a very good platform to learn more about diverse voices as well.
R
It’s wonderful shout out and we appreciate you also talking about authors. We definitely agree that we feel we have connected with quite a few amazing and talented writers yourself included.
A
Thank you. Thank you, Rasta.
R
And so, Angelo, I’d like to thank you for talking with me today and being on the Writers Triangle.
A
Thank you so much Rasta for inviting me and for giving me the opportunity and I would like to express my gratitude once again to cinnabar moth, the organization behind Cinnabar Moth Publishing for giving me the I’m opportunity to receive the cinnabar moth literary cinnabar, moth collections prize for short storytelling. And to all my fellow authors. It’s always a constant journey. And what matters most is that we just put our we make life to the fullest by telling stories.
R
And it’s a beautiful message to share with everybody once again. And so I’d like to congratulate you on being the winner for Istanbul Moss, literary collections prize for short storytelling. And I’d also like to ask you, where can everybody find you as far as social media goes?
A
Yeah, I’m currently active on my Instagram account. And also I have a Facebook and well my Instagram is at gelo dot writes. And that’s w r i t e s. And then on Instagram On Facebook, I’m Angela Lorenzo. And then on YouTube, I have a YouTube channel as well. And it’s Angelo Lorenzo. And then on Twitter, I’m also available on Twitter, I just post my some of my travel logs there. And my insights, Angela underscore Lorenzo, and then where else on threads as well, because I think that goes along with Instagram. So I’m also available on threads with the same username that I have on my Instagram account at jello dot rights. So I’m available on those platforms. And yeah, for our listeners who would like to check out my my short stories. There are loads of them published on the Cinnabar Moth Literary Collections website.
R
And that’s wonderful. And for everybody listening, be sure to visit cinnabar moth.com or cinnabar moth literary collections.com where you can check out the transcripts and also find all of Angelo’s social media links. Thanks to all of you beautiful moms for listening. And Angelo, thank you for you for talking with me today.
A
Thank you so much Rasta. For now though,
R
Bye bye