Timea Pap

What was your favorite book as a child?

“The Little Prince.” It’s a blueprint on how to love open-heartedly, vulnerably. It teaches about compassion, friendship, and always seeing the good in people. Throughout my life, in some way or another, whether I consciously recognize it or not, I keep coming back to those lessons.

Do you remember the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

Growing up I had a strong imagination and processed events around me as stories. As someone who is obsessed with finding meaning, writing is a way to make sense of how I fit into the world. It has also provided a comfort in knowing that however I present myself, my writing is like a roadmap or representation of who I am. I can point to my poems and say “This is me, this is who I am.”

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

When I was young, my friends and I took spontaneous trips with no plans, little to no money, very minimal packing, and no intention. It makes you feel deeply alive to go through the excitement, panic, boredom, discomfort, and then true joy in the time span of one or two days.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

I don’t listen to music when I am actually writing. Songs may elicit an experience or feelings but they take away the words. Writing has always been about the quest to put into words what I am living internally. Specific albums have influenced my poems, however.