Vincent Ternida

What was your favorite book as a child?

What was your favorite book as a child? I did not read much as a child, but have been drawn to stories from other media such as television, comic books and cinema. When I studied at an International School in the fifth grade, I was introduced to the joy of reading starting with Roald Dahl's Matilda. However, my favorite series as a child was Judy Blume's Fudge series starting with Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, SuperFudge, and Fudge-a-Mania.

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

What was the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively? As I was always drawn to the medium of story, I've always liked daydreaming and watching little movies in my head. Moving on to study at an International School provided a platform for me to start writing creatively. It began with introducing the joy of reading as well as introducing students to meet real-life authors speaking about their craft and story. After receiving an assignment to write stories based on Jack and the Beanstalk in fifth grade, it piqued my curiosity to start writing creatively. I felt that that assignment gave me permission that these stories that I've listened to and have entertained were written by other people like myself, and from there, I started to write stories for myself as a means of entertainment and as a way to jog my imagination.

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

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced? Aside from writing, the idea of travel and exploration has always inspired me to pique my curiosity in new places and also if I wish to learn more about a place or thing of interest. In 2018, I took a 48-hour Greyhound journey from Montreal, Quebec to Dallas, Texas just on a whim (and also to save some money). What was meant to be a cost-effective way for me to save money on a trip, opened my eyes to the different perspectives in the American South that I would've never have discovered if I had driven or just taken the beaten track of flying to specific places.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing? Why/why not?

Do you listen to music while reading or writing? Why/why not? No, I feel that music is a mood disruptor that primes my emotions and mood to feel a certain way. I would listen to music when I'm journaling or travelling to pique a specific mood or emotion, but when I'm starting to put things down to the page, I feel that my process of outlining and brainstorming have already been completed and I don't want to influence my writing to deviate from my planned outcome. No music helps me maintain my focus to actually finish work.