The Write Place #45: Ariel E. Gaskill

I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.

James Michener

When it comes to writing, I am a bit of a purist. I keep a notebook and pen close by, because you never know when inspiration will strike. I have a wooden trunk full of old journals, filled with pages of the thoughts, dreams, prayers and hopes of my younger self. The truth is, writing serves not only as a creative outlet, but as a guide. It helps me to understand myself and the world around me better. My favorite time to write is at dawn, just before the sun comes up. Typically, after I’ve spent some time in prayer and devotion with the Lord, that’s when I get the best, purest, and most writing done. I listen to a jazz soundtrack that a friend and I created together called, “Meet Me for Coffee: A Hybrid Vibe for Your Listening Pleasure” on YouTube and I have a hot cup of coffee or tea depending on whether I am writing or editing.

I can write anywhere, though when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the world, it seemed was at a standstill, I was able to dream up a designated writing space to call my own.  The aesthetic that I leaned toward was a play on hard and soft, a nod toward vintage with a few modern touches. I wanted to create a space that inspired me, a space that felt intimate, cozy, warm and inviting. On my desk which is perfectly situated under the sill of two windows, I have a couple of notebooks that were gifted to me from my mom, a pair of metal glasses for a quirky twist, an Edison lamp to create ambiance, a Rae Dunn swivel organizer, my Microsoft Pro tablet, and perhaps my favorite piece is my Azio Retro Compact Keyboard (RCK) made of wood and gunmetal.  To me, it just elevates the whole space. What makes it special is the homage it pays to the classic typewriter in that the keys click and clack, whilst having  modern features namely Bluetooth technology and the fact that it is small and portable.   

Some of the most recent elements that I’ve added to the space were a desk-sized bookshelf to house a few knick-knacks in an organized way, as well as a proof and published copy of my book, The Courageous Becoming: Penned Thoughts and Gentle Reminders for the Perfectly Imperfect which I released on Amazon this past November.

Ariel Elizabeth journeys through her life on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. with her faith as her compass and the Holy Spirit as her guide. She stepped away from her corporate job to focus more seriously on her faith-based social media marketing and brand development company, Simply Ari Media, and her writing. During her time as a freelance writer in the Washington Metropolitan area, she discovered her passion for storytelling. Ariel encourages others to: dream big, be brave enough to explore the unique gifting that God has placed inside of them, and most importantly, include the Lord in every season of their journey.

You can find out more about Ariel via her website, her YouTube channel, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Clubhouse, and Facebook.

Racquel Henry is a Trinidadian writer, editor, and writing coach with an MFA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is a part-time English Professor and owns Writer’s Atelier. Racquel is also the co-founder and Editor at Black Fox Literary Magazine and the Editor-in-Chief at Voyage YA. She is the author of Holiday on Park, Letter to Santa, and The Writer’s Atelier Little Book of Writing Affirmations. Her fiction, poetry, and nonfiction have appeared in various literary magazines and anthologies. When she’s not working, you can find her watching Hallmark Christmas movies.
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