Today, we’d like to introduce you to Sofía Aguilar.
Hi Sofía, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been reading and writing on my own ever since I was in grade school. I was one of those kids who turned in these rich, complex, multiple-page-long stories while others only felt like stringing together a few paragraphs. I spent a long time thinking through character descriptions, plot arcs, and a resolution that felt true to the narrative I was creating.
Over time, I opened up to other genres beyond fiction, including poetry, creative nonfiction, and journalism, and ended up completing my first novel when I was fifteen. I had the support of amazing English and creative writing teachers, as well as my parents, who encouraged me to keep on writing, gave me insightful feedback, opened up avenues for further exploration, and introduced me to writing organizations and groups that would help me further develop my craft.
Looking back, I know that I would not be here without my community, including all the voices of my peers and those who have come before me and given me permission to tell stories on my own terms, like Sandra Cisneros, Pam Muñoz Ryan, and Elizabeth Acevedo.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Before I thought of myself as a professional writer, I didn’t even know that having a career as a writer was possible. As a child, I didn’t realize that someone had written the books I was reading, believing that these books came out of nowhere and not knowing that I could do it, too.
The other problem was that there was far less representation in the publishing industry than there is now (though we still have work to do), so I wasn’t reading work by Latinx authors and, therefore, wasn’t seeing my culture, experiences, or family history represented on the page. If it was, it didn’t always feel authentic or genuine. So that further pushed this belief that being a writer wasn’t something I could become, instilling a lot of confusion and imposter syndrome in me.
Over time, the industry diversified, and I grew more confident and unapologetic about my work, even in overwhelmingly white spaces that didn’t always understand what I was trying to do. Still, I learned how to stand my ground, hold on to what was important to me, and tell stories that have long been overlooked or erased altogether.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a multi-genre writer, performer, and teaching artist with specializations in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and journalism. As a creative writer, I have published hundreds of pieces focusing on themes of family, identity, culture, history, lineage, and daughterhood, all from a Chicana perspective and a Black and Indigenous-informed lens.
As someone who is incredibly passionate about representation in media, I take a social justice approach to my work and am always thinking deeply about how I can participate in conversations around liberation and advocacy so that the media and entertainment industry actually represent the world we live in. Amazingly, my writing has been able to connect with folks within and outside of my community, and I have been invited to perform all over the world at both small and distinguished venues.
This is true of my work as a teaching artist as well, in which I offer free, low-cost, or accessibly priced writing workshops for writers at any stage of their career in the genres I write in. Through these events, I love being able to spread my love and knowledge to communities that may not have access to these resources otherwise, introduce them to a diverse array of authors, and give them an outlet through which they can explore and give voice to their creative impulses.
Over the years, I’ve found that my teaching philosophy is more of a guide than a formal teacher who grades and assigns homework. Rather, my approach is grounded in experimentation, play, self-led learning, and celebration of getting any words on the page rather than getting something polished and perfect in opposition to the capitalistic standards we were born with.
As a journalist, I take special pride in covering stories from the Latinx community that go under the radar and are often ignored by mainstream news outlets. So not only do I report on important news, but I also offer analysis, commentary, and critique of film and TV, visibility on new releases from Latinx authors, and celebration of Latinx changemakers in various industries and fields.
In all areas of my work, I make the community the center of everything I do rather than myself and my own self-interests. I’m proud of the network and support system I’ve been able to create for myself, and I am grateful for everyone who is able to resonate with one or all of the tenets of my work in some way.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
One of my favorite poets, Ariana Brown, offers great resources for writers on her Instagram page @arianathepoet, including weekly prompts, informational threads, workshops, and classes on a variety of themes and topics.
I also really enjoy the book Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, which gives incredibly insightful and tangible advice about writing and the writer’s life with strategies that you can easily apply to your writing routine and practice. I also happen to have an Instagram Live podcast, Creativity Café, where I interview writers and creatives about their work, projects, advice, and just about everything else!
Contact Info:
- Website: sofiaaguilar.com
- Instagram: @sofiaxaguilar
- Twitter: @sofiaxaguilar
- Other: https://sofiaaguilar.bigcartel.com/
Image Credits
@portraitsbyrenee and Andy Forsberg
