27.Nov.2009 Work it: Interview with Sophie Ward, Literary entrepreneur

(Paper Castle logo by Danny Roberts)

Sophie Ward is busy, aligning disparate universes.
There are her home bases – Perth, the world’s most isolated city, and bustling New York, her adopted home.
And then there’s the modelling – for Italian and Australian Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Giorgio Armani and Diane von Fürstenberg, among others – which sits alongside her true passion, writing.
She sits in the highest of turrets at her publishing company, Paper Castle Press, awaiting the imminent release of her first book, The Beginning of an Inexplicable Journey, and shares herself with the world on her blog, Big Long Open Gash.
Sophie was kind enough to share her thoughts on writing with Further Ado.

Where do you find the inspiration for your writing? What do you do when you’re feeling less-than-inspired?

The inspiration comes from a place I can’t explain easily, it’s a spiritual place, but I think the main point of being inspired is to simply let it come to you from wherever it does. You can’t find it, but you can take away the obstacles you have in your path to it. That being said, it does strike at mostly randomized points in life –and after a while you start to notice patterns. For me it’s on trains, looking at nature, in airports, very late at night when all is calm and quiet, and through the experience of deep love, that I am inspired. The energy of inspiration is so intoxicating. I frequently get hangovers from the inspiration benders I go on! When I’m feeling less-than-inspired, I usually lay flat on my back and sleep, or read, or vent about whatever’s bothering me, which actually becomes an art form all in itself! (see “Wank-Off-And-Die!” on my blog). To every low there is a high.

Can you talk us through the process of starting your own publishing company, from conception to finding backers and writers, to completion?

I was in New York talking to a friend in Sydney when out of the blue he suggested we start our own publishing company. Because he had the resources and the means to print books, and I had the vision and the creativity to pair with him, we thought, why not? Backers? What backers?! The writing right now is all my own, however we have a series of books in the pipeline, including a collaboration of mine with the very talented artist Danny Roberts. Danny and I started our blogs around the same time in 2008 (after he sent me a message on Myspace) and from there, we’ve both seen our brands grow organically, which has been really exciting. At this stage I also have to share the quote: “All art is never finished, it just stops in interesting places.” That’s how I feel about Paper Castle.

(Portrait of Sophie Ward by Danny Roberts)

What made you decide to run your own publishing company rather than get your books published at a pre-existing one?

I became aware that typical publishers wouldn’t be interested in my first book, which to them reads as “abstract”. My own experience of sharing it with people is that it’s in fact the opposite! I wanted to put something out that was as true to thought and emotion as I could manage. At the moment I’m not interested in fiction novels, or in celebrity biographies. What I wanted to see and to make room for, were books that might describe something of how it is to live in this world right now. The blog and online world are great for that because it’s so democratic and you can connect with people from all over the world and hear what they’re going through, without the filter of the media interfering. But besides the power of connection that the internet holds, I also wanted to create physical objects that stood the test of time, and as I said, tell something about humanity today.

How do you deal with writer’s block?

I have to say I don’t really experience too much writers block, because I just write when I have the urge to. I keep journals with me at all times, so I might write on the plane or the subway, or whenever I feel that need. I think I only get writer’s block when I’m working on a long story, and looking for a particular feeling or a specific word that needs to fit. If I get stuck on that, I just look out the window for a few seconds, or get up and do something else. I used to cook when I was studying and needed a break! The physical motions always take my mind off the problem and into something still creative, but nurturing instead of soul destroying.

How do you balance managing the business side of things with the creative side?

I have many business-minded people connected to Paper Castle, which I think will continue to balance it. At the moment it’s a pure vein of creativity, and I couldn’t do it without the advice and direction of my visionary friends and co-creators in LA and Sydney.

What has been your proudest achievement?

Moving from Perth, Western Australia, to New York City over the last year is a success I’m very proud of, especially because it’s all on the strength of my writing, modelling, and sheer determination. The 01 Visa that went along with that move was a proud achievement too. I think ‘Alien of Extraordinary Ability’ is an exciting title to have!!

Every business has its hiccups. What problems have you encountered along the way and how did you recover?

A great writer friend whose books we are publishing once said to me “Don’t dip your quill in company ink.” I should have listened to him, because I lost a great friend and colleague by crossing the line and becoming more romantically involved with him. He is a great creative soul and was my best friend, but work is work, and when hearts want different things, it’s hard to reconcile in order to do business, which is an apparently heartless creation of humanity. I wish it wasn’t.

How do you stay motivated?

Dreaming. As long as you consistently dream up new possibilities for your life, you’re never short of sparks for fires. I also love something Conan O’Brien (an unlikely hero of mine), once said in relation to James Lipton’s question “What turns you on….?” Conan replied with absolute certainty, “Enthusiasm. As long as you’re enthusiastic you can conquer the world, and I hate people who are too cool for school.” It was a great validation, because my enthusiasm can be overwhelming sometimes, and while I know where my motivations are taking me, it overflows into the atmosphere and overwhelms other people. I just love being excited about things. When something feels that good, you don’t intend to stop anytime soon.

You’re in the UK at the moment and you base yourself between Perth and New York, so you clearly travel a lot. But what’s an average day like for you – do you have a daily routine?

I do generally keep the same habits. I eat the same healthy foods and have always liked walking lots, wherever I am. When I’m in New York I tend to do my meetings and errands during the daylight hours, but have noticed that I habitually write more and better late at night. So I get a second day of work into the day after dinner (which I cook either with, or for Jon, an amazing man who I am blessed to be sharing the world with!!) when all is quiet and there’s nothing left to do but write.

Who are your role models: –the people who make you aspire to be better, do more, achieve your dreams?

I mentioned Conan O’Brien before. He epitomizes my belief that the more unique you are, the greater joy there is in being you and sharing that with other people. I used to think that being different was a curse, so his authenticity really inspires me: the fact that he hasn’t compromised who he is along his journey to sharing himself with other people. It might seem like an odd role-model for a writer to have, but I know that the moment my brothers introduced me to him I knew he was someone I could relate to. Sharing a sense of humor is incredibly important too, even though he often downplays the importance of his role in the world. My boyfriend Jon also knows exactly what I’m doing that I could be doing differently, and seems to recognize the road to my best self, more clearly than I can! So, having him around is a powerful force that inspires me to evolve and do things differently.

We all have big hopes and aspirations for our projects. What’s your ultimate dream for your writing?

I love creative people and partnering with talents that didn’t have an outlet for their dreams before. If I can make things possible for someone who thought things were impossible, that’s an incredibly rewarding experience, worth more than any material thing. One thing I have loved with my blog is that I’ve come to know my audience quite intimately, and the communication channels that I have opened up to the world have been powerful catalysts for new ideas and creations to come about. I have my hand in the Hollywood pond too, because I feel like film, theatre and television are mediums in which to share our experience of the world on a global stage. I’d love to share comedy, drama, adventure, child’s play, science, nature, history, and possibilities for our evolution, on a globally entertaining scale!

What’s next for Sophie Ward and for Paper Castle Press?

Right now the Paper Castle is a hive of activity, celebration, impetus, and birth. I have been putting the final touches on the cover of our first book (my own, The Beginning of an Inexplicable Journey) and talking to many of my readers intimately, which I adore. I used to want to be a Postman when I was about 5, so that dream came true! After the first book, we have a lot of projects lined up, as well as a novella I wrote for a concept created by (the artist) Danny Roberts. One day I’d love to put words to music too, which plays a huge role in inspiring me. I listen so closely to the words in music, I swear I’ve heard things nobody else has…. I also return to New York next week and am looking forward to putting the next pieces of the jigsaw puzzle in place in my life. I am so blessed and so happy to be able to experience life this way. An inexplicable journey, it continues to be.