Meet Arianna Urban | Indie Author & Poet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Arianna Urban and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arianna, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Because I didn’t know that when they said “starving artist,” they meant it. I’m kidding, I don’t know that I can say I chose to pursue it, I think it chose me. There are few things that I will admit to being good at, but putting words on paper is definitely one of them. I hadn’t really considered making it a career until a Professor in College believed in my writing enough to push me into changing my major. As soon as I started to really explore writing, I couldn’t stop, and while I have to say I don’t think I’ve quite made a “career” of it, yet, it’s something that I love so much that I won’t stop pursuing my dreams in this field. I think when you can’t sleep, or there’s that excited buzzing in your body over something that you have created, that’s what life is about, finding those moments and holding onto them, and if you can turn that feeling into a career, you should.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’m most proud of myself and my perseverance. As an indie author and content creator, I’m in charge of my own success and how my writing journey goes. Sure, there are outside sources that make this easier for me, social media, self-publishing platforms, friends and family that share my work, but if I don’t put the effort in, nothing happens. The challenges that I run into typically revolve around my own procrastination, time management, and the general life of a single mom. The only way for me to grow my audience and make an impact as a writer is if I continue to push myself to meet the deadlines I lay out. There isn’t an agent or publisher breathing down my neck for drafts or content, so I have to make sure I’m showing up for myself.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I rarely say it out loud but I do love Columbus, there are so many hidden gems here. My favorite part of the city is German Village, all of my favorite places are there; The Book Loft, The Old Mohawk, Schiller Park, German Village Coffee House, Lindy’s, Jeni’s, and tons of bars. There’s so many more too that I couldn’t list them all. Just know that if you’re looking for something you’ll find it in German Village. The Book Loft has 32 rooms with discounted books and they have the best poetry section. The Old Mohawk has the best grilled cheese and desserts, but if you want something fancier Lindy’s is fantastic, but make a reservation. Schiller park puts on Shakespeare plays where you can take a picnic and drink in public. German Village Coffee House has the best pancakes I’ve ever had. Outside of German Village, the Short North houses art galleries, restaurants, and bars. I love the art museum and Franklin Park Conservatory – the butterflies are always magical. I’d take them to the Columbus Commons to catch a band and ride the carousel too.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The two people that come to mind first would have to be Chelsea Castle, who gave me my first writing job, and Steve Kaczmarek who was one of my English teachers in college. Chelsea gave me a chance to write over 75 articles without any real journalism experience. I will be forever grateful that I had that opportunity and that it put me on the path to want to share what I have to say. The same can be said of Mr. Kaczmarek, I took his creative writing class and he saw my potential and asked to see what I wrote outside of college essays. Without his encouragement, I wouldn’t have changed my major and pursued creative writing. My friends and family of course read everything I write. It takes so much courage for me to write the way I do and to put it out into a world, without that encouragement and support, I wouldn’t be able to do it. To anyone who reads my words, or has bought my book, even if poetry isn’t your thing, thank you for your unwavering support.

Website: https://aeurbanwrites.wixsite.com/thetypewriterdiary

Instagram: @aeurbancreates