Writing and Audience | Writing for the Self Through a Means of Collaboration with JoAnna Ricaurte

This series aims to raise questions on the ways in which an audience can influence the thoughts and behaviors of a writer. The reader is so much more than the person in line at the bookstore or a pair of eyes staring into a screen; the reader is the writer’s liaison to the purpose of their writing, because the writer is catering to the reader as soon as pen hits paper. This long-forged relationship goes much deeper than what is written on the page… 

This installment features a writer in various online communities who transforms her craft into a shared experience of teaching, learning, and self-expression.

Aissatou Ndiour: I know that you write a little bit online. Can you tell me about what you write and how you started writing for fun?

JoAnna Ricaurte: I do something I like to call collaborative creative writing. Within a set fictional universe, like Marvel or Harry Potter, whether you are writing about an established character or one that you make yourself within the laws of that universe, you take turns writing a story with somebody. Effectively you take a couple of paragraphs, and the other person takes a couple of paragraphs, either writing an established plot or starting from scratch and seeing where it goes. 

AN: When did you start and how did you get into it?

JR: I started when I was 11 years old. I was in 6th grade at that point, and a friend of mine who had been doing it in online spaces introduced me to it because she saw that I was what you would call a “fandom kid” in the early 2010s. I was a big Potterhead back then, so she said “Hey, if you like reading about this stuff, wouldn’t you like to write about it too?”

AN: What is that writing process like for you?

JR: For me, it takes a lot more prep than necessary because the idea is it’s recreational and it's for fun. Things that are for fun usually aren't supposed to be stressful, but as a perfectionist, I draft my replies and I take notes on the previous person’s response. I break down what they’ve said into bite-size pieces and think about how I want to respond to each of those parts. It’s so much like my essay writing process where I create bullet points of what I want to say and then I translate that into a paragraph form of what’s appropriate for the genre. 

If I’m starting the back-and-forth interaction, a lot more goes into it. I might need to dig out Wiki Fandom articles and brush up on lore while setting the tone. It’s a lot, but once I send my message in our out of character space, we talk about what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. Usually the other person is pretty responsive to that and they’re stoked about it, which relieves a lot of my stress.

AN: How has your relationship with writing changed since you started this? 

JR: When I started, I didn’t really care about how I was saying what I wanted to communicate. I was very straight forward, but growing up as a student changed that for me. I was considered a gifted child, so I was celebrated for my creative ability in my art and my writing, so I thought “Okay, I need to elevate my writing to match this image for approval.” So, I got really into Grammarly and other proofreading sites. Sometimes I would revise and re-edit my replies before sending them. Now, I’m way more focused on presentation than content. A lot of my academic writing has been informed by my experience in writing for fun, and leading me to consider my audience. 

If you’re writing about two characters that have an established relationship, there are things that don't really need to be said because both writers already know that fact. But If you’re writing with someone new, there are alot of points that need to come up so the other person gets the memo. If you’re writing with someone who has different life experiences, you tailor your approach and communication to them. I’m more easily able to adapt to understood audiences and their expectations. 

AN: Do you write with a pseudonym or a username online. 

JR: Yes, my pen name on Instagram is “Muerta,” which is the feminine form of death in Spanish. It’s not always super relevant to the characters I write about, but the pen name allows me to magnify traits of myself that I’m really proud of. By reading it, you can tell that I’m very Hispanic and really into finding beauty in things that other people tend to find gross. In physical spaces, there’s a certain pressure to subdue parts of yourself. I want to follow a pursuit of authenticity and be myself. 

AN: Do you ever want to traditionally publish your work?

JR: I’m not sure. I’m not completely against the idea, but I write for fun. I do it because it allows me to explore myself and get closer to other people. If I make that my job, it’ll become a chore and I won’t enjoy it anymore. 

AN: Any advice for anyone who wants to get into this kind of writing?

JR: Write! I mainly do it on Instagram, but there are lots of other websites that host collaborative fiction writing sessions like mine. Don’t be ashamed of your hobbies and embrace your creativity.