Meet Nadia Vara of Jakarta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadia Vara

Hi Nadia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Oh hi! I’m Nadia Vara, and I just graduated from Universitas Gadjah Mada with Magna Cumlaude Honor this year. I’m the type who likes to think a lot and keep my feelings to myself, actually. I started my writing journey back in elementary school. I used to write poems and essays and send them to the school mailbox, where they would be displayed on the bulletin board. Over time, I stopped for a while but picked it up again in middle school, continuing through my undergraduate years. Pursuing my graduate studies now requires me to keep writing, mostly about social sciences, even though I studied coding in my Informatics program.

Does it seem like I’m forcing things in other areas or relying on luck in my explorations? For example, I once studied coding in my Informatics program or participated in the National Science Olympiad in Biology, but I’m also interested in the arts (especially music). My father is a musician, although not very active. During high school, I also took part in cultural-themed nature explorations. The long journeys through various explorations have led me to cross-disciplinary knowledge.

Continuing my education here has led me to delve deeper into writing, which has been a bit chaotic as I struggle with “what” to write about and figuring out my own writing style. Crafting out-of-the-box and unique pieces has pushed me to focus on interdisciplinary knowledge such as gender studies, human security, philosophy, culture, anthropology, music, painting, dance, and even some fields outside of social sciences like technology, and vice versa.

Once, I wrote an article combining gender equality, culture, and music in a piece titled “Leveraging the Phenomenon of Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) for Gender Equality and Cultural Heritage Preservation Through the Song ‘Kala Sang Surya Tenggelam’ and the Film ‘Gadis Kretek'”. This was published by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada . The driving force behind this piece was the phenomenon of young people and social media (technology), which again became the basis for my writing. At the time, I was experiencing FoMO over the newly released Indonesian film, “Gadis Kretek”. This led to some quirky ideas, and some unique collaborations that I thought would be interesting. Without revisions, and to my pride, it got published. Yes, I am proud of myself.

To this day, I continue to develop my writing potential alongside my main job. Writing will always be a therapeutic outlet for me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Like any journey, there have been ups and downs. Some of the struggles I faced along the way include:

1. Balancing Interests: Initially, balancing my passion for writing with my Informatics studies was challenging. Finding the time and energy to write creatively while managing a demanding course load required a lot of discipline and time management.

2. Writer’s Block: There were periods when I faced writer’s block, struggling to find inspiration or the right words to express my thoughts. This was particularly tough when I had deadlines or high expectations for my work.

3. Criticism and Self-Doubt: Sharing my work with others opened me up to criticism, which sometimes led to self-doubt. Learning to accept constructive feedback and not let negative comments affect my confidence was a significant hurdle.

4. Shifting Focus: Transitioning from writing poetry and creative pieces to more academic and social science-focused writing in graduate school required a shift in my writing style and approach. Adapting to these new demands took time and effort.

5. Maintaining Consistency: Keeping up with regular writing while juggling other responsibilities, such as internships, part-time jobs, and personal commitments, was often overwhelming.

Despite these challenges, each struggle helped me grow as a writer and a person. I’ve learned to manage my time better, accept feedback constructively, and adapt my writing skills to different contexts.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Being a writer means living a life where you’re always working, even when you’re daydreaming. We have a unique talent for turning caffeine into words and procrastination into panic-induced productivity. Our job is to create characters that feel more real than our neighbours, plot twists that leave people gasping, and endings that make readers cry, laugh, or throw the book across the room in frustration. Oh, and don’t even get me started on writer’s block—it’s like our brain suddenly goes on a vacation to a place with no Wi-Fi.

You see, writers are experts at people-watching. We can sit in a café, sipping our third cup of coffee, and spin entire backstories for the strangers around us. That grumpy barista? Definitely a secret agent hiding from an international crime syndicate. The elderly man reading a newspaper? Probably a retired pirate, reminiscing about his days on the high seas. We’re like detectives, but instead of solving crimes, we’re uncovering the hidden stories of everyday life.

Another quirky aspect of being a writer is our relationship with our characters. They’re not just figments of our imagination; they’re our friends, enemies, and sometimes even our therapists. We argue with them, cheer for them, and occasionally apologize for the awful things we put them through. It’s a bit like having an imaginary friend, but way more socially acceptable because, hey, it’s for our “art.”

Finally, there’s the glamorous part of being a writer: the constant quest for the perfect word. We agonize over synonyms, obsess over sentence structure, and can spend an entire afternoon debating whether a particular scene needs more dialogue or more action. And when inspiration strikes at 3 a.m., you bet we’re reaching for a notebook (or our phone) to jot down that brilliant idea. Sure, it means living in a constant state of mild sleep deprivation, but it’s all worth it when we see our words come to life on the page and, hopefully, in the hearts of our readers.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Oh, the world of writing! Over the next 5-10 years, I see us writers evolving in fascinating ways. Picture this: writers wielding keyboards with the finesse of a maestro conducting a symphony, but instead of notes, it’s words that dance across the screen.

Big shifts? Absolutely! We’ll probably see AI co-writers that help with those pesky plot holes. Imagine having a digital assistant who never tires of brainstorming plot twists or coming up with puns for your latest comedy.

Changes? For sure! The publishing world might get even more digital. Paper books might be vintage collectibles, like vinyl records. But don’t worry, we’ll still be arguing over whether the book was better than the movie adaptation.

Trends? Expect more genres to mash-up in the most delightful ways. Who’s ready for a dystopian-romantic-comedy-murder-mystery? And we’ll probably be writing more for virtual reality experiences, crafting stories you can literally step into.

So, buckle up! The writing industry is on an exciting roller coaster, and I’m thrilled to be in the front seat, pen in hand (or should I say, fingers on the keyboard?)

Terima kasih! Rahayu.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadiavaar

Image Credits
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