ABOUT

So what do you actually do?

I'm a freelance writer who mostly works in poetry. The majority of my work is writing, editing, submitting poems and occasionally facilitating poetry workshops with schools and the writing community.

What has your career path been?

I first started sharing my work 'professionally' after winning the Roundhouse slam in 2012.

At the time I was about to start my undergraduate degree in Psychology and Counselling and was able to go to poetry events in the evenings. I started headlining events, doing festivals, taking part in awards.

Those early years were very hectic.

Things picked up for me even more after publishing my first book in 2015 which led to me releasing an online chapbook in 2017. Both these were very different but beneficial experiences that I think pushed me to get even more serious about my work.

I continued writing, performing and sharing my work while completing my first and second degree - since then I released my full poetry collection 'where the memory was' in October 2020 under Jacaranda Books. I've balanced a lot of things at the same time but I'm quite lucky that it's all worked out.

What is the best part of your job?

Knowing that something that I feel or felt, is felt by others and that they find some benefit in reading my poems.

I've met an unbelievable amount of friends through poetry who I learn from and feel supported by. I also especially love when I work with children and young adults, we could all learn so much from their imaginations.

Why do you do your job?

To be frank, I need to.

I think that even if I wasn't doing this as work I would still be writing. I've been writing poetry since primary school and it's guided me through a lot of hardship, I think this is one thing I can whole-heartedly say that I do for myself and my own wellbeing.

All the other good things that come from it are just extra.

One piece of advice for someone starting in your role?

It feels a bit cliche but anybody who wants to get more serious about their writing should know that getting up and working on it every day is not easy.

Especially if you don't have an exact deadline or anybody pushing you to submit work. It's really a mental battle and be can exhausting alongside other jobs you may have!

A great way to combat this, is to befriend people and find your community. Going to events or finding like-minded people on social media can introduce you to new writers, new platforms and new social circles. Personally, if I didn't have my friends in the OCTAVIA POETRY COLLECTIVE or fellow authors under Jacaranda Books, I would get way less work done!

Check out Hibaq’s socials below!

DAY IN THE LIFE

2020 was my first year working as a full-time freelancer so every day has been different since then but generally: I'm not much of a morning person so I’ll be up around 10 am, do my bed, wash up, make a cup of tea or coffee.

I'm trying my best lately to start the day without my laptop, so at least an hour reading or clearing up, doing skincare, that sort of stuff. When I've had breakfast and feel settled I go through my emails and make note of any upcoming deadlines, submissions, invoices, things I need to reply to. Once admin is scheduled I start writing.

Recently I've been working on an upcoming project so I try to reach a specific word-count each day.

I work in three / four hour spurts between 11am to 3pm and then 4pm to 7pm Monday to Friday on my writing. I'm also teaching myself how to code at the moment so sometimes that takes the early slot and writing takes the later slot.

Working this way is very new to me but I think has helped me the most with scheduling and ~doing something~ each day. While working I try not to berate myself for taking breaks, I cut myself slack when my brain hurts and I log out when I know I can't do much more. I think knowing yourself is key to finding a schedule that works.

Pre-pandemic I did pretty much the same but my evenings and weekends would include events and workshops. I miss these the most, even when they are moved online. Being in a physical space with other writers or artists or otherwise just people I care about, revitalises me and makes me want to do better in my work.

Due to these events no-longer running I try my best to turn off my writing brain in the evening and catch up with friends and family. After 7pm I do the admin that I made note of earlier, schedule emails for the next day and loosely work on anything else until around 9pm.

The rest of my evening is pretty typical, laughing at tweets and watching shows until the late hours. I sleep pretty late, wake up pretty late, and do it all again.