Hi, my name is Arianna
I am someone who lives in her head 24/7, daydreaming about all kinds of ideas and stories, but never having the courage or time to put them into words. Growing up, I was very introverted. I was quiet, mostly kept to myself, and barely made any friends. Books and television were my only company. You could always find me hidden away in the fiction section of the school library, escaping into fantastic worlds and losing myself in stories that felt more real than reality.
Whether it was school night or the weekend, I would stay up past my bedtime watching cartoons and anime until I fell asleep. I would create alter egos of myself, insert them into the airing episodes, and imagine I was going on adventures alongside the characters (basically, I’ve been creating OCs since I was 7). After lights out, I would hide under the covers to use my Nintendo DS as a reading light to write down my adventures in a journal. In high school, I became more interested in writing and decided to write my first fanfiction on Wattpad. Although I dare not read that cringy mess today, I will never have the heart to delete it. It taught me how to write an outline, build a plot, and develop characters to create a story that gained nearly 30,000 views.
Who Am I?
When it came time for me to enter college, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I took career assessment tests, personality tests, and met with career counselors. Finally, after a lot of soul searching, I…still lost. Part of me wanted to pursue a career aligned with my passion for writing, but there was always a voice in the back of my mind telling me it wouldn’t work out.
During my three years at Arizona State University, I studied Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in English and Business. I decided to continue soul-searching by enrolling in different classes and adding new skills to my repertoire. At the end of my senior year, I applied for an internship at Biasly, where I gained experience in SEO, content creation, and media analysis. After graduation, I put those skills to use by starting a blog to showcase my writing samples. However, as I developed the site, I realized I wanted to create a space where I could share engaging, thought-provoking posts about subjects I love. My mission is to take off the fanon glasses and examine how the media we consume influences our culture, challenges the status quo, and shapes our understanding of the world.
Fighting with The Voice
However, as much as I love writing, I am always wrestling with finding the courage to bring my work to life. I’ve gone through many seasons drowning in my own self-doubt, perfectionism, and fear of failure. There is always a Voice in the back of my mind whispering every doubt that crosses my thoughts:
You’re not good enough
No one will like what you have to say
That sounds stupid. Start over and do it again.
With this blog, I want to challenge myself to find my voice and showcase my abilities as a writer. Navigating through a tumultuous post-grad landscape has made me realize how much I want my voice to matter. Through this platform, I hope to overcome my insecurities and build a community where others can share their stories, support one another, and find the courage to use their own voices.
Why I Made “Ari Writes”
For “Ari Writes”, I chose three of my favorite topics that I am most passionate about: Anime, Gaming, and K-pop. Being a certified nerd, I want to channel my love and passion for these fandoms into thoughtful, engaging content. Whether it’s analyzing complex character arcs in a new anime, reviewing the latest RPG, or celebrating a new K-pop debut, I want to create a space where creativity, analysis, and enthusiasm intersect, offering unique perspectives and fostering discussions that celebrate the limitless possibilities of imagination and the power of a great story.
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