Arianna Urban shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Arianna, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I would definitely say that I am wandering, but with intention. It may seem that I am off path from the outside looking in. There are certainly some side quests that present themselves, but for the most part my end goal remains the same: create art and share it with the world. What this looks like continues to shift as I grow in my writing and how I share it, and while I may explore other creative avenues, it all comes down to the goal of creating authentically. I recently took a break from writing for a few months because it felt like I was getting caught up in trying to appease the social media gods, but I’m happy to be back at it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I would love to — I write under A. E. Urban, which is how you can find my social channels. I primarily share on Instagram, but have a personal website called The Typewriter Diaries and I’m now on threads. I’ve been writing poetry probably since I learned how to spell. It’s something that has always been really special to me. The first time I shared my poetry was in high school, my sophomore year, I submitted a poem to a contest and won. Two years later my first piece was published in an anthology. When I was in college I took a creative writing class and my professor gently pushed me to pursue writing, which I am so grateful for. I ended up changing my major to creative writing and transferred to Full Sail University to complete one of their BFA programs. Since graduating I’ve self-published two poetry anthologies, written over 100 articles, and had several poems published with Harness Magazine and 614 Magazine. I am currently working on my debut novel, which is a duel point of view rom-com. Characters Theo and Emery are in their early thirties navigating dating after long term relationships ending, and find each other by accidental circumstances. I’m about half-way through my first draft and am excited to share it when it’s ready.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My mom — I’ve never met anyone more hardworking. She had my brother and I pretty young and became a single parent when we were barely toddlers, but worked her butt off to build a life that has been so supportive to us. She has hustled and worked her way up the corporate ladder at multiple companies to be a top performer in several fields. She has explored her passions to find the right fit for her, which always encouraged me to do the same. One thing that I have always admired is her tenacity, she’s always worked for more and better, for herself and us. I have her to thank for not only my drive to be successful with any path that I choose, but to continue exploring what makes me feel fulfilled.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I’ve lost several friends to suicide and have struggled with my mental health for the majority of my life. When I lost my best friend Josh I was angry for a long time and felt so guilty for not seeing that he was struggling. I started sharing more after his death because I knew there were other’s that had experienced similar pain. Sharing my poetry and stories is such a vulnerable place to exist, but one thing that I have learned is that people need to know that they are not alone. My experiences, good, bad, and otherwise have shaped who I am, how I see the world, and how I show up for people. My empathy, willingness to share my deepest feelings, and comfort others is my super power. Having been through some of the things that I have faced, turning that pain into something relatable knowing that it could reach someone in their darkest moment and remind them that there is always tomorrow, is so important to me. Hard moments will pass and there is always help, even when you feel like you can’t make it through.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. One thing that I will never sacrifice is my authenticity. I would hope that anyone that comes across my social channels, knows that I am probably more myself online than I am in person. I share my feelings on the internet, I talk about my struggles, I share my mental health moments, good and bad. I think it’s so important in this day of social media, that you keep yourself grounded and make sure that the person you are presenting is real. There are so many accounts out there that are highlight reels of what people think real life should be, but it’s not. Real life is messy, happy, sad, confused, embarrassing… I’m definitely someone that would be labeled as “too much,” but I would rather be too much than shrink down and pretend to be something that I’m not.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I did everything I ever wanted to do, that I didn’t settle for anything in life, but took chances and chased after every passion I ever had. I feel like I have lived so many different lives, explored different careers, and enjoy a range of hobbies. If something makes me feel excited about life, I’m going to soak it up until I’m ready for the next adventure.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aeurbanwrites.wixsite.com/thetypewriterdiary
- Instagram: a.e.urban
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arianna-urban/recent-activity/all/
