Clara Jack is a writer, wine connoisseur and all-around enjoyment officer. She truly believes that there’s space for every story that wants to be told, and to this end, she created Pencilmarks and Scribbles, her publishing house and magazine, where she gives a platform to upcoming writers and poets. She likes watching films, listening to podcasts, making good cocktails and reading philosophy
Describe yourself in one sentence. Who is Clara Jack?
Clara Jack: Trick question. Clara Jack is ineffable. Rara baby cannot be described in words, maybe in expressions like oh and wow.
Point. When did you start writing?
Clara Jack: 2013, actually. But those were mostly attempts at surviving my new school
So, you wrote to survive? Was it as an escape or as a way to declutter your thoughts?
Clara Jack: Declutter my thoughts mostly. I was feeling a lot of things I wasn’t ready to sit with. Writing it made it seem “far away”, so okay
Is that still the reason you write?
Clara Jack: I write now because it is the way I can fully immerse myself in the human experience. It’s a wonderful thing to be alive you know, and I would like people to remember through my works that I lived so fucking amazing.
Real. Does this extend to your magazine? What made you start the magazine?
Clara Jack: I started the mag because no one person can do it all. No matter how impressive. I wanted to share some more fresh voices to the platform I had built over the years
Oh? And how’s that been?
Clara Jack: Well, we have one issue out on the website. Continuity has been my only challenge because life stays life-ing but my contributors are wonderful people.
What are your plans for the magazine?
Clara Jack: To open submissions to the general public. Well, long term, I’m hoping for print and cover stories. I have a list of columns I’d like to explore all written down. Long-term would be to bring them to life. Holding Scribbles mag would make me scream
Now we’re talking. What authors inspire you?
Clara Jack: Is it weird if I say none? I like the works of some authors definitely and I don’t mean to be cocky, but I’ve never wanted to write like anyone. I appreciate their work and keep it moving. I’m in love with Oscar Wilde, though. That’s my man
As you should. What do you think about the African literary space?
Clara Jack: I think some good work is being done. I believe that telling one’s stories is important. If you’ve been reading for a long time, you would notice that there has been a shift in what we used to read and what we currently read. I appreciate a lot of the new-gen works but one of them that comes to my head is ‘Nearly all the men in Lagos are mad’. There’s something about reading a story you can see yourself in, a sentiment I hold towards ‘A Broken People’s Playlist’ and generally new, upcoming books that have been coming out these days. There s no need to select stories that you think people want to hear or the stories that you think are worthy of being told. There are stories happening around you everyday and those stories hold validity and intrinsic value to be told. I think that the fact that the African literary space has shaped into telling stories of the here and now, and not just pretentious stories like before, is beautiful.
Do you have a favourite book for us to check out?
Clara Jack: My favourite book of all time is “You don’t have to say you love me” by Sarra Manning it’s pretty long, but if you stay with it, it’s a gem. Bringing it home, A Broken People’s Playlist has my heart.
What kind of stories are you drawn to when selecting submissions for the magazine?
Clara Jack: I look out for authenticity. I have an eye for originality and the spirit of discernment. I don’t like when writers are trying to sound like someone else. When someone’s story strikes a chord of who they truly are and is saying what they need to get out. I’ll know
Write stories from your heart, check. Do you want to make a career out of this? Writing? Publishing?
Clara Jack: I already have honey. Now it’s growth. Upward only
You write both poetry and prose, yes? Which one’s your favourite?
Clara Jack: Poetry every time. Poetry and memoirs, actually.
So, should we expect a memoir of Rara baby soon?
Clara Jack: Soon yes haha but in the meantime, you can read my newsletter, ‘Memoirs of middles’.
Already an avid reader
Clara Jack: Love it.
How do you deal with creative blocks?
Clara Jack: I let it be. I deal with it by letting it do its thing and then I come back later. My first block was in 2019; I hadn’t written anything in months and I wanted to submit for something. I brought out my laptop and tried to write a piece. I really just let it be, you can’t rush creative juices. In 2021, I had a block that lasted almost the whole year. It was terrifying; when you identify as something your entire life, it’s hard to let it go or just learn how to be, without it. But alas, after the block, I released my best work so far, ‘This is how you fall in love’. Sometimes, after writer’s block comes the most amazing work you’ve done.
Nice nice. Do you have any current projects?
Clara Jack: Yes I do! I just even hired a handler for it. It’s called the Pencilmark’s publishing cycle. Basically, what I’m building towards is a platform where you get to publish your works – poetry basically because poetry is my preferred genre. It’s a platform where you can build your poetry resume and publish with us for no cost at all. The thing is, you can’t be featured more than once a month so we can give people the chance to shine.
How does it feel giving back to the literary community in this way?
Clara Jack: Art and literature has done so much for me. This is what I Want to be remembered by; Rara baby, great writer
We already know you like this. You said you started writing in ’13; as you’ve grown, how has your writing grown with you?
Clara Jack: In simple terms, it has become more my own than ever. Heavily influenced by the literature we were made to read in school – European and such, the first pieces I wrote did not sound like they were coming from me, that’s why authenticity has become a big criterion for me for judging good pieces of literature. I started out writing pieces that sounded like they weren’t coming from my voice. In 2020, my Zambian friend, Ann was putting together a feminist magazine, Sister Sister and she reached out to me that she wanted one of my pieces; prior to this, she had read some of my works and given me constructive criticism. When Ann calls, you answer so I sat with my laptop and wrote my first memoir. I really just wrote what I wanted. When she read it, she said she had never read anything that sounded more like me. That was the turning point for me.
In all your works, what’s one thing that is consistent?
Clara Jack: Love
Love in all its forms?
Clara Jack: Always. Go whole or go home.
So real. How does your family feel about your literary endeavours?
Clara Jack: My dad boasts about it. My mum is very proud and supportive
Love to see it. For those of us your fans, do you have anything you want to tell us?
Clara Jack: Yes, we’re changing our fanbase name. Rara shawties🙈 And thank you for being here through the inconsistency
We’ll take it. That’s all the questions i have. do you have anything you want to add?
Clara Jack: Thank you for having me.
