I reached out to Karis after enjoying her news and recommendations for the newsletter. And I’m glad I did! Read on to meet one of our more recent members.
Tell us a bit about yourself – where are you from and what do you do?
Karis Aldridge, 26 years old (fitting!) from Berkshire, working as a Sales and Marketing Manager at a creative agency and film trailer house in London called Silk Factory.
Where did your love of words come from?
I loved expressing myself through poetry and creative writing when I was young.
What made you join 26? And how long have you been a member?
I’ve been a member of 26 for 9 months and wanted to become part of the community because I fell back in love with reading during lockdown and writing. It’s taken me some time as I was a bit burnt out after studying English at Uni. I’m currently writing my first TV script and am always inspired by the brilliance of others.
Have you been involved in any 26 projects?
Not yet ☹ But I’d love to!
What’s your ideal scenario for writing? (A coffee shop? Quiet retreat? With or without music? What do you do to get yourself in the right frame of mind?)
A nice coffee shop with a latte! In the future I’d love to organise a writing retreat where I take a week to sit in a cottage in the middle of nowhere, completely uncontactable.
What are you working on at the moment?
My TV script, KARAMEL, which is loosely based on my own experiences of being young and broke in the city and being a member of the film industry during the backdrop of the #metoo movement between 2016-2018.
Could you tell us about a piece of writing you’re particularly proud of?
My podcast The UncerTwenties which is ‘for twentysomethings who don’t quite have their sh*t together’. The aim was to chat to people about embracing the messiness of life, figuring out how to navigate it, and laughing at ourselves along the way.
I began recording in January 2020 and it really helped to give me purpose during the pandemic when things felt a little hopeless. It’s also given me the incredible opportunity to chat to fascinating people about their experiences navigating adulthood and absorb their wisdom. I honestly thought only my mum would listen to it so the fact that it’s got thousands of listens now is really crazy.
Find it on Spotify and follow on Instagram @theuncertwenties
Where do you get your inspiration?
It might sound simplistic but, as I am early on in my writing career, drawing on personal experiences provides the most inspiration and makes the writing process cathartic. I’ve had a few unique experiences that could be perceived as unlucky (lost my sister in a car accident, toxic work environments, being mixed race and grappling with my cultural identity – especially during 2020) but I think there’s a fine line between comedy and tragedy and if I can turn my experiences into an artform that can resonate with others that’s quite a beautiful thing.
– Interview by Sophie Gordon
We’ll be meeting a new 26 member each month. If you’d like to feature, or nominate another member, drop me a line at sophiedjgordon@hotmail.co.uk. Don’t be shy.