Who Are You?

My name is Fairley Lloyd (she/her) and I am first and foremost a writer. Writing for me is like eating; it’s something I have to do to live. I earned a bachelors degree in creative writing from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and currently work full-time as a technical writer. I also write for magazines and work part-time as an editor for a literary magazine. And I’m very obsessed with mermaids and the Oxford comma.

Where do you currently reside?

My hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina.

How long have you been writing professionally?

About two years.

Who or what inspires you to write when inspiration is lacking?

Writing prompts always help spark inspiration for stories. Also, whenever I rant about the (many) injustices of the world, I often find those rants can be turned into comprehensive journalism pieces.

When did you or will you know you’ve arrived as a writer?

At some point in undergrad, I realized that being a writer simply meant you wrote. Being published later on recently “solidified” that but if you write, you’re a writer regardless if you’ve published.

What piece of writing are you most proud of and why?

Stories I’ve written about mental health are very close to my heart. My favorite pieces are “I Thought My Intrusive Thoughts Meant I Wanted to Hurt People” and “Why Anhedonia is Such an Insidious Symptom of Depression.” I’ve struggled with mental illness since high school and being brave enough to finally speak now is cathartic. Those two in particular dealt with intrusive thoughts and anhedonia, respectively, two symptoms of anxiety and depression I was ashamed to write about before but now I feel more liberated that I am able to speak about them.

Do you have any current published pieces?

Most recently, I published “7 Ways Anxiety Physically Affects My Body” on The Mighty.

What is your favorite quote from yourself or from your favorite writer?

From myself, it was a quote I wrote in a piece titled “I’m Tired of Being Black in America” that mentioned “racism doesn’t quarantine itself” speaking about the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. There’s a Carson McCullers quote I found a few years ago that still resonates with me:

What does being a Black woman identifying writer mean to you?

I sometimes feel like I have to be the voice for Black people, especially Black women, at otherwise predominately white, male-oriented publications. I've become more aware of misogynoir around me and it pisses me off, to put it lightly, and as an Aries I’ve never been one to shut up when I have something to say. I know I can’t speak for every Black person and would exhaust myself if I tried, but it’s something I feel moved to do. Writing is empowering to me and I feel driven to use it to speak up for people who have been silenced for too long.

What do you wish you knew before embarking on this journey?

The importance of finding community really sticks out now. I’ve been connecting with badass Black women and non-binary folks through Refinery 29’s Unbothered Careers + Creatives Facebook page and am always in awe at all the talent I find. I didn’t realize that working in a mostly white industry affected me so much, but when I connect with these people, I feel a sense of solidarity and community that makes what I do all the more fulfilling.

You seem to write a lot about mental health and pushing past negative mind chatter, how do you take care of yourself while tackling intense subjects?

I actually find writing about mental health is self-care for myself. The advice I write is just as much for me as it is for my readers. Writing has often been therapeutic for me and continues to do so in ways I don’t even expect. Writing about overcoming mental health roadblocks is very much like journaling for me: it helps me process my thoughts and find reprieve from what I’m feeling.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I do a lot of reading - magazines, books (especially young adult novels and self-help books) and a lot of fanfiction. I also enjoy dancing just for the fun of it and generally doing artistic things - coloring, photography, making crafts, etc.. And, like a stereotypical millennial/Gen-Z, I occasionally scroll mindlessly through social media.

Any last words?

I’m very thankful to be featured here and look forward to connecting with more awesome Black women!

How can people keep in touch with you?

I’m pretty active on LinkedIn and you can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@fairleylloyd for both Facebook and Twitter handles). I’m always available if anyone wants to shoot me a message through social media!