Rafal Zygula - International Man of Words

Rafal Zygula with a copy of his novel The Age of New Era at The English Bookshop

Rafal Zygula is originally from a small town in Poland, but has moved countries more often than some people change their socks.

We were happy to meet Rafal at SWF23 and wanted to learn more about this international man of words, and were pleased to be able to have a discussion about his background, writing, and experiences at SWF23.

As always, we asked right up front for links to a social media presence where our readers are welcome to connect, and Rafal has clearly learned the value of just such a presence. So, let’s get right into the interview with an in-depth Q & A.

What is the address of your writer/author website and are there any Social Media Accounts on which you would like our readers to follow, or connect with you?

In terms of my online presence, I'm currently working on setting up my own writer's website. But I've been diving into social media to connect with potential readers who might be interested in my writing. Here are the platforms I'm starting to handle on:

Instagram:
I've just started sharing bits and pieces related to my writing journey. You can find me at The Age of New Era on Instagram.

Facebook:
I've also created a space on Facebook to share insights and updates about my novel. You can check it out at The Age of New Era on Facebook.

Bookmark handout with the QR Code linking to Rafal’s Books2Read site

I've also set up a simple and free author-focused website using Books2Read. It's an easy way to access my novels and related info. Here's the link: Books2Read - Rafal Zygula. I’ve printed out the QR code to this website on the bookmarks and visit cards dedicated to my novel. Sometimes, during networking events, I hand them over to people who seem interested in science fiction books. It always makes quite an impression, I didn’t notice any significant influence on the sales though.

Feel free to explore these platforms and connect with my work. If you have any more questions or need additional information, don't hesitate to contact me there.

For anyone interested in buying my novel, the paper version is available on The Age of New Era on Amazon.se. (the ebook can be found on amazon.com)

As for reviews, you won't find them on Amazon.se, but you can check them out on Amazon.com, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble at the links below:

Feel free to explore these platforms and connect with my work. If you have any more questions or need additional information, don't hesitate to contact me there.

Based on your background, coming from a small town in Poland, and moving around a considerable amount, what language do you write in?

At the moment, I’d say over 90% of my works are written in English. Currently, I live in Sweden, but I had my adventures along the way here, having lived in Greece, Italy, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Russia, and even spending a considerable amount of time in Iran. English was my primary communication language during each of these journeys. Although it was not an easy decision, I believe I shifted back and forth between English and Polish as my primary writing language for over a decade before finally deciding to write in English.

Book in hand at The English Bookshop - a proud moment!

I’d like to add that even though I spoke English for over 30 years before I started writing my novel, I would say it presented a completely new challenge. Practically, I had to start learning English from scratch to make it sound proper enough for a book. It was a time for significant improvements and discovering more advanced grammar and orthography of the English language.

Are there tools that you would recommend that have helped you nail down the fluency with which you write, or is it a case of practice, practice, practice?

I’d say that practice is definitely the number one contributor to developing my own voice and style, and even more so, the editing process than the writing itself and of course reading the text out loud, adding commas or ellipsis for pacing (especially in poems). However, it is always wise to have some tools to help you find the words to express what you want to show and not tell.

Here are some of the tools I have used:

I also recommend keeping a journal for each project. I used LibreOffice Spreadsheet, which is an offline Excel, to write the dates and reflections. I even have a file where I marked the exact number of words I wrote per day during the first draft creation process, along with many other details, dilemmas, and decision-making processes. It helped me sort out the whole novel and more.

Additionally, there are services necessary to understand at what point your novel stands:

  • I used Fiverr.com to find freelancers to assist me with my work, and also Reedsy.com to find an editor with over 20 years of experience to help me with story development. The cooperation with my editor is another long story; you should ask me about it when you see me around someday. ;)

A fairly common thread in the Stockholm Writers Festival community is that many of us have dreamed of writing for years before we ever had the time, resources, or ability to sit down and actually do it. I gather that you also experienced this, especially when it comes to your novel THE AGE OF NEW ERA. When did you first decide writing was something that you wanted to actively pursue, and then how long was it before you started writing seriously?

Certainly, I can relate to that experience. I guess it happened to me as well. When THE AGE OF NEW ERA first came to mind, I didn’t even know it would be a novel at first. I knew I wanted to bring this story to light, but I had absolutely no idea of the form it would take initially. Even though it was early 2004, in some way, I did start writing, and it completely absorbed me. I experimented with many forms and techniques, but I must say the simple act of keeping a diary made the biggest contribution. Just recounting my day or reflecting often served as the beginning of a short story or poem that I would later create.

Previously, my pen would simply scribble or doodle around the pages, but with time, I understood that it was better for me to develop the concept behind the work first. That’s how many short stories mixed with poems were created, and it was also the primary method I used to craft the New Age Era, which eventually evolved into THE AGE OF NEW ERA. I believe it's worthwhile to have something on your mind, explore it deeply, and take it on an internal journey to see if it holds more before even beginning to write it down.

I think it took me many years of ups and downs with writing before I decided that THE AGE OF NEW ERA would become a novel. Sometime between 2004 and 2018, I also realized that I would write it in English. I considered writing it as a screenplay or a book, but even when I settled on a book, there were other aspects to consider: the narration style, the tone, the literary devices I'd use, and, of course, the voice. 

To answer your question: It took me many years to decide that writing was something I actively wanted to pursue. Even though I had been writing for many years, I had not thought of it this way until early 2018. I started writing seriously at the end of 2018.

How have you dealt with the interruptions to your work - being forced to put the manuscript down while packing up and moving countries, for instance?

Oh, that was a nightmare. With this particular manuscript, I wrote every day for about six months, but in at least three different countries and using four different computers altogether. Looking back, these experiences seemed like significant interruptions. However, today, I find it rather amusing that it was such a chaotic process. Truthfully, working on my novel was something that brought me inner peace and immense fulfillment. I longed for those moments and every day I couldn't wait to dive into it. So, while the interruptions were quite horrible at the time, now I don't believe they had any significant influence on my work, especially considering the numerous editing rounds I've undertaken since then.

We understand you’re a bit into bending writing genres, but how would you define your primary creative writing genre, and has this changed over the years, or has this always been your main focus?

That’s a great question! Honestly, I don’t think I could ever firmly belong to any single primary genre. However, I find myself frequently delving into the struggle and absurdity of our world. Sometimes, the reality we face feels utterly unbearable, especially if we think of the world as a whole and interconnected, with weak economies, ongoing wars, poverty and overall segregation and separation of humankind. That's why I poured years of research and reflections into my science fiction novel. It falls into the science fiction genre, but some solutions proposed might seem incredibly distant from our current possibilities. Yet, I believe they might not be as far from our capabilities as they initially appear.

Primarily, I use a lot of metaphors to convey the struggle and raise questions about the meaning behind it all, you know? However, I have new book projects in mind. They both delve into reflections on our present world but focus on specific themes such as gathering work experience or regaining health. I feel my style revolves around fostering positive thinking amidst this eternal struggle that life seems to present. I enjoy engaging with the audience, prompting them to reflect, inspiring them to discover the next step, or igniting the pursuit of fulfillment by following our heart's desires. Is that my main focus? I truly hope so.

You were at SWF23 in August of 2023, can you tell us about some of your favorite SWF moments and what really stuck with you after the festival?

Attending SWF23 in August was an incredibly warm and inclusive experience! I was grateful for the chance to participate and finally connect with fellow writers in Stockholm. It’s quite rare to meet other writers and have the opportunity to exchange shared experiences. My favorite moments revolved around the workshops where we delved into practicing new skills and exploring the techniques writers use to engage their audience further.

However, one moment truly stayed with me. It was when they began reading the first pages, including mine. I remember feeling as if my heart might leap out of my chest at that moment. The experience was intense, albeit anonymous, which made the stress somewhat inexplicable. Nonetheless, it was an immensely valuable lesson and experience to navigate through.

What would you say were the biggest takeaways for you from SWF? 

I'd say the biggest takeaways for me from SWF revolved around finding ways to boost the marketing for my novel which was published over two years ago. I gained some valuable ideas, such as organizing a giveaway and enhancing social media presence—efforts I'm actively pursuing now. It's been quite helpful in getting back on track, but it seems it’s quite the marathon to see if it works.

Another significant takeaway was the sense of belonging to a community. Being part of SWF increased my sense of connection and belonging as a human being. I'm grateful for the space you've created for this sense of community. Thank you!

That’s fantastic - we love to hear that! Do you recall any moments that helped clarify things in a new way, or provided new insights into specific areas of the craft? 

I found that during SWF23, I had the chance to validate the path I've taken and the lessons I've learned along the way. It was affirming to realize that I've been heading in the right direction. Writing involves a significant amount of research, and I've dedicated a lot of time to it. Yet, I never had the opportunity to validate this among Literature writing teachers or during seminars until the festival. It was a beautiful experience that boosted my confidence in my work.

Moreover, I want to highlight the presence of many talented writers at the festival. It provided a wonderful opportunity for networking and connecting with other writers.

How have you evolved as a writer since attending the Stockholm Writers Festival, and what part did the festival itself play in that evolution?

Since SWF23, I've found myself particularly drawn to the world of audiobooks and the art of creating audio or audiovisual renditions of my writings. I've been dedicated to mastering the use of my voice to bring to life the audio version of my beloved novel.I see it as a storytelling journey, initially written like an oral tradition or modern fairy tale. Now, it's evolving into an audiobook, breathing life into the story as an engaging spoken narrative.

The festival played a significant role in this evolution. Engaging with numerous authors during SWF23 and discussing this idea resonated with many of them. They saw the potential for lifting my novel from the marketing limbo it had been stuck in for a while. Their insights and encouragement further fueled my dedication to pursuing the creation of an audiobook.

Apart from your novel, can you tell us a little about a piece you’ve written in the past that you are particularly proud of, published or not — just something that still moves you every time you revisit it? 

I'd love to share! Recently, as part of an audio recording workshop, I revisited some of my finest works and discovered that some of my poems seem to possess distinct voices of their own. They range from profound and sorrowful to playful and joyful. Some carry both anger and peace within them. Yet, there’s one specific poem that I had the pleasure of reading during an evening at the English Bookshop's poetry reading event. Despite pouring all my energy into publishing my novel, these works are still awaiting their moment! I plan to release a poetry booklet accompanied by an audio version next year. Sometimes, it feels less like authorship and more akin to a theatrical experience, but it's utterly captivating!

Regarding a particular sense of pride, I have a few favorite paragraphs from THE AGE OF NEW ERA that never fail to give me goosebumps whenever I revisit them. I aspire to convey those same emotions in the audiobook version.

Overall, has attending SWF helped you to understand the bigger picture within publishing, beyond just the writing aspect, and if so, how?

SWF2023 at FInlandshuset in Stockholm, Sweden

Attending SWF provided me with a clear understanding that traditional publishing might not align with my path. I realized that achieving results might require me to take matters into my own hands. Agents are inundated with a vast volume of literature, making it challenging for them to sift through hundreds of novels each month. Understandably, they might not have the time to delve into a full understanding of my novel's value, especially coming from an unknown author striving to make a debut—even after dedicating almost 20 years of my life to this work.

If you plan on attending SWF24, (and we certainly hope you do) is there anything specific that you hope to learn more about this time around?

I am absolutely planning to attend SWF24! One thing I'm eager to delve into is learning more about pitching events for writers, places where they can showcase their works, and potentially secure a contract. It feels like these opportunities are scarce in today's world. I'm also keen on discovering how to effectively get my work out there and reach my target audience. Understanding how to identify and engage with my target audience seems like a challenging yet crucial aspect. A workshop on finding and reaching the target audience would be an incredible opportunity and a valuable learning journey.

We’d love to include a short piece that you’ve written — a short poem, a 100-word story, something creative that we can share with our readers for inspiration. If you’re up for it…

Certainly! Here I present you 2 of my most precious and positive works. I am not sure if the struggle bits fit very well into daily routine of your readers ;) 



This poem I dedicate to my beloved wife Reyhaneh:

"The Hug Junkie"

under bed sheets lies body
without signs of life

shivers briefly just once in a while
Put up the cover and look what is there

a need for the hug!
Not one to share!

Is fair to take the hundreds of hugs?
While having not one even to spare

this hungry junkie, the hug wants once more
is that an addict right to adore?

How is this story going to end,
Before or after we’ll land in the bed?


And:

 "The Almost Scandinavian Almost Haiku"

There’s an Eden in Sweden.
But No Way in the Norway.
... and don’t get me started with the Finland. 

I am not sure if the struggle bits fit very well into daily routine of your readers ;) 

That’s brilliant! Thank you so much Rafal! We’re looking forward to seeing you again at SWF2024!

Lars Nordstrom