An Inspired Chat with Kaitlan C. Farrior of RDU

We recently had the chance to connect with Kaitlan C. Farrior and have shared our conversation below.

Kaitlan C., 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: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I wake up and pray first thing, then drink my Ocean Spray cranberry juice and water, take my vitamins, and catch up on emails before doing anything else. I like putting on a Corinne Bailey Rae or Amy Winehouse vinyl while I get through messages and early communication. It just makes the start of the day feel calm and intentional.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Kaitlan C. Farrior, an independent author and literary voice from North Carolina. I write stories that explore identity, resilience, and human connection, drawing inspiration from storytellers like August Wilson, Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and modern storytellers like Barry Jenkins. My debut poetry collection, Poems By The Overthinker, came out in 2019, and since then I’ve released books like Even Flowers Don’t Like Being Stepped On, In The Midnight Hour, The Transfer, and Like I Don’t Exist, which was adapted into a live-action play.

Beyond writing, I’m a graduate student getting my master’s in history, and I hold bachelor’s degrees in psychology, sociology, and interdisciplinary studies from NC State. I also run workshops all over North Carolina on topics like mental health, playwriting, wellness, and imposter syndrome — anything that helps people find their voice and creativity. My work, both in print and in person, is all about making literature accessible, inclusive, and meaningful, while connecting with people on a real, human level.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
Honestly, it wasn’t a person, it was everything I struggled with along the way.

Procrastination. Doubt. That heavy, sick feeling when you second-guess every move. That discomfort didn’t break me, it pushed me. It forced me to get up, get moving, and just do the thing, even when my stomach was in knots. I started to realize something crucial: you have to do it scared. You have to move forward even when it feels like everything is a fist, because that’s how growth happens.

Failure? It became less of a curse and more of a teacher. Each misstep was an opportunity to learn, to refine, to keep going with more grit than before. And the tough stuff didn’t just teach me skills, it built perseverance, tolerance, and a sense of clarity about what I really needed to succeed.

Learning to say no was another masterclass. Setting boundaries, centering my needs first before the wants of everyone else, and allowing things to simply be, these lessons reshaped how I work and live. They reminded me that sustainable hustle isn’t about doing everything; it’s about doing what matters, and doing it intentionally.

At the end of the day, the real teacher was the process itself, the fear, the doubts, the chaos. It showed me that work isn’t just about output or accolades; it’s about resilience, self-awareness, and having the courage to step forward even when the path isn’t clear. That’s the work that sticks with you.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Was there a time I almost gave up? Yeah, more than once. I felt burnt out. I thought I had lost my creativity. I thought I had lost my talent, my skill. I was on the brink, questioning if I even had what it takes to keep going.

But my partner, Theo, my family, my friends, they kept telling me it’s okay to take a break. That I don’t have to write all the time. I don’t have to push out books like a machine. I’m human. I can step back. I can breathe.

At first I thought that meant I was quitting. I thought resting meant I had failed. But I had to learn that it doesn’t. Taking a break doesn’t take away from my art. It actually gives me a chance to come back stronger, to create from a place that feels real instead of empty.

Now I know it’s okay to step away and come back. It’s okay to rest. It’s okay to be human. My art is still there. I’m still here.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
That my books know when I’m avoiding them. Like, I swear the moment I sit down to scroll TikTok instead of writing, my notebook gives me the side-eye. And when I finally open it, the words are all like, “Oh, so now you want to show up?” I can’t prove it, but I know it.

And it gets even funnier when another author pops up on my For You page with that “Hey, you better be writing that book and not scrolling” energy. Like, yes, thank you, I see you judging me, and yes, I will go back to my chapter

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had ten years left, the first thing I would stop doing is writing books. Don’t get me wrong, I love putting things into words, but I would pivot back to writing short films and actually start pushing toward full-length films or TV shows. I’ve done playwriting and even shot my own short film, but it’s something I’ve put on the backburner. I only think about it every now and then, but I really want a visual legacy alongside my literature legacy. When it comes to visuals, my brain is always buzzing about casting, music, and all the little details that bring a story to life.

I would also stop moving the goalposts for myself. I’m so guilty of this, never celebrating achievements, always downplaying wins, finding fault, or worrying about what’s next. I don’t sit in my victories, and I still haven’t mastered that. It’s unhealthy. If I had ten years, I would finally let myself feel proud, truly enjoy the wins, and focus on making things I can see, not just things I can write.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lettilady.wordpress.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letti.lady.love
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlancfarrior
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Peaced_out
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaitlan.farrior.9