Crafting Surreal Tales & Making It Work: Jacque Aye on Creativity, Community & Standing Out

Turning deeply personal storytelling into a creative career

Jacque Aye writes about woeful women trying their best, and she’s built a community of people who are doing the same. Her stories blend dark humor, surrealism, and painfully relatable emotions, pulling readers into worlds that feel both absurd and real.

She has written for major brands like Monster High and built a business around deeply personal stories.

But how do you turn something that personal into a creative career? How do you market your work without feeling like you are losing yourself in the process? How do you keep writing when imposter syndrome won’t shut up?

Let’s find out.

From Dreaming to Doing

You’ve been writing since middle school. When did you start taking it seriously? Was there a “this is it” moment, or did it sneak up on you?

Hi Kevin! Yes, I’ve been writing strange stories since I was a kid, but I didn’t take it seriously as a career until I wrote my own indie comic—Adorned by Chi! This was in 2019. Before then, I was selling merchandise featuring brown-skinned versions of my fave anime characters. I ran a six-figure business, doling out t-shirts and enamel pins, but one day I woke up and thought, “Why don’t I create my own fandom?” And then, I did! I wrote my very first comic, launched a Kickstarter, and built a community from there. Although I no longer work on Adorned by Chi, that’s where I got my start and I’ll always be grateful for my magical girl gang (my customers!).

Your stories mix humor, darkness, and surrealism. How did you come up with that style? Did it come naturally, or did you develop it over time?

I think I’ve always written in this style, but I’ve definitely been inspired by the likes of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, and Clive Barker. That witty, snarky, dark British humor is my favorite. But I’m also very inspired by surrealist Japanese authors like Sayaka Murata! So, over time, I’ve sort of blended the two.

A lot of creatives get stuck thinking about their ideas instead of making them. What helped you actually finish your first big project?

This is not great, but I have ADHD and a poor sense of planning. I normally put up books for pre-orders before I’m done writing completely, and it motivates me to finish. I likely wouldn’t finish if I didn’t have the public pressure of a Kickstarter campaign.

Making a Living Without Losing Yourself

You’ve built an audience that feels like a community. What’s your secret to showing up authentically without spending all your time working on it?

The secret for me has been the fact that I’m a little gremlin in my room! I’m an introvert who likes to write, and I’m driven by my emotions. So when I’m sitting in my little room, thinking about life, I tend to open up my Substack, or social media, and type away. So, I don’t really work on it…I just do things as I feel like it. Which happens to be often, ha!

Many creatives have a tough time with marketing, but you’ve found a way to do it in a way that feels like you. What advice do you have for creatives who hate the idea of selling?

You’ve got to get over that fear! Even I let that fear consume me for a bit until I watched a quirky little A24 movie called Problemista. In the movie, a young man is at risk of losing his visa if he doesn’t find employment. Desperate, he takes on an odd job working under an eccentric woman with a huge attitude problem. Essentially she’s a “super Karen” who uses her harsh words and pushy demeanor to get what she wants. Over time the two bond, and we learn more about the woman and why she is the way she is, BUT my takeaway from that movie was: if I want what I want and something is standing in my way, if no one is listening to me, I need to become a problem that cannot be ignored.

And my version of becoming a problem? Market myself as much as I can. And be as much of myself as possible. No one is going to be as excited about my book as me. So I need to be my loudest Karen, ha.

You’ve worked with brands like Hot Topic and Sanrio. How did that happen? And for someone dreaming of collaborations like that, what’s the first step?

Those collaborations were through Adorned by Chi! I had customers who work at cool places and wanted to help during the mess that was 2020. If I were trying to do something similar now, I’ll be very honest—I wouldn’t know where to start! I usually just wait for corporate people to notice me and approach me first.

The Mental Game of Being a Creative

You’re open about your struggles with depression and social anxiety. How does that show up in your creative work?

Every character I write deals with something. Usually anxiety. Always depression. I chat with so many people, and we all feel the same feelings. I think I’d like to normalize them. Not in the sense that people should be more depressed. But that we should recognize the signs in ourselves and others and be able to speak on it more openly. Shame makes depression and anxiety so much worse.

Writing is personal, but putting it out there can be terrifying. How do you deal with imposter syndrome or the fear of being misunderstood?

People misunderstand me alllll the time. But I think having a neurodivergent brain helps. Because I either forget and keep trying, or I find ways to put myself in the shoes of others. Where does their judgment come from? Where does my fear come from? And I always wind up at the same conclusion—we will all turn to dust one day. So, who cares? Do what you want!

Do you have any rituals or habits that help you stay creatively productive when you’re not feeling inspired?

Yes! I love reading when I’ve hit a wall creatively. Also, listening to music or writing aimless short stories. Even having conversations with friends can be so inspiring.

Where to Start & What’s Next

You’ve done novels, comics, and even a newsletter that feels like a diary. What are your thoughts on each format, and how have they shaped your storytelling?

My novels are my loves. Diving into fictional worlds is so fun! Writing dialogue and awkward scenes are my absolute favorite. Comics are cool because they’re a team effort, and its cool to see your story come to life! My newsletter is my passion project. My little corner of the internet where I can scream and cry and jump for joy in mostly peace. I think all three are spaces for me to write about woeful women, whether fictional or….myself.

For someone brand new to your work, where should they start?

Hmm this is tricky! I think I’d like people to get into How to Be a Better Adult! And then, from there, I Live to Serve the Witch. If they’re not easily affected by second-hand embarrassment and want a peak into my diary they can read Diary of a Sad Black Woman.

What’s next? Anything exciting in the works that your fans should know about?

Yes! The sequel to How to Be a Better Adult, How to Escape Death, releases this year! I’m so excited to continue going on about corporate drudgery. I Live to Serve the Witch, my dark romance novella, drops February 21st!

Advice for Your Younger Self

Picture this. You’re sitting across from a younger version of yourself. They’ve got big ideas, too many questions, and no idea where or how to start. They want to create something that actually matters, but the path ahead feels completely uncertain.

Who comes to mind when you think of someone running a standout creative business? What do they do, and what makes them different?

Tyler the Creator. True to his name, he stays creating! He designs sneakers, perfume, nail polish, and hosts music festivals. He’s had two television shows, and he’s about to act in a movie. I love everything he does. And he pours so much of himself into each project. He literally transforms during each era.

If you could hand them one book, podcast, documentary, or tool that changed everything for you, what would it be?

Being Elmo! That documentary changed my life and taught me the power of manifestation.

What’s the one rule of standing out you wish you knew sooner? The thing that, if they get right, will make all the difference.

Be yourself! Don’t listen to other people. Be yourself first.

And if they hesitate, if they overthink, if they wait for the “right time”… what’s one action you’d challenge them to take right now to finally get moving?

Make a vision board. Make it your computer desktop. The more you look at it the more inspired you’ll be!

Huge thanks to Jacque Aye for sharing her journey, her wisdom, and the real, messy magic behind building a creative career. If her story inspired you, let her know.

And if there’s another author or creative running a standout business that you’d love to hear from, drop a comment below—I’m always on the lookout for incredible voices to feature next.

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