The Writer’s Desk features the desks and writing practices of Gemini Ink faculty, visiting authors, teaching artists, volunteers, students, interns, staff, partners and more. Receive new posts in your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter at bit.ly/geminiinknewsletter.
Martina Garcia is our 2025-2026 Gemini Ink Fellow, in collaboration with Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Our Gemini Ink fellowship builds career-ready skills for students wanting to work as writers and teachers in our community. Martina will build her understanding of craft and pedagogy through attending and supporting one of our partner class programs. She will also interview community teaching artists throughout her time as a fellow.
Hi Martina! We’re so excited to have you as our 2025-2026 Gemini Ink Fellow! Describe your first writing desk. How is it different (or not) from your current writing desk?
My first writing desk was probably my childhood bed. It’s funny how I continue to write in spots I find most comfortable. But back then, I was in a small bed typing vigorously on my smartphone, updating my Wattpad fans (by fans, I mean the thirteen people following my One Direction fanfiction). It’s a nice reflection to think of the old bed transitioning into a couch —a new, safe space where I can truly be myself, whether creating stories, doing homework, or watching my favorite shows.
What’s a book or movie that you can watch over and over again and not get tired of it?
I absolutely love the movie Stuck in Love. First of all, an amazing cast; Lily Collins, Nat Wolf, Jennifer Connelly, and Greg Kinnear. And to add on to that, they are all writers? Chef’s kiss. It’s a movie about falling in love, raw emotions, and turning life experiences into sentences on paper. Did I mention the soundtrack features Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Elliott Smith? I don’t think anything could provide the same comfort this film does. 10/10 must watch as a writer.
Is there anything that you’ve been listening to lately–an interesting podcast, a song list, or album?
I have been obsessed with Laufey’s new album, A Matter of Time. There is no simple way to explain Laufey’s music. Her voice is smooth like an old jazz musician, her instruments are pop-influenced with a live orchestra behind her. This album is unlike anything I have ever heard. My top recommendations are Snow White, where she reflects on society’s impossible beauty standards and how she will never be enough, and the song Forget-Me-Not, where she has a beautiful blend of English and Icelandic lyrics. This song is an ode to the homeland she left behind to pursue her dreams. While I don’t speak the language, I can hear the pain in her voice of leaving behind everything she has ever known and the fear of her homeland forgetting her. Beautiful, I love her.
What is your favorite podcast and why?
Maybe it’s the 2014 Tumblr girl inside of me, but I am a huge Hank and John Green fan. The two brothers combine their knowledge of literature and science into a podcast called Dear Hank and John, where they answer their fans’ questions. This podcast combines comedy, knowledge, death, and even has a fun segment at the end where they update listeners on Mars and AFC Wimbledon news. It’s a great start to my morning, and I enjoy learning new things and laughing at the brothers’ bickering.
What is your motto? Does it also apply to your writing?
I hope this doesn’t discredit me or lead to people rolling their eyes, but my life motto, after some thought, has to be YOLO (You Only Live Once). Now listen, before you turn your screen off and leave this page, hear me out. Yes, 2012 was a pivotal year for me, and at the age of thirteen, I was very impressionable, but I am in my mid-twenties now, and it still stands. When I think YOLO, I no longer think of rap music. I think of life itself. There are so many experiences to be had, and we only have a limited amount of time to experience them. I want to live life to the fullest and put fear to the side. I believe this applies to my writing because I don’t only write about my life, I also write about the lives I want to live. I write about scenarios I may never experience and live through them. As cringey as it sounds, YOLO has a special place in my heart, and I will still think of it when I am doing things that scare me.
What habit do you have now that you wish you had started much earlier?
Fun fact! I actually had a poetry blog in early 2019. It was like a diary that I wanted people to read. Everything was coded and the audience my emotions but not the entire story. Now these poems are the ROUGHEST of drafts. I used to just type on my phone and not give entries a second glance. This led to some funky poems, a diamond in the rough, if you will. I put poetry down that year, and didn’t pick it up again till a creative writing course in 2025. Six years later. One of the most important things I learned in that course was the power of reading your work out loud. Not only do you catch typos, but you hear how your words land. From poems to essays to emails, I now read everything out loud. It’s such a simple task, but it makes the biggest difference.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
I am a huge fan of the word “Chat.” I use it when I refer to a group of people, whether through text, or even addressing the general public on social media. It is no longer “Hey guys/ Hey everyone,” it’s now “Chat you won’t believe this.” It is inclusive and gives a feeling of familiarity, like everyone is my friend. I wish I were more Gen Z and said things like “sus” and “slay,” but sadly, I was raised by millennial brothers.
Martina Garcia is a senior at Texas A&M University-San Antonio majoring in English with a concentration in Writing, Media, and Culture. She grew up in Poteet, TX and has been passionate about education since 2019.
