Inside the Mind - Gizem Çetin

Stories have always been a part of how I make sense of the world. But what truly inspired me was a single question that came to me one quiet evening: “What if someone from centuries ago woke up in our time?” That thought became a spark, and that spark became a novel. Writing helps me explore both the past and the future — sometimes at the same time.

The latest book I’m working on is part of a science fiction series called "Yedi Mum" (The Seven Candles). It's set a millennium and a half after our time. The story follows two characters, Hayat and Iskender, who fall into a black hole and find themselves on an unfamiliar Earth. It’s a story about survival, memory, and what it means to be human — when everything familiar has faded.

They come to me like echoes. Sometimes it's a voice, sometimes it's an image — a girl staring out of a window, a soldier with a secret. I start from emotion: What do they fear? What do they want? From there, I listen more than I speak. The characters build themselves when I stop trying to control them too much.

There’s rarely a “typical” day, but when I write, I like to set the scene — soft music, a warm drink, and silence around me. I’m more of a night owl. Something about the stillness of the world helps me enter other worlds. I often write in bursts — deeply focused, then stepping away to reflect.

Freedom. There’s an indescribable joy in building your own path — from the first word to the final cover design. It also allows me to stay true to my voice, to take risks, and to connect directly with readers who appreciate something a little different.

Silencing the inner critic. That voice that whispers, “Is this good enough?” or “What if no one understands?” Over time, I’ve learned that creation and criticism can’t sit at the same table. So I create first. Then I edit. But I never let doubt have the first word.

Just MS Word. My favorite tool will always be an old notebook. There's something grounding about pen and paper.

Don’t wait for perfection — it doesn’t exist. Write your story as best as you can now. Then improve it. Publishing is a craft, and you learn by doing. Also: value your uniqueness. The world doesn’t need more copies. It needs your voice.

I approach it like storytelling. Whether it’s an Instagram caption or a website post, I see it as another chance to connect. I’m not always loud, but I try to be honest and meaningful. Also, I believe readers connect more with emotions than with “marketing,” so I focus on the heart of the story.

Yes — always. 😊 I’m currently working on a new series about political intrigues in an imaginary country.