Meet Crystal Cabrae | Creative Writer & Storyteller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Crystal Cabrae and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Crystal, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I first started creating my own business, I was desperate to take charge of my own destiny. And I usually wouldn’t say going into anything desperate is a good thing, but it’s what pushed me forward on this journey in the first place. My first few business endeavors didn’t take off, but I know now that it was because I constantly tried to sell something I wasn’t fully connected to. At first, I went to a small business school, and as I learned what I was doing right and wrong, life became too much, and I had to give it all up and switch gears. I started a nonsensical blog for myself so I could get out of my head and go back to writing and making stories. And while I was getting my bachelor’s in Creative Writing, I took a Creative Play class and my world instantly changed. It was like I couldn’t shut up about making time for fun and returning to what it was like before being “an adult” took over my life. I wanted everyone to be doing it because, at the time, I was only 23 and had already lost that sense of having fun and being connected to myself. Crystal Word Vomit has evolved from a simple nonsensical blog to a place where adults can get out of their comfort zones and reconnect with themselves on a basic level. It’s the flower that continues to bloom out of my mistakes and it’s a constant reflection of myself as a creative person and a storyteller. Even in its early stages, I think it’s had an impact on others and I hope to continue that momentum in the upcoming years.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When I first started this journey thirteen years ago, I wanted to be a singer. I was fortunate enough to go to New World School of the Arts for high school, and it was one of the top experiences that shaped me into who I am today. New World kids are built differently than normal high school kids. It was this explosion of art and hormones and music all coming together under the hot sun of Downtown Miami every single day, for four years. It was fantastic. I was in the Music Theater program, and when I was sixteen, I took my first Creative Writing class with Mr. Losa. I had written fan fiction for a few years before this time, but with high school being what it was, it eventually fell into the non-important category. After taking that class, you couldn’t get me to stop writing. I might as well have declared who I was going to be right then and there. Being exposed to so much art and culture, my wheels were on a constant loop of characters and story outlines. But because I stunk at grammar, I was convinced I’d never make it as an author. So, I kept going down the acting route, moved to New York, and spent the next five years learning a lot about myself. The North was not Miami, and it was the hardest lesson I could’ve ever learned. Miami is its own diverse, inclusive hub of Caribbean and American that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. Living in New York with no beach and no sunshine, I was very culture shocked, and the adjustment nearly broke me. I felt like I had lost the joy for writing I had found in Miami and I didn’t start writing again until I was 19 when I self-published the book I had started writing in high school. I wouldn’t call it a novel, but it was more of an idea that needed more experience to make it a real book. It was a flop and I nearly stopped writing entirely after that. But, after the sting wore off, the failure fueled me to get better and one day I just Googled “creative writing degree” and Full Sail came up. Starting college again at 23 was a big slap in the face but my time at Full Sail gave me the courage and the knowledge to pursue things I never thought I could do. It led me to learn how to write stories that would represent the cultures that I love and represent proudly. I was fortunate enough to be accepted in the inaugural mentor program of Netflix Foundations Program as a writer for animation and opportunities have just been blossoming from there. Now living out in L.A. at 26, I finally feel reconnected with that high school girl who found a passion for writing ten years ago. Whether it’s a steamy novel, animated characters, or real stories from real people, the last ten years have molded me into a storyteller that isn’t afraid anymore. I think to be the best storyteller, you must be the most authentic version of yourself and that is what I strive to share in all my work. I feel like this journey so far has shown me that my purpose is to bring others together through stories, so that’s what I’m going to continue to do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Miami is one of those places that you think of only Miami Beach and spring breakers. But it’s more than that. I’m a Miami Gardens girl, so most things are only 15-20 minutes away, making my idea of Miami very broad. Go where the tourists aren’t because that is where you’re going to find authentic Miami. Yes, visit the beach, but go to Sunny Isles where the crowds are more chill, and the sand is softer. There’s so much food to eat in Miami that it would be a crime to not try it all. I’m a sucker for simple tostada (Cuban Bread with butter) from the bakery, but any sandwich on Cuban Bread will do. If you’re a seafood person, get the lobster tacos from The Taco Joint on Hollywood Beach, and remember to order some to go because you’ll want more later. If you’ve never visited a Publix, now would be the time to start and realize all other supermarkets are trash. There are so many parks and museums to choose from, I’m not sure where to even start so just use google and bring a huge canteen of water. If you’re around the Wynwood Area, go check out the Wynwood Walls because the murals are fantastic. If you want to go see a musical or dance show, go to the Arsht Center. If you want to see a free show, go to a Walmart in Hialeah and I’m sure someone is doing something entertaining. On a serious note, South Beach has a lot of culture hiding behind all the rollerblading bikinis as well as Downtown Miami, so make sure to plan accordingly. Just remember to do whatever you want to do before 3 pm, because you will get caught in a downpour and it is not a light drizzle. At night, check out the Swap Shop for Drive-In Movies under the stars, and don’t forget to bring some snacks.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a Shoutout to my parents, my family, and my tribe for always loving and supporting me, even when I wasn’t myself. Shoutout to my soon to be husband, Josh, for single handily pulling me out of the darkness and saving me from myself. Thank you for being the light that guides me and the strength that keeps me pushing forward on this journey we all walk together. I love you guys to the moon and back.

Website: www.crystalwordvomit.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystalcabrae/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelica-cabrera-crystal-cabrae-b8671699/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/crystalcabrae

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystalcabrae

Other: Portfolio: www.crystalcabrae.com