Nearness Project, a community started by two young creatives

Meet Anna and Alia, the two young creatives behind The “ Nearness Project” a community where people can share and seek inspiration from each other’s experiences, a space that encourages self-reflection, open conversations about mental health, and a rare and real opportunity to slow down and process what is happening around us. ​ I talked to Anna and Alia about creating Nearness, their time at Rookie Mag, and more! Enjoy our convo!

Lucy: Tell us a little about yourselves and the work you do!

Anna: I’m a writer and artist currently based in Chicago, Illinois! I primarily focus on music journalism and long-form narrative comics. Aside from the visual arts, I also play music--I have an alt-pop solo project called Dog Beach. 

Alia: I’m based in London and work predominantly as a director’s assistant in feature films, most recently the new adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma” directed by Autumn de Wilde. I also freelance as a collage artist for a few different publications. 

Lucy: So you both were Rookie contributors, how was that experience? 

Anna: As silly as it sounds, Rookie really changed my life. I submitted my high school AP studio art portfolio and they picked it up, which was the first time I’d had any work published, and my editors there encouraged me to start conducting music interviews as well as illustrating before I even thought about it myself. Rookie is the reason I ended up studying journalism, it was the supportive community that really made me feel like my voice mattered, and it helped connect me to a network of friends and collaborators all around the world (like Alia!)--I can’t thank Rookie enough. 

Alia: I totally relate to that. Without Rookie, I wouldn’t be making collages or working in the film industry. I grew up moving around a lot, and my parents are both from different countries, so I never felt like I was from one particular place. There was a lot of pop culture stuff I missed out on as a result of that, and I also grew up without a stable community, so as cheesy as it sounds Rookie felt like a kind of home to me. Being a contributor there helped me develop a voice in my writing and a style in my artwork that forced me to become better acquainted with myself. It was almost like attending some sort of amazing university, the amount it taught me. 

Lucy: How did your time with Rookie inspire you to start Nearness?

Anna: Alia and I connected initially as Rookie contributors years ago--we’ve actually never met in person! When things started to get serious with COVID-19, I’d been thinking a lot about how much I could use something like Rookie right now to offer guidance and community. I saw the response to a post Tavi made on Instagram with a link to an old Rookie article, and realized I wasn’t alone in that feeling. Nearness didn’t really take shape until I reached out to Alia with the idea and she immediately affirmed that this was something we all need right now.

Alia: When all of this stuff happened, I found that I was thinking a lot more about Rookie and missing the place it used to hold in my life and the outlet it used to offer me. So when Anna reached out to tell me she was thinking of starting a platform with some ex-Rookies, I was super super excited and jumped on board immediately. I think because we were both Rookie contributors we have a kind of shared outlook on things and also similar taste in terms of what kind of writing and artwork we want to publish.

Lucy: What's your favorite part of the work you’re doing with Nearness? 

Anna: It’s so amazing to see the content people are sending in! I’m honestly amazed by the response, and so honored to be able to provide a platform for such personal and beautiful work.

Alia: I agree! I also love that we’re always looking at the creative work people are doing - seeing all of the thoughtful art out there is a big inspiration to me!

Lucy: How do you think writing and graphic design can connect people during these scary times? 

Anna: Writing and art can act as a window into another person’s thoughts and emotions--in a time when we’re all feeling a little more isolated than usual, this personal connection can help us feel understood and a little less alone.

Alia: Well, these are two major ways we’re still all able to communicate with each other right now, so they’re vital. And even though reading what someone has written can feel sort of like listening to a monologue, I like to think that writing sparks conversation, even if it’s just an internal dialogue, and that if there is real thought and feeling behind the writing, it leads you to examine your own life. Good writing can be like therapy in a sense - at the end of it, you might be able to understand yourself and your own reactions better. The same goes for visual art.

Lucy: Why is self reflection so important? 

Anna: Taking time to sit back and process your thoughts can allow you space to step away from your immediate situation and view your circumstances in a larger context, or can help you just solidify how you’re feeling. Especially in these times right now, when we all have so many thoughts and emotions, it helps to take time to lay things all out to process.

Alia: I think self-reflection is what grants us the freedom to change or the freedom to stay as we are - it’s a vital ingredient in having an awareness of who we are and how we feel. Without it, we’d just be going through the motions without an understanding of our own reactions.

Lucy: What is something that you’ve been doing to keep you sane in quarantine? 

Anna: Biking! Whether it’s 3 or 30 miles, I’ve been trying to go for a ride every day. 

Alia: Going for long walks. And showering. Also, working on Nearness.

Lucy: If you could say something to teens who want to start writing but don’t know where to start, what would you say? 

Anna: Read as much as you can! If you’re looking to write, chances are all the thoughts and feelings are already there, but the more you consume the more of a beta you have for how to get it on paper. It helps to know what you like! If you’re interested in journalism, I highly recommend reading Jessica Hopper’s The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic--If I could pinpoint one book as the most impactful in my own writing journey, it’d be that.

Alia: I would advise practising, and sharing your work with people whose feedback you trust and value - maybe starting a writing group with friends, where you share what you’re working on and offer constructive criticism anonymously. I’d also say it helps to be kind to yourself and to avoid being dismissive of what you create - allow yourself to improve without judging yourself, if you can!

To find out more about Nearness, check out their website, www.nearnessproject.com and Instagram, @nearnessproject. Also!! Don’t forget to follow Anna, @annaclairewhite and Alia @aliiiiia