Hall of Fame Writers You Need To Read Now - Alex Andy Phuong

Romanticising the Ordinary: How Everyday Moments Become Extraordinary Literature ft. Alex Andy Phuong

An Interview with Hall of Fame Writer Alex Andy Phuong

By Ruchi Acharya | Wingless Dreamer

Some people spend their lives searching for extraordinary experiences. Others quietly discover that the extraordinary already exists—in morning coffee rituals, familiar train rides, fleeting conversations, and unnoticed moments that shape who we become.

For this special feature at Wingless Dreamer, we sat down with one of our Hall of Fame writers, Alex Andy Phuong—a writer, critic, and literary enthusiast whose work beautifully bridges literature, cinema, and everyday life.

From publishing hundreds of film reviews to releasing his poetry collection An Altruistic, Alex has consistently shown readers that inspiration often hides in plain sight. Interestingly, his own creative journey began with a song from La La Land—a fitting origin story for someone who finds poetry in ordinary life.

In this conversation, we explore how everyday experiences become meaningful literature and why paying attention might be a writer’s greatest skill.

Interview

Ruchi Acharya:

Alex, welcome to Wingless Dreamer. You’ve been publishing with us for the past few years and have been recognised on numerous occasions for your literary contribution. As your editor-in-chief, I want to take this opportunity to appreciate your remarkable work. Your poems continue to leave readers deeply moved.

To begin—how are you feeling today, and what continues to inspire your writing journey?

Alex = I am doing well today, and my writing journey continues through my own admiration and awareness of both the power and the beauty of the written word.

Ruchi:

Most people move through ordinary moments without giving them much thought. What made you pause and begin seeing those moments as stories worth telling?

Alex Andy Phuong:

As I see the world around me, I began noticing the beauty within the ordinary. I even began reflecting on how the ordinary could become extraordinary. That reflective perspective has inspired me to delve deeply into the nature of reality by producing incredibly beautiful poetry.

Ruchi:

Do you think writers are naturally more observant, or is noticing the beauty in ordinary life something that can be developed over time?

Alex:

I think it can be developed over time. I must also admit that I personally never liked to read when I was younger. It was through inspirational English teachers that I became more aware about the power of words along with the beauty within the world around me. I am glad to say that I now want to use my own passion for the literary arts to make the world an even greater place.

Ruchi:

You have an extensive background in film criticism. How has that influenced the way you romanticise everyday life in your writing?

Alex:

My passion for cinema has made me develop a mentality in which I view my own personal life as a film within itself. Sometimes I like to think of myself as the star of my own life. I can be an actor, and my own eyes can be like cameras in which I can see the world around me as if I were performing cinematography. I also admire theatre as well, and I even view the real world as the ultimate stage. In many ways, my own life can be a cinematic work of art as well. Thank you for appreciating my own profound insights into my own love for films!

Ruchi:

Can you share an experience from your daily life that seemed insignificant in the moment but later became meaningful in your writing?

Alex:

I would start off my morning with one cup of coffee and/or one cup of tea. As the caffeine travels throughout my bloodstream, my creativity would begin flowing as I write words on a blank Microsoft Word document. That is why writing is an integral part of my daily life, and that is really how I start off my day in a very poetic way!

Ruchi:

Writers often transform reality through emotion and imagination. Where do you personally draw the line between romanticising life and escaping from it?

Alex:

That particular question directly relates to the film La La Land. My writing can be very romantic, but I must also accept harsh truths within reality. Nevertheless, my writing would oftentimes offer hope along with the possibility to overcome adversity. That is part of the reason why many of my poems have a very inspirational tone. That is because I want to add both color and beauty to an otherwise boring reality.

Ruchi:

Your creative journey was inspired by Audition (The Fools Who Dream). How important has inspiration been in sustaining your writing life?

Alex:

Inspiration is the actual purpose of my own writing within itself. I sincerely want to thank Emma Stone for inspiring me to pursue my dream of becoming a modern Jane Austen. I now want to inspire others through the beauty of my own uniquely written words. I hope that become a beacon of hope as well as my words continue to cast an enchanting spell.

Ruchi:

For aspiring writers reading this interview—how can they begin turning ordinary routines and moments into compelling stories?

Alex:

I would say that writers must be able to use the power of imagination while writing with production. The fact that I write a poem once a day every day reveals how writing involves creative thinking along with very firm discipline. It is a lot like the idea from Thomas Edison that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. I will admit that my own poetry collection, An Altruistic, took me a year to write. I even had to submit my manuscript to publishers four times before it premiered on Amazon. Nevertheless, my own determination and hard work really did pay off because now I am a published author, just like Jane Austen!

Quickfire Round: Writers’ Edition

1. Your ideal writing atmosphere:

☐ Window seat on a rainy day

☐ Busy café corner  

✓ Silent room at midnight

2. When you’re alone in a public place, you’re usually:

☐ People-watching

☐ Listening to snippets of conversations

✓ Reflecting on your own thoughts

3. Which feels most like your creative space?

☐ Freshly made bed

☐ Beautifully chaotic desk

✓ Half-empty coffee mug nearby

4. Your writing style in one phrase:

☐ Writing from memory

☐ Writing from imagination

✓ Writing from observation

5. Which feeling do you romanticise the most?

✓ Rain

☐ Heartbreak

☐ Boredom

6. What usually happens to your drafts?

☐ Deleted immediately

✓ Archived forever

☐ Rewritten endlessly

7. Choose one:

☐ The main character

✓ The observer

☐ The narrator

8. Most tempting:

☐ Re-reading old conversations

☐ Imagining future ones

✓ Rewriting past moments

9. The most uninspiring place:

☐ Supermarket aisles

☐ Train journeys

✓Waiting rooms

10. What matters most to you as a writer?

☐ One perfect sentence

☐ One powerful story

✓ One unforgettable line

Closing Thoughts

This conversation with Alex Andy Phuong reminds us that life does not need grand events to become meaningful literature. Sometimes all it takes is attention—the willingness to notice quiet details, fleeting emotions, and the stories unfolding in everyday life.

Perhaps your next great story is not waiting somewhere far away.

Perhaps it is already happening around you.

Thank you for reading and supporting the Wingless Dreamer literary community.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 ALEX ANDY PHUONG

Alex Andy Phuong earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from California State University—Los Angeles in 2015. He was a former Statement Magazine editor who currently writes about literature, film, and culture. He also earned an Associate of Arts in English from Pasadena City College in 2013, and tutored there. He has written hundreds of film reviews for MovieBoozer, and has contributed articles to Mindfray. His writing has appeared in The Bookends Review and The Society of Classical Poets. Emma Stone inspired Alex to submit writing actively to publications after hearing the Oscar-nominated song, “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” from the “Best Picture” nominee La La Land (2016). His poetry collection is An Altruistic. Currently residing in Alhambra, California, he now writes with the sincerest hope to inspire readers while fully supporting the ones who dare to pursue their dreams.