Ask the Author: Ivan Sivec
Answered Questions (6)
Ivan Sivec
Hi Sarah,
thank you for your question!
The key in this story was the research that I made prior to writing the novel. The plot is based on a true story - a young girl deciding to leave everything behind in order to discover the exciting fashion world of Milan. She eventually finds out that the glamurous world she was dreaming about is more dangerous than she had expected.
Maja's self image is constantly challenged. Even before she leaves for Milan, she is being bullied because of her small breasts. She (or rather her boyfriend) impromtu decides to 'fix the problem' by enhancing her breasts. In Milan she is being pushed to lose weight to the point where she's 'thin as a rack'. In addition, she is destroying her body and inner world by exploiting drugs.
Now, nobody can say that they have never been fighting with inner insecurities. I grew up in a different world, without social and mass media putting on the pressure on us to look immaculate. The many fashion models, photographers, designers, agents, and other people from the fashion industry I interviewed for the novel are experiencing this on a daily basis. They were generous enough to share their deepest thoughts on the fashion industry with me. Truth is, that I focused more on the negative aspects of this business, but it seemed like the modelling world is run by a lot of manipulation, deceit and the worst thing you can do is not to be afraid of showing who you really are. Scary, isn't it?
After completing the research I found out that the fashion mechanism is aiming for the impossible - making models perfect. What does it even mean to be perfect?
I wrote The X Factor as a warning for all the young girls and boys entering the fashion industry to stay true to who they are, how they look and what they want to be in life. Today's society is too lax in teaching young people to love their bodies and personality. I wanted to fill in merely a small gap by sending the message that we have to accept who we are - with all our imperfections. We should not be striving to be perfect. Perfection does not exist. We should be striving to be happy. Happiness is what makes us perfect.
thank you for your question!
The key in this story was the research that I made prior to writing the novel. The plot is based on a true story - a young girl deciding to leave everything behind in order to discover the exciting fashion world of Milan. She eventually finds out that the glamurous world she was dreaming about is more dangerous than she had expected.
Maja's self image is constantly challenged. Even before she leaves for Milan, she is being bullied because of her small breasts. She (or rather her boyfriend) impromtu decides to 'fix the problem' by enhancing her breasts. In Milan she is being pushed to lose weight to the point where she's 'thin as a rack'. In addition, she is destroying her body and inner world by exploiting drugs.
Now, nobody can say that they have never been fighting with inner insecurities. I grew up in a different world, without social and mass media putting on the pressure on us to look immaculate. The many fashion models, photographers, designers, agents, and other people from the fashion industry I interviewed for the novel are experiencing this on a daily basis. They were generous enough to share their deepest thoughts on the fashion industry with me. Truth is, that I focused more on the negative aspects of this business, but it seemed like the modelling world is run by a lot of manipulation, deceit and the worst thing you can do is not to be afraid of showing who you really are. Scary, isn't it?
After completing the research I found out that the fashion mechanism is aiming for the impossible - making models perfect. What does it even mean to be perfect?
I wrote The X Factor as a warning for all the young girls and boys entering the fashion industry to stay true to who they are, how they look and what they want to be in life. Today's society is too lax in teaching young people to love their bodies and personality. I wanted to fill in merely a small gap by sending the message that we have to accept who we are - with all our imperfections. We should not be striving to be perfect. Perfection does not exist. We should be striving to be happy. Happiness is what makes us perfect.
Ivan Sivec
The X Factor: Confessions of a Naïve Model is based on a true story. I was deeply troubled by what had happened to the girl the main character is based on. I did a thorough research and got in touch with people from the fashion business: fashion models, designers, photographers and agencies. I used a large portion of material for the novel from interviewing two fashion models who were willing to share their stories with me.
Ivan Sivec
Stories arise in my subconscious and come out through me. Thus, my inspiration is true life.
Ivan Sivec
I just finished writing what I think is my masterpiece. It’s a historical set of five books on the counts of Celje. It took me a while to finish this, but I’m immensely proud of it.
Ivan Sivec
Writing runs through my veins. I've been a journalist for three decades. In this time I had the amazing opportunity to meet over 6000 people. Each encounter contributed to my spiritual growth. The everyday contact with people and books – that’s the unmeasurable riches of every single one of us.
Ivan Sivec
Au contraire – I actually rarely experience writer’s block: ideas are just boiling and waiting to come out. I’m busy pouring them onto paper :)
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