Tell us about yourself.
Born in Seoul, Sarah spent 17 formative years living in Malaysia, Singapore, and Canada, experiences that deeply shaped her multicultural perspective. She earned her diploma in Graphic Design and Visual Communication from Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore. Upon graduation, she launched her career at Oak 3 Films, one of Singapore’s leading production houses, where she produced a range of award-winning television dramas and infotainment series.
Eager to deepen her expertise, she later pursued film production studies at York University in Toronto and a master's program in Film Studies at Dongguk University, South Korea.
Her unique storytelling voice has been recognized by several international programs. She was selected for the NAFF Film School of BIFAN 2012, Talent Campus Tokyo by Berlinale Talents & Tokyo FILMeX 2013, and the KAFA-Indonesia Co-Production Prebiz 2014.
In 2015, her Korea-China co-production project won the Project Development Grant from the Next Masters Support Program organized by Berlinale Talents Tokyo & Tokyo FILMeX, and was presented at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Film Market the following year.
In recent years, she has expanded into literary fiction. She has just completed her first sci-fi manuscript, which received mentoring from the Incheon Fantasy Convention’s Future Film Production Program 2020. In 2022, she was selected for the New Novelist Program by the Korea Creative Content Agency, and her debut crime-thriller novel was published in South Korea in 2023. Her next book, a science fiction anthology, is scheduled for release in 2026.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Southeast Asia and experienced various cultures and people. I learned later on, after returning to Korea in my late twenties, that this multicultural background gave me insights, sensitivity, and openness in how I look at the world. It sculpted my stories, characters, events, and themes that I am passionate about.
What was your journey to getting published like?
It was when COVID-19 hit and I lost all sources of income. I had to find better ways to monetize my work and reach the audience/reader as quickly as possible. Screenwriting does not always pay, and films sometimes do not get made. But I realized I can attempt novel writing right away, so I challenged myself to finish a novel and self-publish it first, to see how it can be done. Luckily, it was selected for the New Novelist Program by the Korea Creative Content Agency, and my first crime-thriller novel was published in South Korea in 2023. This opened doors for my literary journey.
What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received?
I think there's always something to learn from your own work, through careful analysis or professional feedback. One of them was when a producer told me not to 'preach' to the audience with my message. It made me realize I have to tell a great story first, and let the message come through it underneath. I also learned from various mentoring programs given by both the film and publishing industries. I think pitching programs are very useful in getting first-hand tips on how to improve your work further.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
I just hope you believe in your story and keep at it no matter what.
What’s a fun fact about you that your readers might not know?
I actually wrote my first story in a diary format! I had no idea what screenwriting was. It was a time of no internet or AI tools, you just learn from books and people. I showed it to my executive producer, and she told me to pick up a screenplay from the shelf and copy the format. That's when I realized there's a universal language of cinema writing.
What’s your guilty pleasure book or genre?
I relax with romance comedies, stand-up comedies, Korean entertainment shows, and Japanese animation movies.
What’s your favorite quote about writing?
{I have a favorite advice, not a quote, about writing by Haruki Murakami. It's pretty long but a detailed regimen for writers. I hope you look it up and pick up whichever tips might be useful to your day-to-day routine.
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
I go on trips, hang out at malls, eat out, exercise, draw, and dance if there's no one around at home!
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I have a few moments that impacted me throughout my creative life, the first one is when I realized I wanted to make films after watching the film entitled “Farewell to My Concubine” by director Chen Kaige. It stirred up a powerful wave of emotions that I totally felt is what I’d like to deliver in my art as well.
What has inspired you and your writing style?
I think my writing style is heavily affected by the screenwriting process. I have learned to be more verbal in describing the scene or thoughts and feelings of the characters in novel writing, which is different from screenwriting.
How do you deal with negative reviews?
Oh, it is never easy. However, I learned that the mentors only want to make you a better storyteller, and because they care, they tell you where you need improvement. When I realized this, I became more relaxed, appreciative, and took in the reviews in a positive light. Of course, you can't take everything into your work; you have to choose which advice or reviews will help that specific work. That's something you also need to learn to do.
How do you connect with your readers?
I use my Instagram account to share news about my latest works. I really wish I could connect with more people for my novels and meet my readers in real life soon!
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have signed with a publisher for an SF anthology novel which includes stories from 4 writers in one book, including mine. I’m excited to have my first SF story out. I have also completed an SF feature manuscript, which I hope to find a publisher for soon. Last but not least, my first romance novel is out! I hope it will find readers all over the world.
Are there any Easter eggs or hidden messages in your work?
In my romance novel, "Arabica in Us", I think the hidden message is quite clear. That we all need to learn and relearn what it means to love, to lose, and to grow again.
How do you approach writing dialogue for your characters?
I try to keep it minimal, to pick lines that must be spoken. If it can be shown visually, that's better. But it also had to do with the character, for example, they can be talkative because that is how they establish their identity. I try to write dialogues that have rhythm, layers of unspoken intention, and that align with the character's temperament.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
I hope you will take away something from the novel, which will help you to love well, never give up in finding love, and maintain healthy relationships.
Sarah Jinhee Choi’s Social Media Links
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.