Honorable mention in the 2016 Nick Adams Short Story Contest
Honorable mention in the 2016 Nick Adams Short Story ContestRead the story: Crush
- Senior at Grinnell College
- Double major in English and theatre, with a concentration in technology studies
- Hometown: Allentown, NJ
Q. What sparked your interest in writing, and how did you get started writing fiction?
My interest in writing began when I delved into reading as a kid. I fell in love with Stephen King and Michael Crichton until, in 11th grade, I stumbled upon Pat Conroy, who quickly became my favorite author. After reading Lords of Discipline and Prince of Tides, I was so in love with the power of his words and stories that I decided to try it out myself, and began writing short pieces of fiction in and out of class. Since then I have wanted to be a writer I have never stopped.
Q. How have you developed your writing while you’ve been at Grinnell?
Grinnell’s programs have influenced my exposure to writing, and given me both confidence and understanding in how I write and what I write about. Through a Grinnell based writing contest, I was able to attend the Robert Frost Poetry Conference in New Hampshire in the summer of 2014. I have taken a half dozen creative writing classes in fiction and poetry, and been able to work with and meet published writers. Finally — and most gratefully — over my last semester at Grinnell, I was selected by Professor Dean Bakopoulos to write a novella under his advising. This novella, (having just last week completed all 68 pages and now moving into the editing stages) has given me so much experience in regards to the challenges of writing professionally (and on a deadline!) and has given me the confidence to know that writing is something that I really can and will pursue after graduation.
