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Soren Eversoll

Soren Eversoll March 29, 2022

Winner of the 2022 Nick Adams Short Story Contest

Ultimately, what made the difference was story structure. A defined beginning, middle, and end with a plot line that ran continuous. And something else…. It had resonance. A magic word. Something all writers strive for. It’s a tough concept to imagine and even harder to create, but the writer of this story accomplished both.”

— Final Judge Steve Berry


More about Soren Eversoll:

  • Sophomore at Carleton College
  • Major: English
  • Minor: Creative writing
  • Hometown: St. Paul, MN

ACM: What sparked your interest in writing, and how did you get started writing fiction?

Eversoll: I am a lifelong reader, and growing up reading books from authors such as Anthony Horowitz, Arthur Conan Doyle, Trenton Lee Stewart, Agatha Christie, and Suzanne Collins greatly inspired me to start writing. I began writing fiction myself around the fifth grade by making mystery stories I would then give to my friends and family.

ACM: Are there people (teachers, friends, authors) who have particularly influenced your writing?

Eversoll: There are so many people who have shaped me into the writer I am today. I am indebted to my elementary school teachers and librarians—Ms. Dochniak, Ms. Hable, Ms. Haugo, Ms. Meitzel, and Ms. Hubbard—who taught and encouraged me to read. I draw deep influence from the works of authors and creatives such as Gabriel García Márquez, Donna Tartt, Chester Himes, Kurt Vonnegut, Allen Ginsberg, Virginia Woolf, Stanley Kubrick, Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, and Thomas Pynchon—particularly in their ability to create vivid, unique worlds.

ACM: In addition to fiction, are you interested in any other types of writing?

Eversoll: Movies are another great passion of mine; I have always been interested in writing screenplays. This is something I hope to further pursue in college. I am also interested in writing plays—I’ve had a little experience in writing a one-act and a play for my high school, and would love to explore this genre more.

ACM: Is there anyone you would like to thank?

Eversoll: I’d like to thank my friends and peers who have formed my experiences and have undoubtedly, consciously or unconsciously, affected my writing. I am grateful to my high school theater teacher Nancy Michael and my Carleton professors Greg Hewett and Greg Smith, who have provided me with valuable advice in their creative writing classes. Most of all I am thankful for my parents, who have always nurtured and supported my passions and never forget to let me know when I’m using too many semicolons.

ACM: How have you developed your writing while you’ve been at Carleton? 

Eversoll: Before attending Carleton I’d never had the chance to have my work minutely assessed in a classroom environment—this unique focus was invaluable in getting me to start writing again and working to make my stories as thoughtfully considered as possible. The chance to meet one-on-one with my professors was also incredibly helpful in forcing me to defend certain decisions and reexamine areas that weren’t as effective. I’m also thankful for their broader advice in pursuing a passion for writing and constantly asking myself why during the creative process.

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