Please share your exciting news:
I was delighted and honored to have my short story, No Old Bold Pilots, published in O-Dark-Thirty, the literary magazine of the Veterans Writing Project.
How did studying at the Writing Barn support you in achieving this goal? What workshop/intensives/or classes have you taken with us?
My 2018 New Year’s writing resolution was to try something fresh. I felt stuck in my current projects. The Muses must have been listening because The Writing Barn offered an online short story class starting in late January with Adam Soto and April Murphy. I signed up and wrote the first draft of No Old Bold pilots for that class. Then I took the same class when it came around again in the summer.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing and creating stories since I was in elementary school. My earliest work, “Hungry Baby Bird,” bound with safety pins, was written in first grade. After that initial success, I found my work/life/family balance sent me in many different directions. I pursued writing in the margins of my life—whenever I could fit in a class, or found time to work on a manuscript.
What fears/hopes did you have before the event?
I had story ideas that I wanted to try out which I didn’t think were right for a full novel. Were my story ideas short story material and how would I ever know? I was fearful that pursuing a new form would distract me rather than inspire me to rethink or reimagine my other writing projects.
How did the atmosphere at the Writing Barn help you achieve this goal?
The first thing Adam and April discussed was that short stories were a form unto their own and not just a miniature novel or a quick read while commuting. That advice along with reading their recommended articles and short stories was very constructive.
This class was run in a workshop format, where we prepared each week for thoughtful discussions of each other’s stories. The atmosphere was safe, fun, and we were encouraged to experiment and push our writing. I discovered that I love writing short stories.
Have you made friendships/colleagues as well? How has that supported you?
After the second short story class last summer, a few of us continued to meet online and workshop some of our pieces.
Why do you think attending workshops/classes is important to writers at all stages of their careers?
There is always something new to learn as a writer. You can gain incredible insight into the creative process, craft, techniques, and skills from workshops and classes. I find listening to other writers share their work and creative process truly inspires me.
What is the take away you will carry with you far beyond the good news as you continue to build and develop your career?
To paraphrase something Adam said, “Be open to the game and play it often.” The more we write, the more we are able to play off our strengths and weaknesses.
Any advice you have for writers/creative having trouble staying the course and pursuing their goals?
Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to go off course. Perhaps that’s where you’ll meet a wise sage who opens a magical door or provides a token of wisdom that propels you on your writing journey.
Most importantly, you might find traveling companions who inspire you and challenge you to keep going on your writing journey.
More about Ellen:
A Navy veteran, Army spouse, and former middle school teacher, Ellen has lived all around the country and overseas. She holds a Masters in Fine Arts in Writing for Children from Hamline University and a Masters in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School. She has been published in Blaze Magazine for Horse Crazy Kids and earned an Honorable Mention in the annual Writer’s Digest Competition. As a member of SCBWI, she has attended regional conferences up and down the East coast. Ellen writes middle-grade novels, picture books, and short stories all under the watchful eyes of her two furry companions. She hopes to visit the Writing Barn in person one day!