“A writer needs to not only practice writing and reading–but also living. The advice “write what you know” shouldn’t only be used to mean to write only what you’ve experienced when you are capable of adding to your experiences. Taking an interesting class or trying a new hobby can be a wonderful way to find inspiration for a new story. I encourage writers to really consider what they could write if they really put themselves in new situations.”

“A good writing mentor should be able to understand their mentee’s purpose when writing a story. If a mentee wants to write a tragedy, the mentor should guide them in that goal. If a mentee wants to write a heartwrenching drama, they should help them build the mentee up in that regard as well. A challenge to a mentee shouldn’t always be an obstacle to overcome, but an opportunity to exceed their goals.”

“My style of feedback is two fold: first, I tell you what my impression of a story is. Just my reactions, without any criticisms for what the story had shown me. This is so you understand what your audience may think and see if it aligns with your intentions. Once I’ve told you my impression, I outline which parts of the story hit the hardest or were the most clear to me. The emotional beats of the story tends to be what stays with the audience the longest and I want you to be aware of that as you continue writing and sharpening your skills.”

“The most recent standout book I read was Monstrilio by Gerarda Sámano Córdova. Originally, what drew me to it was the description a member of my book club told me. They described the book as “grotesque” (it’s a horror novel, so you can imagine why) and gave me the brief premise of a grieving mother who is unable to let go of her deceased child. I was hooked just from that and wanted to follow the character’s grief with them even through all their poor decision-making. “