Literature has claimed many roles throughout my life, bridging the gap between the realms of personal and professional. It has allowed me to work in journalism, publishing, editing, and ghostwriting. It has also functioned as a profound conduit of expression, allowing me to communicate universally and at a level of depth that transcends the spoken word. My passion for writing covers a broad spectrum of genres, contexts, and styles, however, it has always been deeply rooted in poetry, a form that has allowed me to exercise my creativity to its fullest potential.
At the age of thirteen, I began freelancing for Sullivan Learning, a company that produced academic articles for online textbooks. I was tasked with conducting historical research and then transforming my findings into fictional stories targeting young children between the grades of 1st through 5th. After testing my stamina by composing novellas of up to 35,000 words, I drifted away from prose and instead began to explore the territory of poetic form and verse. In June of 2013, I discovered a series of open mic nights hosted by a local bookstore (A Book Barn), something which piqued my interest significantly. I began performing my work in front of a live audience for the first time. The constructive criticism and feedback I received from other writers present helped me to polish my craft immensely.
After hearing several of my readings, the owner of the facility, Dan Dunklee, hired me as an employee at his press, HBE Publishing, and as a member of the bookstore staff. During that time, he mentored me personally, showing me new writing styles and techniques. He also encouraged me to attend a variety of local critique groups where I worked with different genres, including flash fiction and memoir. I became a skilled editor, ghostwriter, typesetter, cover designer, critique leader, and promoter thanks to his many years of tutelage.
I was able to network with countless local authors during those years, some who were published through our press, and others that were connected to the local community abroad. The figures who made the most profound impressions on my writing include Janice Stevens, Tanya Nichols, Bryan Medina, Lee Herrick, Brynn Saito, James Tyner, Tim Skeen, Margarita Engle, Doug Hansen, Peter Everwine, and Gary Soto. Many of these skilled writers I still work with to this day and some I have rediscovered since arriving at Fresno State.
After receiving my associate degree in English from Clovis Community College in the spring of 2021, I transferred my credits to Fresno State’s Creative Writing program and began working on my bachelor’s. I obtained a position as a communications assistant for the Kremen School of Education and Human Development where I have since been exposed to the world of journalism. Many of my articles and interviews have been published on both the Kremen blog and through Fresno State News, as well as in the Madera Tribune and The Fresno Bee. I currently design web content, videos, flyers, and provide social media captions for our many programs and events. I also provide freelance ghostwriting and editing on a contract basis.
Since joining the Fresno State student body, I have begun experimenting with different writing styles such as the Villanelle, Ode, Elegy, Sonnet, Sestina, Ghazal, and Zuihitsu, focusing my abilities less on free verse and instead, challenging myself with more structured poetry. My work has been published by Palaver Journal, Deep Overstock, Superpresent Magazine, Snapdragon Journal, Teach. Write. Fall-Winter 2022, Carcinogenic Poetry, and Serpentine Zine Literary Magazine, as well as appearing on the Do Fiction Podcast. I also had the honor of having my ekphrastic poetry displayed at the Conley Art Gallery during its fall 2021 Stonewall Exhibition. I am a member of the Fresno State Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society and have served on the editorial board for the Spring 2022 Young Writers Conference, producer of the Spectrum journal. I have currently been selected as a finalist for the Fresno State Art Song Festival Poetry competition, Spring 2023, where I will be performing two original poems.
I intend to focus my master’s primarily on learning new poetic elements and sharpening my craft. I aspire to strengthen my literary voice and broaden my range of capabilities concerning tone, lineation, rhyme, structure, and lyrical conveyance. Due to my love of fantasy, I would also like to learn how to seamlessly merge elements from that genre with a poetic form. I hope to further expand my writing portfolio with quality work that can be used to reflect my professional development.
After obtaining my master’s, I plan to enter the field of academia as a college-level Creative Writing professor, shaping the next generation of talented prose writers and poets. I desire to earn a Doctoral degree eventually, which will allow me to establish myself further and build a strong foundation within the scholarly community. I believe that self-expression through art is a core aspect of human nature, something vital that should be nurtured and encouraged. I intend to mentor my future students to the best of my abilities and to stay faithful to the craft. Joining the Fresno State MFA program in Creative Writing will help aid me on this journey of attaining professorship and will allow me to pursue my ever-enduring love for literature.