Reader | Realist | Raconteur
Reader:
I grew up reading stories with my mother every night, and that piece of my childhood has followed me well into my adult life. To be a good writer, one must be a good reader, or so I have been told. I pursued a minor in literature in order to become just that, but I did not stop there. Through my experiences at the Book Arts Collaborative, I not only learned about the history of the book and letterpress printing, but also how to bind books and set type. I love to talk about how books are made and how letterpress machines work, so feel free to ask me! And, yes, I am available for parties.
Realist:
I am a very left brained person in a creative field, and I have used this to my advantage as often as possible. Though creative writing is my passion, I wanted to be practical so I picked up a professional writing minor last year. I have learned the various ins and outs of researching and writing reports, the functionality of social media, and the overall elements for designing numerous documents. This minor also gave me the opportunity to really learn how to maneuver Photoshop and InDesign, rather than simply using the cut and paste technique, which is my favorite accomplishment thus far. For a good laugh, check out my Twitter cover photo (@theliteralrandi), and remember, “Imagination governs the world.”
Raconteur:
I started college with the intention of writing the next “Great American Novel,” but after a good year of trial and error, I eventually realized that I was most suited to write creative nonfiction (personal essays) and poetry. After this not-so-sudden epiphany, I began taking classes designed specifically to teach the best practices for these types of writing, and I furthered my own talent. Eventually, I decided to broaden my horizons by applying for a video game writing opportunity, which has provided me with some insight on a new style of writing and a new career path that I plan to pursue in the future. I’m not sure where I will end up, but I am open to suggestions if you are open for business.