Write what you love.

I love stalking folk singers (thanks for rethinking those restraining orders, ladies!), television, Virginia Woolf, Sweet Valley High, awkward moments, and liminal spaces.

I’m the type of person who alphabetizes her books and DVDs (and has midnight fantasies about organizing the books by Library of Congress call number). If you need to know the lyrics to a 1970s sitcom theme song, I’m your girl. Ditto if you need dialogue from Saved by the Bell, the opening description of the Wakefield twins in any Sweet Valley High book, or trivia about Woolf’s writing habits.

These days, I teach a class or two, here and there, but mostly maintain the groove on my questionably made futon and think great thoughts about television. Sometimes, I write little stories for Pittsburgh Magazine, unexpected news items for The Pittsburgh City Paper, and fun profiles for The Sprout Fund. Chances are I’d like to write for you, too.

For the three years, the MFA faculty at the University of Pittsburgh tolerated my neuroses and taught me wonderful things about writing, specifically writing creative nonfiction. They were, and continue to be, a delightful bunch. For one strange year, I was co-editor in chief of Hot Metal Bridge.

In yet another previous life, I earned a BA and an MA (both in English) from Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. (New motto: Farmville – not just for Facebook.) While there, I had the privilege of working for Briery Creek Press where great things come from small places.

I’ve made it a habit to attend the yearly Southern Humanities Council Conference. Because of them, I discovered that, no matter where I go, I wind up writing the newsletter. Which I guess means that you should also love where you write.