25 best podcasts for creative writers and aspiring authors

Every Moment Counts: A GV Creative Writing Professor's Journey

For 17  years, Grand Valley State University Professor Todd Kaneko has been a part of the Writing Department. A professor of poetry and creative writing, he first started teaching at GVSU in 2007 as an adjunct professor but soon turned to the tenure track in 2015.

Despite Kaneko's role as a creative writing instructor, it's far from what he originally thought he'd be doing with his life.

"I graduated high school and I flunked out of college because I didn't wanna go, and I ended up playing music for 10 years," Kaneko said. "My dad was a poet, a fiction writer and a playwright. I think I resisted going into the family business for years and years."

Drawn to the creation of art, he redirected his path toward graphic design and illustration, staying in the field until he was told he wouldn't be able to make any more money without having a degree. After truly capping out in that field, Kaneko shifted gears, deciding in the '90s to further his career by getting a bachelor's degree in graphic design.

However, that's where his whole life trajectory changed.

"I had this really great English teacher who was my first-year composition teacher. First-year writing was a half intro to (literature), half writing class," Kaneko said. "In that class, I rediscovered my love for the written word and I made my decision."

Kaneko went on to attend Arizona State University for an MFA in Creative Writing specializing in narrative writing. He graduated from ASU in 2006, and moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan soon after with his partner, Caitlin Horrocks, to teach together at GVSU.

"One of the cool things about being a writer is you don't have to go to school to be a writer. But when you do go to school to be a writer, you end up meeting like-minded people, and you create that community for yourself," Kaneko said. "Those people end up being the people that you write with and exchange work with."

Kaneko said many of his longest-standing writer friends are from his days at ASU. Since then, he has met several people in creative spaces and added several accolades to his professional portfolio. 

With three poetry books, one textbook and many publications in journals and magazines under his belt, Kaneko is considered what many people would define as a "success" in the industry. However, he sees little point in defining accomplishment with how often one's work is printed and bound. 

"The thing that I want my students to understand is that their writing is about their art. They have to divorce that from any notion of a career or sales or success. As long as you're writing, you're a writer and success is what you determine it to be," Kaneko said. "Some people are gonna say, 'Well, I don't have a book, so how can I be a success, right?' But if that's your measure of success, that's a very limited measure of success, and a very difficult one to achieve. Most people in the world haven't published a book."

Something Kaneko strongly believes in is that "who you are as a person feeds into who you are as a writer." Being a longtime creative and now a dad of three, he emulates this ideology on multiple levels.

"I have an eight-year-old and I have a pair of three-year-old twins. On one hand, they make me a terrible writer, because I don't have time. I don't have the brain space. When you're a dad, you take all that brain space and put it into being a dad," Kaneko said. "When I am writing, I'm a better writer, because having three kids means I have three more points through which to live."

Juggling teaching, parenting and writing has taught Kaneko to be smart with his time, and has contributed to a shift in his poetry. He said it's "much easier to get in and out of the creative space" with the shorter form of creative writing.

"Poetry has given me more than sometimes I think I deserve, or that I've thought I was actually pursuing. I know a lot of people who haven't been able to publish a book," Kaneko said. "I feel very fortunate that the stages of my life have led me to where I am."

These stages of life haven't just led him to his current successes, though. They've also played a role in forming not only who he is, but, like most writers, informing the art that he creates.

"Sometimes someone will say, 'How long did it take you to write that book, or that poem, or that story,' and there's two answers. 'Well, it took me an hour, or it took me a day, or it took me four years,' the real answer is my whole life," Kaneko said. "Everything, every moment, every experience leads us to our art."

Everything You Need To Know About Applying For PLNU's Master's In Writing

By: Sofia Lo Piano

Point Loma Nazarene University's Master's in Writing program was launched Fall 2023. As the 2023-2024 school year approaches its conclusion, it's almost time for year two of the program. If writing and teaching are of interest to you, this program may be the right fit. Here's everything you need to know about the application process and what it means to be a student in this program. For even more information visit the program website.

The early application for Fall 2024 was due Jan. 20, 2024, while the Fall 2024 late application is due June 1, 2024. Each year there is a cohort of 10 students accepted into the program.

The application requires a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and official transcripts sent directly from this institution. 

Official transcripts must be emailed to gradprocessing@pointloma.Edu or mailed to the PLNU address.

For PLNU alumni, there is no need to request transcripts from the PLNU Office of Records. Instead, communicate with your admissions counselor about getting your transcripts received. 

The entirely online application includes a nonrefundable $50 application fee, which is waived for PLNU alumni, current or former military and their dependents, as well as PLNU employees.

The first supplemental document of the application is a one-page cover letter in which applicants discuss their intentions with this program, answering the question: "What do you want to do with your degree?" In this cover letter, applicants must also state their preferred genre of study, provide details about a project they hope to work on, and describe who they are as a writer.

The next is a creative writing sample. Poetry applicants must submit 10 pages of poetry. Creative nonfiction and fiction applicants must submit 25-30 pages of prose.

A one-page teaching statement is also required. Applicants must explain how they envision themselves as a writing teacher in the context of PLNU's Christian, Wesleyan background. This is also the space to describe any previous teaching experience and to characterize who they are as teachers, including their personality, pedagogy, style and interests. 

The final components to the application include a resume and letter of recommendation. This letter should be from someone who can attest to the applicant's ability to work with others, tutor and/or teach.

M.A. Writing (MAW) students voiced a similar appreciation for the tight-knit writing community the program provides. They agreed that the community aspect of exploring writing and teaching together is one of the most rewarding parts of their experience thus far. MAW student Emma McCoy added that it can be difficult to find a writing workshop group outside of an academic setting, and one of the greatest benefits of a Master's in writing is that people are reading your work. MAW student Meghan Coley adds that it is a fun learning environment where everyone is lifting each other up. 

Abigail Franklin, the only MAW student who did not attend PLNU for undergrad, said that she had been looking for a Master's program in creative writing with a teaching emphasis. Before ever stepping foot in California, she knew this program was everything she wanted.

"I'm so glad to be here. And it is in fact everything I hoped it would be,"  Franklin said.

This was the only program that Sophie Cornwell found that with it having a balance of pedagogy and creative writing, she feels it offers the best of both. 

The students spend much of their time attending teaching classes, shadowing professors, tutoring in the writing center and observing classes. McCoy said the teaching emphasis was a draw for her. It is important to know if you are interested in teaching before applying, she said.

"If you have no interest in teaching whatsoever, this is not the program for you. And if you're kind of on the fence, this also might not be the program for you,"  McCoy said.

Cornwell is interested in teaching, but is also open to other opportunities. For anyone who is unsure if they want to teach, she said that she thinks "this is a very safe program to figure that out." 

"Even if you finish and don't see yourself as a teacher, you will still have a Master's degree in writing. Ultimately, the program is an experience designed to help you build up your resume,"   Cornwell said.

Before even beginning the application process, McCoy emphasized the importance of knowing what you want out of your time in the program. Having a specific goal is key. She said this could be reaching a certain career, completing a project, or having the opportunity and space to write. 

 Coley recommends coming in with a specific project that you want to complete in your time here. You don't need to have it started, but it is helpful to have a solid thought, idea or concept when applying. 

Aliah Fabros, a current fourth-year writing student and MAW applicant said that if you know you are interested in this program, start working on your writing samples now. These samples are not something to be done last minute. 

She also suggests providing specifics in your application about why you want to work with these professors. If you already know them, explain exactly what it would mean to you to continue working alongside them. The opportunity to work with those who are already familiar with her writing style and invested in her growth and future is a big motivator for her to study in this specific program. As someone who has been a PLNU student since the first mention of a Master's in Writing program, she feels connected to it and to the community inherent to the program. 

There is no requirement for the type of bachelor's degree needed for this program;  one of the current students was a computer science major. For students who are not quite sure if this is something they would be interested in, McCoy recommends taking a writing class as an elective to see if you like it. 

Cornwell advises anyone interested in the program to talk to LJWL faculty and/or to reach out via email (all of their emails are on the website). They are open to questions and would be happy to walk you through everything you need to know. 

As far as jumping into the process of applying to graduate school, Cornwell said, "If it makes you excited, try it. If it's scary, I'd still say try it."

Franklin agreed, saying that a combination of intrigue and intimidation might mean this is something to explore further. Having experience is less important than the fact that you are thinking critically about what you want to do and engage with, she said.

Questions about the application or the program can be directed to an enrollment counselor and/or Robbie Makestaad, rmaakest@pointloma.Edu. 

And if you are ready to apply, get started today: Link to apply.

Creative Writing Program Presents Angie Cruz

Cruz discussed her path to success as a writer and editor while showcasing her latest novel, "How Not To Drown in a Glass of Water."

The recent installment of Binghamton University's Distinguished Writers Series brought novelist and editor Angie Cruz to the forefront, showcasing her latest novel, "How Not To Drown in a Glass of Water." Cruz, renowned for her insightful narratives, delves deep into themes of immigration, violence and women's sexuality, offering a poignant portrayal of the immigrant experience through the lens of her protagonist, Cara Romero.

During the event, Cruz read excerpts from "How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water" and participated in a Q&A session with Liz Rosenberg, professor of English, who had been her professor during her time as a student at BU. The session delved into the hardships Cruz faced on her journey to success, touching on topics such as immigration, career development and familial struggles.

"How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water" tells the story of Cara Romero, a middle-aged Dominican woman residing in Washington Heights, who confronts the harsh realities of unemployment amid the backdrop of the Great Recession. In a series of sessions with a job counselor, Romero recounts her life from her immigration to the United States from the Dominican Republic to finding solace in the tight-knit community of Washington Heights. The narrative delves deeply into her challenges with debt, the encroachment of gentrification and the profound sense of loss she experiences. The novel's title, "How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water," alludes to a Latin American expression that speaks to the act of "undrowning" oneself, a metaphor Romero embraces as she comes to terms with and mourns her deepest struggles.

Giovanna Montenegro, associate professor of comparative literature and romance languages, interprets Cruz's novel as a powerful narrative that gives voice to the marginalized, particularly immigrant women like Romero.

"The structure of the novel — centered around her 12 sessions with her job counselor — is very stream-of-consciousness and allows Cara to 'desahogarse,'" Montenegro said. "It's a reflexive verb in Spanish which means to vent or unburden oneself — but with the prefix des- [and] the root "ahogar" (to drown) — and the reflexive suffix -se it brings attention to how Cara is not only unburdening herself, but 'undrowning' herself in a world where there's a stigma and lack of access to mental health."

Montenegro further elaborated on Cruz's contribution to Latin American and Caribbean literature, noting that her work adds to a new generation of diasporic writers who bring fresh perspectives and experiences to the literary landscape. Cruz's portrayal of Dominican women offers insight for readers interested in Latin American and Caribbean studies, offering nuanced portrayals of racialized identities and immigrant life in New York City.

Marina Malli, lecturer of Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies, has been instrumental in bringing Angie Cruz's work into the classroom. She wrote that her recent teaching of Cruz's novel in two 200-level classes sparked vibrant discussions among students, prompting reflections on greatly personal themes within immigrant communities.

"Among the most important conversations that this novel has allowed for have been our relationships with our own mothers and older relatives, transgenerational trauma and questions about parenting and mothering," Malli wrote in an email.

Tina Chang, director of creative writing at BU and a main organizer for the event, played a pivotal role in bringing Cruz to the forefront of the Distinguished Writers Series. Her admiration for Cruz's work and recognition of Cruz's talent as a graduate of BU led her to invite Cruz to share her insights with the University community. Additionally, Chang's passion for literature and dedication to fostering a vibrant literary culture at BU has made her a driving force behind the success of the Distinguished Writers Series.

Chang reflected on her profound admiration for Cruz's authenticity and the impact of her narrative on the audience.

"[Cruz] is very special because she is authentic," Chang wrote in an email. "The moments she described felt true and looking at the audience I could tell they were touched by her candor and the generosity with which she shared her life's struggles which made her triumphs even sweeter. It made me feel so proud knowing she graduated from [BU]. Through hard work, her undeniable talent and the refusal to steer away from her dream, she is the ultimate success story."

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