What was your college experience like?
I loved college! I mean, mostly because of the midnight Wendy’s runs, but also because of the learning thing. Hah. But really, I was lucky to learn so many essential writing tips and techniques from incredible teachers, so I was really lucky.
What advice would you give to a freshman in your major?
Okay, maybe this is stupid, but I really wish someone had told me this: GET TO KNOW YOUR ADVISOR! Like, I took so many classes I didn’t even need because I didn’t get to know my advisor and I didn’t really understand what courses were required for my major. I was just like, “Oh, electives? I’ll take those for three years!” I definitely wish I’d been more familiar with the ins-and-outs of my major, and I think getting to know my advisor would have saved me from wasted time and money.
What do you love most about your major?
Oh man, so many things! I’ve always loved the English language, probably thanks to my mother, who worked almost 15 years as a Latin teacher. She passed on to me a love of grammar and correcting people. (Just kidding. Mostly.) But I love that with English, I never stop learning — I feel like the more I know, the more I realize there is so much that I don’t know. It’s definitely a life-long process of learning and I really enjoy that (and sometimes hate that!) about English.
Being able to help people in any capacity, whether that’s writing something that someone might relate to or editing something to make it look more polished.
Oh gosh, I’m so boring. My day just consists of writing and editing for several hours, playing with my dogs, and hanging out with my husband.
Getting my husband to marry me! 😉 Also, serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was really hard, but incredibly rewarding. Four years later, it continues to bless my life in every possible way.
I’ve loved to write for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I’d buy composition notebooks and load them up with stories about everything from dolphins (my childhood favorite animal) to Mary-Kate and Ashley. Then, in high school, I became copy editor on the newspaper staff and I loved it. So I’ve known that I love to write since I was a little girl, but I didn’t realize I wanted to be an editor until high school.
Kind. Smart. Important. (Just kidding. That’s just from The Help because I can’t think of anything…) Uhm, probably friendly, empathetic, and silly.
What three books would you bring to a deserted island?
I love so many — that’s like choosing a favorite star in the sky! Religious texts aside, Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson, any book in the Harry Potter series (except for the fifth one… not my fave), and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I also love anything by Jenny B. Jones and Janette Rallison/CJ Hill.
What food can you not stand?
I seriously feel like I’m the only person in the world who hates these, but I can’t stand mashed potatoes. Never liked them, never will. They seriously make me gag.
“How Your Love Makes Me Feel” by Diamond Rio. One of my favorite songs of all time! I feel like it’s such a perfect description of what it feels like to be happy and in love.
I can dislocate my pinky really fast. Does that count? Also, I can remember super random and obscure facts about people, which I always think will make me seem like a loving, caring person, but in reality just makes me look like a stalker.
