The L.

Sometimes it is difficult to really sit down and get to know a writer — especially when you know they make a living off of making stuff up. Nevertheless, if you take your chances you are usually guaranteed at least an amusing conversation.

As to who I am. . . above all, I would like to think of myself as a scholar.  I earned my bachelor’s degree in 2008 from California State University, Stanislaus, with a major in English and a minor in journalism. As of May 2013, I earned my master’s degree in English with honors from the same instituition, and my areas of focus included medieval and Renaissance literature, gender theory, discourse theory, and spatiality.

Writing has been a passion of mine since I was a young girl. Often times in class I would quickly finish my school work so that I could write stories and draw images. Although I always received high marks in school, a few of my teachers couldn’t help but complain to my parents about my “daydreaming” in their classrooms. But this is what writers do — we do what needs to be done in our mundane lives until we are attacked by our muses, and then we are slaves to our pens, keyboards, and/or dictating devices.

Someone once said only do what you are passionate about, so I try to write what I am passionate about. Freelancers, on the other hand, realize that sometimes what you’re passionate about and what brings in money may not always be the same thing. Optimistically speaking, when I find myself writing articles just to make a paycheck, I try to remind myself that every bit of writing experience helps. As I move into the corporate or government world of publishing, I do so knowing that while I have to work to support myself, I’m still working in the writing industry, which means I’m writing and networking at the same time. Furthermore, a job gives me the financial and emotional stability to write on my own time. It takes a great deal of dedication and energy to write your own fiction/poetry while you’re working full-time at a “regular” job, but I’m a multi-tasker with top-notch organizational skills – so I’m not worried.

Cheers

-L. Rigdon

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