Do you know what your calling is? Many of us lose sight of our passions, especially during college and the first stages of our careers. We easily stray from our true path and get too distracted by life to notice what went wrong. Today’s guest is living proof that you can change your path at any time, no matter what age or what situation you come from. 

In this episode, I am chatting with Natalie Lima, essayist, writer, teacher, and soon-to-be author. She’s a Northwestern graduate who received an MFA in creative writing from the University of Arizona. Today she’s sharing her experience of rediscovering her passion for writing and what that journey looked like for her. We’ll also talk about the difference between smaller and larger university resources, the importance of mentorship and guidance from neutral third parties, and why you need to listen to your intuition and be open to opportunities. 

What We Cover:

• Why it’s hard for students to say no and set boundaries
• How your education is what you make of it
• The shift that moved her from fiction to nonfiction writing
• Tips and advice for creating your own writing practice
• Why having an open forum discussion is important for teenagers

 

“The ones who get the most out of their education are the ones who advocate for themselves, the ones who go to the office hours.” - Natalie Lima

“There's a big difference between the folks who utilize the resources provided for them and the ones who just simply don't have a clue that they're even available to them.” - Natalie Lima

“To become a writer, it takes ego, and you have to believe you have something important to say. So that's already the first hump you have to get over. So I think that has to be instilled in us very young that we all deserve to write and that all of our stories matter.” - Natalie Lima

“Everything that you're so ashamed about will become your greatest strengths. Those exact qualities are what's going to help you succeed. If you allow that to happen. If you don't keep all those parts of yourself hidden.”  - Natalie Lima

Connect with Natalie:

Bird by Bird

The Right to Write

UCLA Extension Creative Writing Classes

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