E is for Elisabeth
I am a former accountant turned professional writer, editor, proofreader, and novelist. A loud-talking Chicagoland native who loves humor and day planners.
How I got here.
I remember dreaming of being a writer. When I was little, I would tuck myself away in the cubbyhole of my bedroom, hiding from my sisters, and write short stories in a yellow, legal pad. But— I also remember wanting to be a ballerina.
A decade-some later, I became an accountant.
A little sad, right?
I had followed the wise words of my late father— “Do something that pays the bills” —and chose a stable career path.
Did that stop me from writing and connecting with other writers? Heck no.
And did I eventually quit my job to start a new career halfway into my thirties? You betcha.
childhood legal pads!
“Don’t learn how to write on your big-ticket idea.”
A very skilled and successful author once told me (i.e. the class) not to learn how to write on a big-ticket idea. The classroom was silent. I glanced around the workshop table, eyed the reaction of my fellow writers who were nodding in unison, and kept my mouth shut. I’d felt embarrassed; I had already been working on my manuscript for… [counts with fingers on both hands].
Now, I’m way less embarrassed by the number of drafts it has taken me to complete my first book; I became a better and smarter editor with every pass.
When I started my second novel, which got accepted into StoryStudio Chicago’s Novel in a Year program (self-high five), I finally knew how to write a book. How to form a well-thought out premise, what questions to ask myself about stakes, motivation, character arcs, and plotlines. What my process is, best ways to outline (or not to outline).
Years of writing classes taught by esteemed authors, weekly critique workshops, writing cohorts, reading novels by authors I adore, and studying craft book after craft book after craft book has gotten me to a place in my career that I am proud of.
To catch more of my antics in writing, life, and general debauchery, follow me on the socials, then check out my blog and author substack.
My Specialties
Creative fiction and non-fiction
Website copy
Marketing content
Resumes and cover letters
Financial reporting
Investor reports
Business plans and proposals
Speeches and presentations
Press releases and newsletters