2024 was a year of big changes: I started a new job, moved into my first real apartment, and was maid of honor in my first adult wedding. I’m still teaching middle school, but at a new school and teaching Language Arts. I’m absolutely loving working with these kids and can’t wait to finish the year. I also taught two workshops with Denver Writes. I’ve got at least one more planned for 2025, so stay tuned if you’ve got a tween/teen writer in the Denver area!
In theater, I directed my last show at my previous school. I also have been involved in a lot of informal readings as part of my screenwriting community. It’s so fun getting to do these mini performances, while at the same time, getting to revel in the amazing writing talent of the folks I’m lucky enough to work with.
Speaking of screenwriting, it was a great year for Hurt. We premiered our third and final season this summer. I wrote two episodes, “Death By A Thousand Cuts” and “The Loneliest Boy in the World.” These were some of my favorite episodes. Seeing them come to life was super exciting. We also took home some hardware for Hurt this year. The NZ Webfest crowned us “Best Writing,” our first writing-specific award for the show. So I’m now officially an award-winning writer!
My writing was also published in Midlevel Management magazine this year. My short story, “Birthday Girl,” appeared in Issue 6, “Secret Menu.” Since I only submitted work for publication four times this year, that makes my acceptance rate was 25%! I’ve definitely been sliding as a submitter the last two years. My 2025 resolution is to submit to more magazines and contests for all of my writing.
Other notable 2024 highlights: I became a hockey fan, drove from Denver to the East Coast and back, sang in a choir for the first time in six years, had my writing reviewed by a manager (!), and continued to make a mess of my kitchen while learning to cook.
I have absolutely no idea what 2025 is going to bring. And while normally that scares the crap out of me (and it still kind of is), I am kind of looking forward to it?
Until next year,
Olivia