About Me
Madeline, though she prefers to go by her middle name, Annie, is an aspiring writer and educator in Denver, Colorado. Originally from Boulder, Annie spent her childhood reading novels, writing short stories, and exploring the Rocky Mountains. She is an amateur photographer and a lover of all writing. (even Twitter) She is about to graduate with her BA in English Literary Studies with a Writing Practices minor and is ready to dive into a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction.
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During her time at the University of Denver, Annie has worked as a writing consultant at the university’s writing center and has conducted research into how reflection aids the transfer of knowledge and how to incorporate reflection into the social conversations in the writing center. She presented her research at the CWWTC conference in 2017. At the writing center, Annie has enjoyed working with students to improve their writing skills in a variety of disciplines. At the University of Denver, Annie found her passion in writing and education and is looking forward to making a difference in the world.
Location: Denver, Colorado
Current Gig: Writing Fellow and Consultant at the Shopneck Writing Center
One word that best describes how you work: Sporadic
Current mobile device: iPhone 6
Current computer: Macbook Pro
What apps, software, or tools can’t you live without? Acorn and Lightroom photo-editing software. I also use Spotify for my music (which is a big part of my life). Spotify is a great way to find new music as they have great playlists and even create a personalized playlist for you every week!
What’s your workspace setup like? I love my houseplants and my beta fish, Grigori. My workspace is set up by a large window and is filled with stones, house-plants, and Grigori as well as a plethora of pens and post-its.
What’s your best time-saving shortcut or life hack? Podcasts! They are an easy and fun way to obtain news while walking to class or driving to the store.
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What’s your favorite to-do list manager? My planner. I go through periods where it is perfectly organized and color coded, but usually, it is full of half-finished thoughts and nearly illegible notes. I love it.
When doing research, are there any tools that you find to be indispensable? I usually start my research on JSTOR. The materials available are diverse and I am usually able to find pertinent research to my major (literary studies). I also love browsing other databases and the archives of certain publications, such as The New Yorker.
What do you write with? I am very picky about my pens! My favorite are the flare pens, which I order from Amazon, and the sharpie fine point pens. I also cannot read without a pencil in my hand, writing with a pen in books is impossible for me.
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else? My morning coffee. I used to be a barista and as such I am very picky about my morning caffeine.
What do you listen to while you work? It depends on what I am working on. Generally, I am a huge fan of jazz while I work. Duke Ellington is my go to artist, though my favorite album would have to be Count Basie's Beatle Bag.
What are you currently reading? Catch-22 by Joseph Heller and The Beatles Lyrics by Hunter Davies
Do you use an e-reader or do you prefer paper books? Paper! I recently read that ebook sales have decreased recently in favor of paper due to younger generations preference for paper! I am also a fan of audiobooks, especially when the author reads them! Trevor Noah, the host of The Daily Show, recently released his book Born a Crime, which may be one of the most interesting and engaging audiobooks I have ever listened to.
What’s your sleep routine like? Ideally, I try to be in bed by 12:00 and up by 8:00. Though I usually end up going to bed later and waking up earlier, which means that about once a week I need a day where I can get a looong night's sleep.
Fill in the blank: I’d love to see _________ answer these same questions. Malcolm Gladwell. I just finished listening to his podcast, Revisionist History, and I think he is a fascinating person.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? There is nothing wrong with having a bias. Everyone has their own thoughts on a subject that are informed by their own life experience. So bias is inherent in almost everything, but you have to be aware of bias and claim your own bias.
Is there anything else you want to add about your writing life? I am trying to do more personal writing, which means not for class. I am attempting at least 30 minutes - 1 hour a day of just writing. I am also experimenting with a more journalistic approach to some of my writing.