Meet the Grad: Ellen Kazimer

A good friend of mine received her MFA in writing for children and encouraged me to pursue an MFAC, too.

I wrote and illustrated books when I was in second grade. These I expertly bound with safety pins. My writing career slowed considerably after that. After high school, I convinced myself that I needed adventures before I could write seriously. So I joined the Navy after college. While serving, one of my Navy buddies gave me an antique book from 1905 book entitled, How to Tell Stories to Children. Guess she was trying to give me a hint about my career choice. Several years later, when my children were little, I started writing local interest pieces and taking a few writing classes. A piece I began in one of those classes received an honorable mention in the Writer’s Digest Annual Contest. I attended a few Highlight Workshops and wrote a non-fiction article for Blaze Magazine for Horse Crazy Kids.

I remember meeting my classmate Gina the first morning of orientation. I did not know a soul in St Paul. Having flown in the night before, I didn’t even know where I was in relation to the university. At breakfast, I saw a woman reading The Hobbit. Since the book was on our required reading list, I introduced myself and that was the start of meeting my incredibly talented classmates. The camaraderie established from day one has remained a constant source of inspiration. It is amazing the close friends you make at the residencies.

 

During the program I’ve tried a YA novel, middle grade novel, short story, and a non-fiction picture book. I wanted to explore new ideas so every project was brand new. I hadn’t planned on writing non fiction, but while researching my middle grade novel, I came across a topic that really intrigued me.

I worked on a middle grade, historical fiction novel set during the First World War. The initial inspiration came from a poster I saw at a Bed-and-Breakfast. In the living room of the B &B was a WWI era handmade poster of a rocking horse with the words, “Toys Made By Our Wounded Soldiers.” A few months later, I came across this antique toy soldier doll from 1918. I fell in love with his baby-face. One idea led to another and soon I had an idea for a story. The owner of that doll in my story is an eleven-year-old girl, named Florence. She fights her battles on the home front while her two older brothers fight their battles “over there.” Florence struggles to find her place in the world and in her family torn both apart by war.

I was a cautious writer–too cautious. I was timid about conflict and didn’t want to offend the very characters I created. Now I insult my characters, argue and throw rocks at them. I reach deeper for the emotional core of my stories. All my advisors have helped propel my writing to a new level.