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Creative Writing MFA Student Spotlight: LaToya Gladney

Creative Writing MFA Student Spotlight: LaToya Gladney

July 15, 2024
A blue background with yellow headers around the text. The Drexel University logo is at the bottom. The headings are in yellow and the regular text is in white. A selfie of LaToya is on the left. She is smiling outside, around pink flower bushes, wearing her mid-length dark brown hair down. She has a septum piercing, white glasses, and is wearing a yellow mock-neck tank top with a brown purse strap across it. The text reads, “What makes a story special to you? ‘A story is special when it is an immersive experience and fully engages me. I love stories with descriptive settings and well-rounded characters that I become fully invested in. Special stories stick with me even years after I’ve read them. I have a couple of stories that I always return to because they’ve resonated with me so much.’ Do you include your own life/experiences in your writing? ‘Definitely! I get a lot of inspiration from personal experiences or things I’ve heard or witnessed. There is so much insight to be received from simply observing and reflecting.’ ‘In this season, I am motivated by the art of storytelling. There are stories everywhere, all the time. My hope is to use my writing as a mirror to reflect back the experiences I encounter in the world.’"
The same background and style as the first. The Drexel University logo is at the bottom. A selfie of LaToya is on the top right. She is smiling inside a restaurant. She has her hair up with a few pieces down, and is not wearing glasses. She has a gold necklace on and a grey and white striped shirt. In the bottom left is a selfie of LaToya, smiling inside a restaurant. Her hair is down and she is wearing a yellow mock-neck tank top. The text reads, “What is one of the most valuable things you have learned in the MFA program so far? ‘Learning to perform close reading as a writer has been a game-changer! When I read for leisure, I am very conscious of how a text makes me feel. Typically, during close reading, I'm looking to find the deeper meaning of the text, especially themes concerning the human condition. Performing close reading as a writer allows me to look at the craft elements and techniques that are utilized to achieve the deeper meaning the author is conveying. This skill has given me a deeper appreciation for my favorite writers and inspires me to continue sharpening my craft. I’ll probably never read a book the same way again!’ Quick Facts: Born and raised in Memphis, TN Currently lives in Little Rock, AR Mother of 2 wonderful kids, ages 16 and 13 Graduated from University of Memphis in 2022 with a BA in English with a concentration in African American Literature Favorite authors are Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Lucille Clifton Loves The Color Purple—the book, film, and stage play Would love to live abroad someday”
2023-2024 Spotlights, MFA Student Spotlights

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