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Creative Writing MFA Student Spotlight: Kelly Ottiano

Creative Writing MFA Student Spotlight: Kelly Ottiano

July 22, 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. The top heading reads, “Creative Writing MFA Program Spotlight Kelly Ottiano” On the left is a photo of Kelly smiling and standing next to the Drexel Mario statue. She has shoulder-length light brown hair, and is wearing a teal t-shirt, black pants, and white sneakers. The text reads, “What is your favorite thing to write about? ‘All my books are so different from each other, and my characters are unique. If anything, I really enjoy creating characters that people love to hate. I want my readers to have that one person in each book that they wish they could punch in the face. Sometimes it's a main character, sometimes it's a side character, but they're always in there.’ What Influences You as a Writer? ‘I focus a lot on writing books I would want to read. I don’t really pull from my own experiences or create characters based on people I know. I don’t put my own spin on a TV show or a book that already exists. I just think about where I would love (or sometimes absolutely hate) for the book to go and do that. I like pushing people's buttons, so sometimes I will try to write something just to make my readers want to throw it at the wall.’ ‘I’ve always wanted to be a published author. Every time I go to Barnes and Noble I figure out the exact spot on the shelf where my books will be someday. I would also love to teach creative writing at the college level and help others improve their writing.’
The same background and style as the first. The Drexel University logo is at the bottom. On the top right is a photo of Kelly, smiling outside in between 2 big butterfly wings. Her hair is a little long, and she is wearing a grey cardigan over a black shirt, blue jeans, and black boots. On the bottom left, Kelly is smiling outside on a deck. Her hair is a little long, and she is wearing a silve necklace and a pink floral dress. She is holding her diploma from State University of New York at New Paltz. The text reads, “Where did you start at before coming to Drexel? ‘In December of 2021, I earned my bachelor's degree in communication disorders. I started graduate school for speech pathology, and I knew that if I stayed with speech, I'd never prioritize my writing, and I wasn't okay with that. I quit graduate school and went back for a second bachelor's, this one in English with a concentration in creative writing. My professor for my first workshop told me how much he loved my writing and suggested I pursue an MFA. I spent the next semester dual enrolled and finished up my bachelor's while starting at Drexel.’ Quick Facts: Does her best writing with Gilmore Girls on in the background Favorite days are ones when it snows from morning to night and she can just sit by the window and stare at it all day Wants to live on a farm in the mountains Would love to go for a PhD someday At 12 years old, joined over 2,500 people on the Walkway Over the Hudson, and did the Hokey Pokey to set the Guinness world record for the longest single line of dancers Owns over 500 books Has donated her hair 6 times”
2023-2024 Spotlights, MFA Student Spotlights

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