Writer, Actor, and Comedian

When did you graduate from BYU?

What is your job/position? And how would you describe what you do in that job/position?

I am a writer, actor, and comedian. I write scripts and content for commercials, sitcoms, movies, and animated shows.

Describe the path that you took from your BYU English degree to your current career, highlighting the important realizations and turning points that paved the path for you.

I joined a sketch comedy troupe on campus that gave me experience in refining comedy, and I took several YA novel writing classes in my undergrad. After graduating, I joined the MFA creative writing program and became very familiar with workshop formats for writing, which lent very well to writers rooms. Writing a novel for my thesis, I defended while finishing the first season of Studio C. During this time, I was asked to write for multiple ads with Harmon Brothers and became more familiar with writing for clients. After getting acquainted with the film world for several seasons, I left Studio C to pursue more kinds of storytelling. I’ve been working as a freelance writer and actor ever since, usually writing my own opportunities for acting and slowly learning more about festivals, theatrical releases, and distribution.

What are the specific skills that you cultivated as an English major that you now use in your professional life? And how do you use those skills in ways that set you apart from your colleagues?

I have learned how to operate in a workshop setting—which is half of my job. I am always getting feedback on my work before it is made, and I have learned well in my schooling how to integrate helpful advice.

My English major also gave me tools for writing believable characters—writing characters’ thoughts and actions in fiction is great practice for having to write characters that can only speak and act—the audience must infer what they think, but the writer must know from the beginning and be able to show without telling. These are immensely helpful tools I gained in the English department.

I also gained the tools of prolificacy. I had many assignments where I had to read/write much content in short amounts of time. This skill has proven to be one of my most valuable in a field where quick, quality writing gets more attention/funding/production.

What are some of the surprising ways in which your English degree has helped you in your life?

I have gained many tools for communicating ideas clearly, which has helped me in teaching positions, writers’ rooms, and as a wife and mom! Critical thinking and communication have been instrumental in every interpersonal relationship in my life.

What do you wish you had known as an English major? Is there any advice you'd like to share with current students?

You will read for fun again! 😂 And please, take classes that sound fun—don’t rush to graduate! There are so many experts ready to immerse you in the most exciting topics!