It’s tough to be ambitious and dealing with limitations. But just because you have limitations—whether they be disability, chronic illness, or any other life circumstance that causes you feel fenced in—doesn’t mean you can’t go on to build resilience and a legacy.

Part of my work is to provide resources for ambitious writers living with limitations. In addition to The Unexpected Shape™ Writing Academy, I've created online courses such as Dream Hunting with Limitations; teach live workshops online about writing fiction and nonfiction, including as a visiting professor at an MFA program; and lead writing workshops in person all over the country.

I’m also a woman who lives with chronic illness, including physical and mental illness (which I write about in The Collected Schizophrenias). These conditions create boundaries for my life; they also inspire me to guide and support others who are dealing with difficult times.

Finally: I'm a public speaker represented by the Tuesday Agency, and travel around the world to give talks, take part in documentaries, and visit with students. In doing so, I hope to bring awareness to the great stigma society carries to the topic of mental health, and to allow people who live with limitations to feel less alone.