Yvonne Liu, a Los Angeles-based writer and mental health advocate, is a frequent online attendee of StoryStudio events and classes, including attending last year’s online StoryBoard Conference in Hugh Ryan’s Nonfiction cohort. We talked with Yvonne about her experience — here’s the conversation:
- What prompted you to apply to StoryBoard?
I’ve learned so much through StoryStudio’s Memoir-in-a-Year program and PJ Seminars that I was eager to experience StoryBoard. I was also especially drawn to the opportunity to study essay writing with Hugh Ryan, whose work I deeply admire.
- What type of creative writing project were you working on (and how’s it going now?!) and what aspects of the online StoryBoard Conference helped you move that project forward?
I’m working on a memoir, but during the conference I focused on an essay I’d been struggling to shape. The workshop gave me exactly what I needed at that moment. My instructor and cohort offered thoughtful, specific feedback that helped me unlock structural and emotional questions I’d been circling for a while. It gave me real momentum, not just on that essay, but on the larger memoir project as well.
- What did you feel like were some advantages of an online cohort? How did the education and workshopping (and general vibe) compare to in-person workshops you’ve attended?
Living in Los Angeles, I chose the online cohort. We had a strong, engaged group that still keeps in touch. I’ve taken part in both online and in-person workshops, and I’ve found both to be enriching. What matters most is the people, and StoryStudio consistently brings together thoughtful, generous writers and instructors.
- What was the one thing about the online StoryBoard Conference that absolutely blew your mind and you haven’t been able to stop talking about all year?
Hugh Ryan’s teaching. He has a rare ability to break down complex narrative and craft questions in a way that feels both rigorous and accessible. I’m still applying what I learned from his sessions. Beyond that, the collaborative, supportive energy of the conference really stayed with me.
