Today we’d like to introduce you to StoryStudio community member Alicia Wala! Alicia is a wonderful writer, a generous literary citizen, and an alum of several StoryStudio classes and programs — including Juan Martinez’s Short Story class last summer, Gabino Iglesias’s Novel In A Year: Speculative Fiction cohort, and last year’s StoryBoard Festival. In case you don’t believe us about that last one, here’s proof 😁. That’s Alicia after a 2025 StoryBoard Festival workshop chatting with her writing-group-mate Mike Cripps (left) and StoryStudio staffer Greg Zimmerman.
Alicia is not just returning to StoryBoard Festival this year, she was also accepted into the StoryBoard Conference as well. So we thought it’d be fun to talk with Alicia about what she liked best about the Fest! Alicia was kind of enough to answer a few questions via email about her StoryBoard Festival experience last year.
StoryStudio Chicago: What type of project are you working on and how are you hoping this year’s StoryBoard Festival will help your work?
Alicia Wala: I am currently working on my first novel. It is a speculative fiction piece about a group workout class with horror elements, which started as a short story from Juan Martinez’s “How to Write Short Stories” class in May 2025. Fresh off of Novel In A Year, I am hoping the StoryBoard Festival will give me the final push of inspiration I need to finish my first draft (and the motivation for revision). Being around fellow writers and listening to the workshops is invigorating.
StoryStudio Chicago: Since you’re a returning StoryBoard Festival attendee, can you tell readers what your favorite part of last year’s event was?
Alicia Wala: My favorite part of last year’s event was Rufi Thorpe’s session: Why Are Things Funny? (A Genuine Investigation by an Earnest Clown). It was the final session I attended that day, and the way Rufi was able to bring so much laughter and energy into the room was admirable. To this day, I think about the advice she gave, such as balancing absurdity and authenticity with humor.
StoryStudio Chicago: What is one specific piece of writing advice you learned last year that has positively impacted your work?
Alicia Wala: When I attended Keir Graff’s Capturing Readers with Conflict session, he mentioned that dialogue is underutilized by most writers. More specifically, he recommended taking out instances of characters agreeing, since every single line of dialogue should advance the conflict in your story. I found that to be a profoundly helpful way of understanding how to determine if dialogue is working while writing my novel.
StoryStudio Chicago: How would you characterize the mix of education and social events at the StoryBoard Festival?
Alicia Wala: I think it is a great balance! For example, last year’s kickoff at the American Writers Museum allowed me to explore a place I had never been to while increasing the size of my writing community. I find that I love writing more when I get to bounce ideas and talk through struggles with other writers. Seeing those friendly faces throughout the weekend and in between sessions made the event more meaningful.
StoryBoard Festival happens August 15 at the Newbery Library. Go here for more information and get your ticket!
