Bella Koschalk
2020 Literary Arts Scholarship Recipient
Bella discovered writing as a way to express her emotions and navigate experiences beyond her daily vocabulary. Her first novel at eleven proved transformative and healing, providing a creative outlet that centered and grounded her. Poetry became a safe space for authenticity, especially during middle school bullying and the onset of panic and anxiety disorders. Through poetry, Bella found solace, embracing vulnerability as a source of strength.
Writing has since become Bella's lifelong method of expression, enabling her to process her life experiences while accessing a space of freedom and empowerment. Her passion for creative writing led her to actively seek growth opportunities, such as serving as the Chief Editor and poetry contributor for her school's literary magazine and participating in a youth creative writing program at the local library. She also ventured into online zine submissions and gained recognition through the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Engaging in a writing community brought Bella immeasurable joy and reinforced her desire to remain an integral part of such a supportive environment.
In pursuit of expanding her literary horizons, Bella applied to art schools specializing in creative writing but struggled to find the right fit until she took a chance and applied to Idyllwild Arts, despite financial concerns. Winning a scholarship for the Creative Writing program with a collection of three poems, she found herself surrounded by exceptional writers who offered invaluable support and feedback. Through consistent opportunities for workshopping, revising, and acquiring new writing tools, Bella's growth as a writer has been exponential. Currently serving as the poetry editor for the student-run literary journal, Parallax, her work has reached publishable quality and has been featured in publications like Sonder Midwest and CutBank Literary Journal. Eager to continue expanding her skills, Bella sees Iowa Young Writers' Studio summer program as a catalyst for her ongoing journey, providing a platform to immerse herself in new perspectives, styles, and literary possibilities.