Elise Tao

2022 Literary Arts Scholarship Recipient

Elise has always been drawn to the world of storytelling, with her internal streaming service offering a vast catalog of genres. While she has explored various outlets, writing remains at the core of her creative endeavors. She views writing as a form of precise transcription, aiming to capture the intended message while acknowledging the inherent deviations that arise in the process. Trusting her instincts and embracing the final product, Elise recognizes the power of storytelling to navigate the gray areas between societal expectations and individual imperfections.

From a young age, Elise's fascination with storytelling blossomed when she encountered a narrative that challenged traditional conventions. Through journaling and exploring the complex dynamics between characters, she discovered the hypocrisy faced by assertive girls versus assertive boys, highlighting the division that society imposes on women. This realization fueled her passion for literature and ignited her desire to craft episodes in her mind, weaving together poems, stories, essays, and memoirs. Seeking to enhance her technique and receive constructive feedback, Elise is drawn to the Young Writers Online Workshop hosted by the Kenyon Review, which focuses on genre-specific writing and offers the opportunity for peer and instructor assessment. She hopes to strengthen her metaphors and refine her writing style while fully expressing the footage stored in her frontal cortex.

Elise's creative journey revolves around her dedication to storytelling and her pursuit of truth through the written word. By participating in the workshop, she aims to expand her interpretations and delve deeper into the possibilities presented by the twenty-six letters of the alphabet.