Today we’d like to introduce you to C. Rizleris.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My career began in college admissions and I’ve mainly worked in higher education. I started working for my alma mater, Eckerd College, after graduating in 2009. I took a break to teach English abroad and was re-hired at Eckerd upon my return.
After that, I went into working in international education for Hampshire College, Warren Wilson College, and the University of North Carolina Asheville. I met incredible students along the way and being in creative and educational environments has been rewarding for the pursuit of my own creative endeavors.
My undergrad degree is in Environmental Studies/Marine biology, but working in higher education allowed me to take creative writing classes in poetry and nonfiction. I’ve always been a writer at heart and have a stack of homemade books as a kid to prove it. I recently got my first publication, a poem, “barrier islands” in an online anthology at Fifth Wheel Press.
This poem was inspired by my time living in Florida and speaks from the perspective of the barrier islands. One of the most influential teachers I had was Denise Erb at Sarasota High School. In her marine science class, I learned about barrier islands, the Florida coastal ecosystems, and environmental issues related to coastal areas. I finally patchworked a poem about it over time.
I hope this is the first of many publications in poetry and creative nonfiction essays and personal narratives. Writing is a passion of mine and during my roles in higher education, I honed in on my graphic design as well as copywriting and website editing when I worked in admissions, international education, and advising. My main goal was to streamline complicated processes into clear and concise information that was adaptable to a diverse student population. And so began my portfolio.
During the COVID pandemic, I decided to further my education and pursue a dream of writing so I began an MFA in Writing with the Vermont College of Fine Arts where I am set to graduate in July 2023. I am working on a collection of hybrid essays centered around liminal spaces.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Since I love the sea, I would like to change this metaphor from road to sea. The waters haven’t always been smooth, in fact, there were many storms along the way that I had to ride out, and sometimes, the waters were so smooth but lacked wind and I found myself caught in the doldrums. But when the seas are rough, or the wind is not in our favor, I am reminded of a line of poetry from Ella Wheeler Wilcox’s poem, The Winds of Fate, “‘Tis the set of the sails / And not of the gales / Which tells us the way to go.”
I’ve never been conventional, and although there were times when I may have stopped along the way, I never quit on my dream of being a writer. I’ve had to start over time and time again. I’ve moved and relocated many times, but Florida is where I call home. One thing I never did was give up. There is a difference between pausing and giving up.
I showed up, put the work in, and I am here today because of the support of my close friends and family. The path is not always linear, nor easy, but if you are willing to put in the time, the work, and reflect on failures as learning opportunities and course corrections.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a freelance writer at the moment, still building my business, Riz Writes. Currently, I have a part-time contract with the Pride and Joy Foundation, a small volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to reducing suicide and homelessness in the LGBTQ+ community. What I like about this organization is that we provide mostly remote educational opportunities and virtual spaces for parents, caretakers, and allies of LGBTQ+ youth to help support and give a safe space to process and learn.
Additionally, we host professional development for the LGBTQ+ community through two flagship programs: Keynote Queers (public speaking) and OUTWrite Authors (writing). Our second cohort of Keynote Queers is finishing up and we will host a public speaking summit in May. OUTWrite Authors is intended for LGBTQ+ nonfiction writers.
I specialize in copywriting, blog content, website editing, and social media posts for businesses. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and when we moved to Sarasota from the Chicago suburbs back in 2002, I set my writing aside for marine science but never gave up on writing for fun. Having a background in the sciences is helpful and provides creativity in my writing, as well as a unique perspective. It took me a while to tell myself it wasn’t too late to be a writer, and here I am.
I’m about to graduate in July 2023 with an MFA in Writing. It’s a pretty big moment for me, and something I am proud of because I thought it was too late and I thought I couldn’t study writing or literature at a graduate level without prior experience. I am constantly reminding myself that it is never too late to try something new or start again. Life is full of surprises and detours. If you asked others, they would probably tell you that I am known for my ability to connect with people in an empathetic way and my creative approaches to problems.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I love marine invertebrates. Studying marine science and environmental studies at Eckerd College was a dream come true. One summer teaching Marine Life Education at the Eckerd College Waterfront Summer Camps we found every Echinoderm one could discover in Tampa Bay: sea stars, urchins, sand dollars, and even a few sea cucumbers! I carry my love of the ocean and all its inhabitants with me wherever I go.
For fun and creative side projects, I also am a drag performer. Pre-pandemic, I had more stage time and hold the title of Mr. Sweetheart 2019.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.crizleris.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/c-rizleris/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/rizwrites?lang=en
