My Story

I came to a dedicated writing discipline late in life and so, even in my 50’s, am something called an “emerging writer.” When I think of something emerging, I imagine a baby bird pecking out of its shell, or a Monarch sliding out of its chrysalis. That sounds about right. I can feel the warming sun on my back as I stretch toward the sky, but also see that I am covered in viscera. And I often wail a birthing cry.

I am a hard worker, however, and stronger than I look, so I persist.

I graduated from the MFA in Writing program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2021 and now divide my time between writing CNF essays and continuing to develop my long form memoir Searching for Sea Glass. My work has appeared in River Teeth, Nap Lit, and Voices From The Plains, a printed collection showcasing the work of emerging Nebraska writers.

I am also the Associate Editor for the literary magazine The Good Life Review where I read exciting work and am determined to be as kind to our submitting writers as those editors have been to me.

I live with my husband, Scott and our Yellow Labradors, Lola and Jack (this is Lola; Jack is still a pup and hard to pin down). When I’m not reading or writing, I am most often in a psychotherapy session with a couple via my private practice Barker Therapy Arts. I can also be found singing soprano in my local LGBTQ+ chorus, digging in my garden, and putting together complex jigsaw puzzles.

I would love to connect about any of these things. You can email me at aewoofer@gmail.com, find me on Twitter @AnnieEBarker and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/anniebarkerauthor. You will likely reach me more quickly via email, as I am somewhat wary of social media.

 

My Writing Philosophy

On my psychotherapy website, I refer to myself as a “freakishly imperfect human being,” and point to this dubious honor as one factor that allows me to work with clients in a “we’re-all-in-this-together kind of place.” I think I write from this place as well.

I don’t assume my story is any more important or relevant than yours, or – God, no – that I have mine all figured out. Instead, I assume we are all tramping along as best we can, living the life we have been given, trying to grow and understand in the process, and that we can all benefit from telling each other our stories.

I strive to write my own story honestly and well, and in a way that I hope reveals a connection to yours.