Cristina Alger (1997)
How would you characterize the influence of your YWW experience in your life?
I think it was the first time I articulated an interest in creative writing to my parents. I was an athlete in high school and my summers were typically spent playing sports, so this was big departure and they were very supportive. When I got to college, I knew right away that I creative writing was something I wanted to pursue.
What’s the best advice you can give a Young Writer (in general or in your specific genre)?
Read, read, read. Read all the time, as much as you can. All the best writers and editors I know are prolific readers.
What do you find yourself most often reading or listening to lately and why?
I love comedy. I love books about family dynamics and parenthood. I read mostly fiction, but lately I’ve read a few terrific memoirs as well. My second novel and third novels are both comedies about the relationships between parents and children, siblings, spouses, so I love to see how other writers address these topics. And after a long day of writing and being a mom, I always can use a good laugh.