I'm Emerson Chontos, but most people call me Emmy. My mother chose my first name because she has fond memories of reading Ralph Waldo Emerson with a favorite professor when she was an English major in college. Among the many things Mom and I have in common, we share and exchange book recommendations and make special time to watch and re-watch our favorite classic movie adaptations of books we both love. 

​

My middle name is Elliot, in honor of my maternal great-great-grandfather, who was a sharecropper in South Carolina.

​

I plan on majoring in English and Foreign Relations in college and will attend law school afterwards. The law attracts me because it is well-suited to my strongest skill sets: writing and arguing persuasively.  I see the power of writing and successfully arguing major points and serious issues that matter and make a huge impact. ​

​

How I Got My Start

​

For as long as I can remember, I have been an avid reader and writer, but I really became serious about writing in 4th Grade, after I won 2nd Place with a poem I submitted for a "Poetry Slam" sponsored by RJ Julia, a local independent book store in Connecticut. Although I generally do not like to call attention to myself, when I read my poem aloud at the bookstore in front of a packed room, I realized that the audience actually enjoyed it. It gave me additional confidence and inspired me to keep sharing my thoughts on the page.

​

Even before then, my mother had always seen the writer in me and encouraged my growth as an author, from the time I was very young. She has always shared book recommendations and discussed authors, plots, and themes with me, never talking down to me and letting me know my opinions matter. Once, during Spring Break when I was in 5th Grade, she arranged for our family to rent an RV and drive up the Pacific Coast, intentionally going through  John Steinbeck country. That first night, when we parked the RV, she put on "The Grapes of Wrath" and we discussed it while eating dinner in a national park. Because of her early influence in contributing to my personal library, Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors.

 

​​​​Growth Through Formal Creative Writing Instruction

​

During the summer of 2024, I was one of 100 participants accepted to the Iowa Young Writers' Studio online program, from among 700 applicants. Last summer, I was selected for the online Yale Writer’s Workshop, both online. Through these unique opportunities, I not only gained substantive feedback and increased my writing skills, but I also developed greater self-confidence in sharing my writing with peers and instructors to receive feedback.

​

Through both these prestigious programs, I experienced improvement in my writing, particularly when crafting more compelling dialogue among characters to drive plots. The Yale Writers’ Workshop also exposed me to other young writers around my age who are living all across the world. I was on Pacific Time, so some days we started our live, interactive 6-hour sessions at 5:00 a.m. my time, but I didn't mind at all.

 

I learned so much from the many interesting, creative discussions I had with students in India, China, Alaska, and other faraway locations. While the program was online, it was almost entirely live with deep discussions starting from early in the morning to late
afternoons, for a week. This program gave me the confidence to share my writing with others, which is typically something I am usually too self-conscious to do.

 

My experiences with both the Iowa and Yale programs greatly improved my writing. Spending time surrounded by so many talented young writers, who all shared a similar passion, mindset, and positive energy about the creative process, was an incredible experience. Through these programs, I learned how to write and also edit my stories more efficiently and effectively, while also incorporating helpful, constructive criticism and suggestions from my peers and instructors.

 

Both environments were collaborative and supportive the entire time. which motivated me to practice and put to use what I was learning so I could improve. Because of the knowledge I gained, I have gone back to my older stories to self-edit and improve those, too, so I can continue to grow.​​​​