Storyteller Bee Short

This week’s Writer Wednesday features DWR member Bee Short!

Bee is a storyteller from Dearborn, Michigan. They love reading and have a collection of books closer to a thousand than one. They first wrote and debuted plays in college before writing stories and novels. Outside of reading and writing, Bee loves gaming, quilting and rebinding old books! Learn more about Bee below!

What writing projects are you currently working on?

My main, and most serious, project is a queer young adult novel. It follows two boys, Liam and Kai, who happen to be Soulmates in a world where Soulmates have been disappearing for generations. As a result, the people who are Soulmates are looked down on for their strange ever-changing markings and odd feelings. Liam and Kai must make their way to each other from what feels like two completely different worlds. On a less serious note, I am also working on an autobiography, though that one moves at a glacial pace.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

I initially started writing fiction because journaling wasn’t for me, so I suppose it’s the catharsis you can get from writing something from the heart.

What does your writing workspace look like?

My phone. It’s maybe not the best workplace, but no matter where I’m at, I can write. Typically if you see me typing away at my phone in public, I’m not texting. Sometimes I’ll pull out my iPad and a keyboard, but most often I’m laying down in bed or sitting somewhere random.

When did you first discover your love for writing? Were there any key moments or influences that sparked your passion?

I think writing had always been in the periphery. I’m a reader first and foremost. I have a book collection that is closer to a thousand than one. For my first real dip into the writing pool, I had written, and debuted, a couple of plays when I was in college. I enjoyed those projects immensely, but ultimately decided to focus on the technical side of theater for my degree. After I graduated, my health took a turn for the worse. This paired with the 2020 quarantine was a devastating blow to my mental health. I couldn’t go out. I couldn’t get a job in the industry I had just gotten a degree in. Ultimately I’ve always been a reader, but it was during this time that I started taking my own ideas seriously. I wrote about 80 full pages before I even told anyone what I was doing. Before I knew it I had a full fledged idea forming into its own little story.

What is your favorite non-writing hobby?

It’s hard to pick one so I’ll give you a few. I like rebinding old books and quilting, but you can also frequently find me on my Switch or reading.