Writing

I love telling stories, whether it's with the written word or the camera. Storytelling is at the core of my career, and it’s my life's greatest passion. I love fantasy stories, dark comedies, and action/adventure! I also love writing stories set in the real world inspired by my own life experiences. 

 

I’ve been fortunate to work as a writer and storyboard artist at Disney TVA for two years, and before that I graduated from Ringling College of Art and Design with a degree in Computer Animation and a minor in Creative Writing. 

 

While studying animation, I had countless opportunities to develop and pitch original story ideas, both by myself and on a team. I read books on story structure and learned how to build suspense and engage an audience. In the creative writing classes I took, I learned about worldbuilding and developing strong characters, and I benefited greatly from the feedback of my professors and fellow classmates. I took courses in Horror and Sci Fi, autobiographical writing, screenwriting, and more. 

 

My passion for writing began when I was eight years old. I used to keep journals where I would write nonsensical, goofy stories, some of which I thankfully still have and can look back and laugh at. In middle school, I convinced my English teacher to let me do an “independent study” with her after school so I could work on a novel idea I had. It was about a girl who moved to a small town and learned how to ride horses because I was an unabashed horse girl at the time. 

 

When I got to high school, I joined the newspaper and yearbook and became an editor. I interviewed students about extracurriculars, wrote and illustrated comic strips, and researched relevant political events and wrote about how they impacted the student body. During this time, I discovered how much I loved writing stories and designing publications with a team of my peers. Getting to put out a new edition of the paper every month was deeply rewarding, and my experiences in journalism inspired me to pursue a creative career.

 

I’m open to new opportunities, whether it’s writing, boarding, or development! Feel free to reach out or request writing samples at my email - estepplydia@gmail.com. Below you can find some information on my personal writing projects.