The Multifaceted Journey of Melissa Molina: From Literary Artistry to Professional Excellence

Being vulnerable as a writer is key to creating stories that will connect with readers.

– Melissa Molina

Few stories in the complex fabric of life are as engrossing as Melissa Molina’s. Her path is characterized by the skillful blending of literary artistry and professional brilliance. We are encouraged to go through Melissa’s life’s many sides as we probe further into her narrative. This journey is one of inventiveness, inquisitiveness, and an uncompromising dedication to authenticity.

Melissa was born in Honduras and raised in Chicago, Illinois, since she was three months old. From then on, her story has been anchored on a deep awareness of the transformational power of storytelling. As a six-year-old, she has already been writing stories. An essay she wrote in the seventh grade even made her get her first writing award. Melissa’s love of the written word was truly evident from an early age, when she set out on a literary journey driven by her limitless imagination and unquenchable curiosity. Sincerity and openness are the cornerstones of Melissa’s writing, as she uses them to entice readers into her world. Another feather in her cap was when she received her BA from Wells College in upstate New York and became a runner-up for the M. Helena Zachos Prize for best English prose in 2016.

Melissa’s journey demonstrates the transformative power of storytelling in both personal and professional spheres. Following her as she pursues her writing career, we can see how her interests in both fields converge. She moves through the complexities of Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) regulations with precision and empathy in her role as a Claims Specialist. Meanwhile, she has also gotten her work featured esteemed publications like Cathartic Youth Literary Magazine in August 2022 and Turtle Way Journal in March 2023.

Unceasing in her passion for learning, Melissa is currently finishing her master’s degree in English and Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University. When she is not writing, she enjoys researching and knowing more about personality types and animal behavior.

Come along and explore Melissa Molina’s multifaceted life story of literary brilliance, top-notch work, and a steadfast dedication to genuineness. Through her words and experiences, go into the depths of creativity, curiosity, and human connection.

Literary Pursuits and Publishing

TWB: Can you share with us your journey into the world of literary writing, editing, and publishing? What sparked your passion for this field?

MM: I am autistic, so I’ve always had an easier time communicating through my writing than verbally. Because of this, I have been writing stories since I was six years old. My first story was about a squirrel who caught chicken pox and had to stay home from school. I enjoy using my imagination and coming up with stories that tell an important message that resonates with others. As I’ve gotten older and learned more about this field, my love for it has only grown. Being in a master’s degree program focused on creative writing has given me greater exposure to the world of publishing. I’ve learned more about the marketing aspect of publication and the importance of editing and critiquing others’ works. I’m learning to balance creativity with a keen eye for detail. Writing is my greatest passion and one that I plan to continue pursuing in the foreseeable future.

“I am autistic, so I’ve always had an easier time communicating through my writing than verbally. “

Melissa Molina

TWB: How did your experiences at OnlineBookClub shape your understanding of the publishing industry? Can you tell us about your role as a book reviewer and any memorable experiences you had during that time?

MM: During my time at OnlineBookClub, I became more aware of the necessity for book reviews. One of the classes I took at my university was a marketing class in publication. That class helped me understand that, oftentimes, authors will network among each other to get other writers to read and review their book prior to its publication. Book reviewing is a marketing strategy to get readers interested in their work. One of my favorite aspects about writing book reviews was providing constructive criticism to fellow writers. I know that getting another writer’s perspective can help inspire new ideas and tie up loose ends that the author themselves may overlook. One of my favorite parts about working for OnlineBookClub was proofreading the work of fellow reviewers and grading their reviews. I felt as though I was making contributions in multiple avenues.

TWB: As someone pursuing a master’s degree in English and Creative Writing, how do you perceive the current landscape of the publishing industry? What insights can you share with aspiring writers or editors?

MM: My biggest piece of advice is to network and market your work. Social media, especially, has become a prominent tool in which to market within the publishing industry. Various publishing houses look for authors with skill and a sizeable social media following. I also can’t stress enough the importance in knowing who you are going to query before sending a query letter. This way, you can cater the letter specifically to the agent or publishing house you are trying to reach. Sending the same generic letter to multiple places makes it less likely to stand out. A query letter is like a cover letter. It’s an author’s chance to make an impression. The best way to do that is to show interest in who they are because that will make them want to get to know you and your work.

TWB: Could you discuss any specific contributions you’ve made to literary journals or publications? How do you believe these experiences have influenced your growth as a writer and editor?

MM: In the last couple of years, I’ve been published by Cathartic Youth Literary Magazine and Turtle Way Journal. Both of my published pieces were centered around mental health. They were two of my most vulnerable pieces of writing. I’ve come to learn that being vulnerable as a writer is key to creating stories that will connect with readers. Even though we’re often taught to hide our struggles, there’s a lot of beauty that can come from writing about them and sharing it with others. Putting up a wall as a writer is almost never worth it because it closes us off from making real human connections between reader and writer. Having these publications has shown me which of my stories are more likely to be noticed by publishers and literary journals. It’s also taught me that the first draft of a story almost never gets published. It’s important to take time for editing and receiving feedback from others before sending a story out for publication.

Academic Achievements and Recognition

TWB: Congratulations on your academic achievements, including your master’s degree and awards such as the M. Helena Zachos Prize. How do you feel these accolades have impacted your professional journey and personal development?

MM: My accolades have certainly given me a boost in confidence as a writer. It’s encouraging to know that my stories have moved judges enough to select my story for awards. It asserts my belief that I’m meant to be a writer and that I have an important story to share with the world. I like knowing that my words can have an impact on others. My master’s degree has opened my eyes to the various layers of the publishing industry. I’ve learned to be a critical thinker and to embrace the revision process after completing a new draft for a story. I feel more ready than ever to continue writing and integrate myself within the publishing industry.

TWB: Can you share a significant moment or experience during your academic pursuit that you believe has shaped your career path?

MM: In eighth grade, I won first place for the Chicago Young Authors writing competition in my area. Every year, students from various schools would write a story for their English class and two from each grade were selected for the area competition. It was my goal to win that competition someday during my elementary school days. When I got to eighth grade, I realized it would be my last opportunity to achieve this goal. I threw myself into my writing completely for the first time in my life up until that point. I fully immersed myself and experienced the beauty of teleporting myself into my own writing. It solidified to me that I should continue to pursue writing. Finally winning the award I had chased for years was the icing on the cake.

TWB: How do you balance academic excellence with professional responsibilities in your current role as a Claims Specialist?

MM: Being a remote employee has helped me greatly when it comes to balancing my academics with my work. Not having to commute every day allows me to dedicate more time to my school and writing after I finish work. I have a dedicated office space where I work and don’t allow myself to bring any of my schoolwork into that space. This helps me focus purely on work while I’m on the clock. Once work is done, I leave that area and don’t return until the next workday. Even though I work from home, it’s important that I keep my work separate from my academics. This helps me stay organized without feeling overwhelmed by all my responsibilities.

Multilingual Communication

TWB: Your proficiency in both English and Spanish is impressive. How have these language skills contributed to your ability to provide customer support and communicate effectively with stakeholders in your professional roles?

MM: I speak Spanish fluently. When I was a customer service representative, I spoke to many Spanish-speaking clients over the phone. A lot of times, I would hear these customers breathe a sigh of relief when they realized that I knew Spanish. These folks often navigate this country while knowing little to no English. Being able to provide them service in Spanish made me glad that I was taught the language at a young age.

TWB: Have you encountered any challenges or opportunities related to multilingual communication in your career? How did you navigate them?

There’s been a few times throughout my work life where I’ve acted as an unofficial translator for Spanish-speaking customers and my co-workers. These customers often looked to me as a source of comfort even though we never met prior to that moment. It goes to show how much it means to them when they meet someone who fully understands their native language. It made me think about how isolated it must feel to live in a country where most people don’t understand you. Humans love to connect and communicate, so finally having someone that speaks their language probably feels like a breath of fresh air to them. For me, I consider writing to be my native language. I get that breath of fresh air when someone reads my work because I feel that human connection.

TWB: Do you believe that being multilingual has given you a unique advantage in your field? If so, how do you leverage this advantage in your day-to-day work?

MM: Knowing Spanish gives me the opportunity to bridge the communication gap between my co-workers and the Spanish-speaking customers. I use it to my advantage by showing the customer that I can provide them with a line of communication that they don’t often have in their daily life. With my current role, I will sometimes receive documents written purely in Spanish. Since I also know how to read Spanish, I take it upon myself to review those documents instead of sending them to a different department to decipher. It saves the client time to have someone who can read through their documents and process them out that same day.

Volunteerism and Community Engagement

TWB: Your volunteer work with organizations like Asha Hope Amanaki and The Disruption Agency is commendable. Can you share with us a memorable experience or project from your time as a volunteer?

MM: One of my favorite articles that I wrote for Asha Hope Amanaki was about the Oregon federal lunch program. I did research about the effects of poverty and hunger among young kids and the various programs in place to mitigate the issue. I learned and raised awareness about the importance of ensuring that all children, regardless of class status, are well fed and able to eat in their schools. I enjoy using my words to promote the well-being of others and showing a wider audience why they should care about serious issues.

TWB: How do you believe your volunteer experiences have influenced your professional growth and perspective on community engagement?

MM: Knowing how to use your words to engage an audience makes others care about relevant issues. This is a craft that I’ve learned to nurture so I can advocate for others. Professionally, I know how to use my words in a tactful manner so I can persuade others to listen to me when I have something important to say. I know that connecting with others of various backgrounds is essential to telling a moving story, whether its fiction or nonfiction.

I want to continue raising awareness towards issues such as mental health through my writing. It’s important for others to know that they are not alone in their struggles. Destigmatizing it is essential to reaching out to others, which is why vulnerability in writing is so important.

Melissa Molina

TWB: As a writer for blogs and various organizations, how do you see storytelling and writing as tools for social impact and change?

MM: Storytelling is a craft that requires compelling emotions behind the words we write to get through to the audience. Every word, sentence structure, and punctuation matters. As a writer, I’m very methodical about how I word my sentences to create the most impact among potential readers. I want to evoke the right emotion so they can learn to care about the social issues to which I’m drawing attention. Knowing how to do proper research and cite reliable sources helps draw credibility to my blogs. It’s essential to back up claims so they don’t come off as mere blanket statements.

Future Aspirations and Career Goals

TWB: Looking ahead, what are some of your career aspirations and goals? How do you plan to leverage your skills and experiences to achieve them?

MM: I am currently working on my thesis—a children’s novel—for my last class of my master’s degree. I am hoping to continue working on it after the class is complete and would like to begin pitching it to agents and publishing houses later this year. I’d also like to dip my feet into freelance writing. I believe I have a lot to offer with my educational and volunteer experiences. I want to use all the skills I’ve learned to contribute meaningfully as a writer and editor.

TWB: Are there any specific industries or areas within your field that you’re particularly interested in exploring further?

MM: There are so many areas within this field I would like to explore, it’s hard to figure out where to start. For now, I would like to try my hand at freelance writing and editing. I’m hoping more opportunities will open as I meet more people in this field and network with them. My biggest goal is to get one of my novels published, but I also would like to work in the industry in some capacity.

TWB: How do you envision making a positive impact in your field and beyond in the coming years?

MM: I want to continue raising awareness towards issues such as mental health through my writing. While the topic is being talked about more, I don’t believe it’s being talked about enough. There’s still a lot of stigma and misinformation surrounding the topic, and I think that my writing and research capabilities uniquely equip me to draw more attention to it. I want to continue writing short stories and novels surrounding these topics to reach out to others who may be struggling with their mental health. It’s important for others to know that they are not alone in their struggles. Destigmatizing it is essential to reaching out to others, which is why vulnerability in writing is so important. As a writer, it’s important to me that I don’t put up a wall between myself and my readers out of shame. ⭐

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Check out the following written works from Melissa:

• Cathartic
• Turtleway
• Asha Hope Amanaki

To know more or to reach out to Melissa Molina, connect with her on LinkedIn. Click here.

(Cover photo credit: Melissa Molina)

Share your thoughts by answering these questions in the comments below:

How do you perceive the role of vulnerability in storytelling, and how has Melissa Molina’s approach to vulnerability influenced your understanding of crafting compelling narratives?

Aspiring writers, what strategies or advice from Melissa’s experiences in literary writing, editing, and publishing resonate with your own creative pursuits?

How do you envision using storytelling as a tool for social impact and change, inspired by Melissa’s dedication to raising awareness of issues such as mental health and social justice?

Join the discussion and share your reflections—we can’t wait to hear from you!