Tempe Author Elizabeth Maria Naranjo: 100 Creatives

Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city’s creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year’s Best of Phoenix issue, we’re profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 6. Elizabeth Maria Naranjo.

Elizabeth Maria Naranjo‘s days revolve around reading, writing, and arithmetic.

The Tempe author tackles all of the above throughout the course of an average day, which starts out with taking her kids to school, then brewing coffee and putting on some music. After that, she begins bookmarking stories, essays, and blog posts for later reading, racking up at least 500 (count ’em) words in fiction writing, and then drafting or editing a piece of nonfiction, like an essay or blog post.

See also: Phoenix Storyteller Dan Hull: 100 Creatives

Earlier this year, Naranjo released her debut novel, a young-adult read titled The Fourth Wall. And the writer shows no signs of slowing in her creative output.

“I spend a good amount of time reworking short stories and finding markets to submit them to. I try to always have two or three pieces out on submission,” the 39-year-old says, adding that she’s currently reworking a short story called “Four Mile Road” and drafting her second novel.

She’ll break from the writing and editing process on September 27 to partake in an event with the comedic crew at The Torch Theatre that will put a new (and likely hilarious) spin on the typical literary happening. “That should be a lot of fun — it’s called Improvised Book Club: the idea is that I’ll read from my novel and then the performers will create scenes,” she says. “It’ll be nice doing an author event where I’m not center stage; I’m just providing the material and then I get to enjoy the show!”

I came to Phoenix with my most prized possessions — which in my 20s consisted of books, CDs, and a box of old writing. Not much else would fit in my car.

I make art because I’m fascinated with human nature, and the best way for me to understand it is to put myself in other peoples’ stories. Also, I like to make stuff up.

I’m most productive when I’m under deadline. What motivates a creative writer is her imagination, but it’s easy to get stuck there. When I have a date looming; however, I can only daydream about a story so many times before I have to actually write it down.

My inspiration wall is full of my childrens’ artwork. Children are so uninhibited in their creativity — it’s encouraged and praised at that age. Adults need to give themselves permission to nurture their imaginations — something often considered childish. But that’s where stories come from.

I’ve learned most from taking chances. I was a closet writer for years — afraid to share my work because I thought it wasn’t good enough. It probably wasn’t, but a writer won’t have a clear idea whether her work is good enough or not until she places it in the hands of others. One professional critique is worth more than a dozen books on how to write.

Good work should always hurt a little. If the artist isn’t putting himself in there, making it personal, how can he expect his work to reach others? For writing, that doesn’t mean making fiction autobiographical; it means putting your heart into your characters. Enough to where it hurts.

The Phoenix creative scene could use more book festivals. We should celebrate reading every chance we get.

See the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives:

100. Bill Dambrova
99. Niki Blaker
98. Jeff Slim
97. Beth May
96. Doug Bell
95. Daniel Langhans
94. Nanibaa Beck
93. Nicole Royse
92. Ib Andersen
91. Casandra Hernandez
90. Chris Reed
89. Shelby Maticic
88. Olivia Timmons
87. Courtney Price
86. Travis Mills
85. Catrina Kahler
84. Angel Castro
83. Cole Reed
82. Lisa Albinger
81. Larry Madrigal
80. Julieta Felix
79. Lauren Strohacker
78. Levi Christiansen
77. Thomas Porter
76. Carrie Leigh Hobson
75. Cody Carpenter
74. Jon Jenkins
73. Aurelie Flores
72. Michelle Ponce
71. Devin Fleenor
70. Noelle Martinez
69. Bucky Miller
68. Liliana Gomez
67. Jake Friedman
66. Clarita Lulić
65. Randy Murray
64. Mo Neuharth
63. Jeremy Hamman
62. La Muñeca
61. Kevin Goldman
60. Emily Costello
59. Kerstin Dale
58. Vara Ayanna
57. Nathaniel Lewis
56. Ruben Gonzales
55. Lisa Poje
54. Bobby Zokaites
53. Frances Smith Cohen
52. Julie Rada
51. David Miller
50. Xanthia Walker
49. Kyllan Maney
48. Cary Truelick
47. Constance McBride
46. James D. Porter
45. Allyson Boggess
44. Abigail Lynch
43. Ashley Cooper
42. Jaclyn Roessel
41. Brandon Boetto
40. Melissa Dunmore
39. Gavin Sisson
38. Rossitza Todorova
37. Monica Robles
36. Josh Kirby
35. Jesse Perry
34. Yai Cecream
33. Nathan Blackwell
32. Carley Conder
31. Ben Willis
30. Nicole Michieli
29. Brian Cresson
28. Tyson Krank
27. Mikey Estes
26. Anwar Newton
25. Sarah “Saza” Dimmick
24. Tato Caraveo
23. Jorge Torres
22. Laura Spalding Best
21. Shawnte Orion
20. Mike Olbinski
19. Christina You-Sun Park
18. Jon Arvizu
17. Anya Melkozernova
16. J.B. Snyder
15. Damon Dering
14. Rebekah Cancino
13. Liz Warren
12. Timothy Brennan
11. Mimi Jardine
10. Rosalind Shipley
9. Nic Wiesinger
8. Kendra Sollars
7. Dan Hull

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