ESP Biography



ANDREW VALENCIA, Stanford senior studying English




Major: English

College/Employer: Stanford University

Year of Graduation: 2010

Picture of Andrew Valencia

Brief Biographical Sketch:

I am a first-generation college student from Central California who is studying English, History, and creative writing at Stanford. Since I was little, I have loved fiction and expressing myself through writing. I have published fiction in the Stanford literary magazine "Leland Quarterly" and I have worked as a reporter for several newspapers including "The Stanford Daily," "The Fresno Bee," and "The Sacramento Valley Mirror." This summer I traveled to South Korea, where I spent eleven weeks teaching SAT prep and college essay writing to English-speaking Korean students in Seoul. In applying for the Stanford Splash program, I hope to continue my work in helping younger people to understand and become interested in books and writing.



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

L513: Intro to Fiction Writing in Splash! Fall 2009 (Oct. 10 - 11, 2009)
Are you interested in writing stories of your very own, but don't know where to begin? Do you have an idea for a novel or short story, but you're not sure of how to get started? In this informal, two hour-long course, you'll get the chance to explore the basics of plot, character development, narration, style, and structure with a Stanford English major and published fiction writer. You'll also get the chance to develop your own storylines through a series of exercises and brainstorming sessions with other aspiring writers. No previous creative writing experience necessary; the only requirement is an active imagination.