Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Ovenden.
Hi Molly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Even before I could actually write, I remember my mom giving me scraps of paper and a clicky pen in the car to “write” stories–and, I did! Creativity in the forms of writing and visual art has been valuable to me my whole life.
But, they were always a “cute, fun hobby” for my “free time.” In other words, growing up, I never felt like I was allowed to make them a serious pursuit and that writing stories or painting wasn’t really a good or efficient use of time.
In school I chose to write in secret, or just the minimum that was required for school projects. I felt ashamed that I enjoyed creating. When it came time to choose who I was going to be and how I would spend the rest of my life (i.e. the dramatic life stage of going to college), I chose to train as a middle school and high school Languages Arts teacher because I liked English class and I wanted to help people.
I graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth in 2009. Perfectly timed in the middle of a recession.
Fortunately, I also found myself in love with an English boy I’d met while he was interning at a place I volunteered as a student. I ended up moving across the pond to Northern England in Yorkshire to get engaged and then, married him! That initial move was in 2010. I went as a tourist, so legally I couldn’t work, study, or volunteer. With everything stripped away, I was left with writing and art.
Over time, I grew in confidence and am now so proud to say I am an artist and writer. Because of my training in education, I not only learned how to teach writing well by growing as a writer, myself, but I also realized that I love helping people along their journeys. Just before I moved to England, I had the opportunity to teach summer school for high school students who had failed English classes. My supervisor told me that it would be an awful summer with these grouchy, failing students, so recommended I teach something I enjoy just to make it bearable for myself.
I chose to teach creative writing! It was a blast and I loved working with these students! Over the summer, I taught poetry, short story, and life writing. Throughout the course of our time together, these kids wrote a lot. And they wrote really well. Many of them were excellent and impressive storytellers–and they had no idea! And, I had the privilege of letting them know how brilliant their writing and ideas were.
When they heard me tell them that they were great writers, these grumpy, slouchy teenagers literally changed how they carried themselves. No longer slouchy, or grumpy, they had belief in themselves that they could accomplish something that had been a struggle in English class in the past.
And, when I watched their stature and posture change from defeated to empowered, I decided: I want to do THAT for the rest of my life. I want to come alongside people, using writing and art as a springboard, to give opportunities for transformation that changes lives. This is why I’ve invested to grow in my own confidence and personal transformation as a writer, artist, and coach.
And this is why I am passionate about helping people–especially women and young people–BECOME the Writers they’re made to be, use their voice, and rise up into creativity and confidence.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I was a teenager, I had an amazing English teacher who encouraged me to get involved with the literary arts magazine. I submitted pieces all four years and was on staff for three years–including my senior year as the co-editor-in-chief. My teacher encouraged me to submit outside of school, too. And, I did. I submitted one poem to an anthology–and it got accepted! I submitted a second poem elsewhere–and it got accepted, too!
When I submitted a third poem, I received a rejection letter. I was a little disappointed but was still riding the wave of joyful astonishment at having my very first two submissions accepted. However, when I told an important adult in my life about this rejection, they said, “Good! I’m glad. Now you won’t get a big head!”
Despite my teacher’s encouragement and support, that comment crushed me as a teenage writer. I still enjoyed writing, but I kept it secret. I didn’t want to be arrogant and I didn’t want to hurt people with my own success as a writer. And, I felt ashamed that I wanted to do well with writing.
Another painful experience in relation to my artwork occurred when I was a five-year-old. It was “free choice” time and we could do anything in the classroom. I decided to paint! I stood at the easel and as I put one streak of blue paint on the paper, my teacher came over to me with another student. She told me that it wasn’t my turn because this other child had asked permission, and with that, she tore my paper from the easel and set it on the floor telling me that I needed to find something else to do.
Looking back at the time, I don’t think I realize that I was making a meaning that I couldn’t be trusted to make good decisions on my own or that painting was never a good option. But, that’s what happened. I had a fear and shame that I carried with me about my relationship with making art. For years I never felt like I was allowed to create for joy, or that making art was a good decision.
That’s taken a lot of deep work over several years to unpack and heal from. Now I know that, “It is always my turn to paint!” and that “Writing is always a great use of time and it’s great to be recognized for my writing.” And even more, I’m able to recognize the creatively blocked, ashamed, fearful five-year-olds and teenagers who secretly long to create with courage because I’m very familiar with what that’s like!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a visual artist, I create “abstract expressionist” types of paintings. I call them my “Scrapings” because I use a plastic putty scraper I stole from my husband’s toolbox and made my own. I pick up bits of acrylic paint and scrape them into squares.
What I love about my “Scrapings” is how they are always an exercise in practicing freedom from control. The cool stuff that happens in terms of color mixing, texturing, and the negative space with how the paint lifts? I can’t force that to happen.
While I often have a landscape, seascape, or emotion in mind (or a space where the painting will belong when it’s for a commission), I still cannot make an exact effect occur. And, that’s part of the joy of these paintings–it’s all an experiment and the end result has a fascinating element of surprise which I really love (and so do all of my collectors).
As for my writing: I aim to always be audacious, resilient, and prolific. I published my first book, Closer: Spiritual Reflections for Writers & Thinkers in 2022 along with its Companion Journal.” I also write fiction, picture books, personal essays, poetry, and non-fiction about writing craft and habits and aim to release 2-3 books annually.
My current poetry collection project, Poems for My People, is primarily comprised of poems written in a live setting while I’m busking (performing in public) and writing poetry on my Smith Corona Classic 12 typewriter.
As a creative coach, I help writers use their voices and get their words from brain to page and into the hands of readers who will devour them. We focus on identity in order to write for joy, play with words, and be resilient, audacious, and prolific whether we want to write books or want a creative writing/journaling life.
I’ve found that growing in confidence with your creative, whole-person identity is a key aspect for writers in order to persevere through the challenges and truly become the writer they’re made to be. I’m so passionate about encouraging writers and creatives to persevere that I even have a podcast called, “Project Perseverance” to help listeners grow in their own perseverance and know that they’re not alone–we’re in this together!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I love creating in community and sharing my creative work with the public. If you’re looking to hire a motivational speaker or teacher to talk about perseverance, creativity, faith, or writing/journaling, I’d love to connect. Also, any organization that is looking for unique gifts to express staff or client appreciation, I’d love to connect about offering typewriter poetry writing and busking services.
I am always grateful for the support of my bearded furniture-making Englishman husband, Max. He’s been such an encouragement in my creative pursuits since the day we met in 2008.
Special thanks go to: Baihly Warfield and Megan Graftaas at WDIO in Duluth, MN on “The Lift” who interviewed me on their program about writing poetry, journaling, and books.
Shannon Cornelius of Yellow Bike Coffee in Duluth, MN, Cami and Josh Gazelka of Woodlore Cider in Brainerd, MN, and Fruit of the Vine Food Shelf in Duluth, MN who have all let me into their space to do typewriter poetry busking for their customers and guests.
Vendella in Eagan, MN, and Leeds Vineyard in England were excellent hosts for the “Meet the Author” book talk and celebration events. Duluth and Cloquet School District Community Education program in which I’ve offered many creative courses for adult enrichment.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://mollyovenden.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollyovendencreativity/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mollyovendencreativity/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mollyovenden
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mollyovendencreativity3052
- Podcast: https://mollyovenden.com/
podcast
Image Credits
Jen Wingrove, Max Ovenden, Molly Ovenden, Sheller Productions WDIO, The Lift in Duluth, and Will Ovenden
