Meet Teaching Artist Nicole Kronzer
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Nicole Kronzer is the author of the young adult novels Unscripted and the forthcoming The Roof Over Our Heads. Unscripted was named a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association and was a Minnesota Book Award Finalist. Nicole is also a high school English teacher and former professional actor. She loves to knit and run (usually not at the same time) and has named all the plants in her classroom. She lives with her family in Minneapolis.
You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicolekronzer and find her current classes on her artist bio page.
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When did you start teaching? What path—career or otherwise—brought you here?
As a little girl, I dreamed of being an author but was pretty sure you had to live in New York City for that to happen. So my next choice was teacher. Actually, my first choice was traffic cop, because I liked telling people what to do. But I was four. By third grade, I wanted to be a teacher, but that was mostly because I'd be in charge of calling on people who raised their hands.
Later on, when I developed, you know, empathy, I realized I really liked learning and talking with other people about ideas but still went off and became a professional actor for awhile first. Then I went to grad school for teaching and became a high school English teacher. And then, in the greatest, best "See? You knew right away what you wanted to do!" universe joke, I got a literary agent and became an author, too.
How would you describe your teaching style?
Prepared with an agenda and materials but open to following the conversation and needs of the classroom. Also funny.
When it comes to imagining and creating classes, where do your ideas come from? What in particular inspires you?
Quite frankly, I look at my own struggles as a writer and build from there.
What's the ideal environment for your classroom? What atmosphere are you hoping to establish?
If you're looking for cutthroat feedback, that's just not my jam. My classroom's the place with the metaphorical beanbag chair, lavender plant, and big sunny window.
Regardless of what your class is specifically focusing on, what's the main goal you have for your students?
I have a really wonderful editor who, when I get feedback from her, makes me super excited to revise. Like I'm one of those huskies who can't wait for the sled dog race to start. My goal for my students is to instill that same husky excitement in them as writers.
What are goals you have for yourself? These could be teaching goals, writing goals, career goals, community goals, etc.
I want to find a way to balance teaching and writing without turning myself inside out. I also want more people to see themselves as writers. It took me SO LONG to believe I got to do this—I created more gatekeepers than were actually there. If I can help take down those phantom gatekeepers for others, I would be really happy about that.
What have been some of your own favorite educational experiences?
I loved my undergrad experience at the University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point. If I had to pick a college all over again, I'd still pick Point. It's a medium-sized school in a small town, so you really feel like what you're doing there matters. I made wonderful friends and learned so much about the environment—even as a theatre major—because of the big natural resources focus there. Through UWSP, I also got to spend a semester in London, which remains a highlight of my life.
To you personally, what is the most important part of the literary arts?
Community. It's such a lonely business and so easy to quit and de-prioritize one's writing. I put this in writing in as many places as I can: without my critique partner, personal cheerleader, and midwife to my books, (and fellow Loft teacher!) Kristi Romo, I would have quit writing a million times.