Welcome
Thank you for your interest in my work; I am delighted you stopped by.
A bit about me . . .
Poet
If you are here regarding my poetry . . .
My personal favorite form of expression is poetry. I love the intentionality with which you must choose and place each word. I love its focus on sound and the way it asks one to look at the world. It is a challenging art form! My first book was published in 2010, went on to win two awards and be nominated for several others, and has since found its way into school curricula around the world. I cannot express my gratitude for the interest in my creative work.
Please know that every YouTube video you make reciting a verse, your art and social media posts, and your sweet messages mean so much. I am humbled beyond measure that you give my poems your time and share them with others. Yes, I am working on the next book but, no, I do not know when it will be released. I am ever so picky with my writing! If you have questions about the poems, you are welcome to reach out. If you wish to license anything, please visit: www.copperplatepublishing.com.
biography
Barbara Vance was born in Colorado and lives in Dallas, Texas. She is the author and illustrator of the award-winning poetry collection, Suzie Bitner Was Afraid of the Drain. She has a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in literature and storytelling. After teaching for many years at a university, she founded her own company, Vance Studios, where she walks thousands of writers through the story-creation process.
Suzie Bitner Was Afraid of the Drain has 124 poems in it, which Barbara wrote while earning her B.A. and M.A. degrees. Many of the poems are inspired by her childhood: she did have worms for pets, at peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches every day, shared a room with her older sister, and treasured the unique aspects of the changing seasons. Her second book, Merry Christmas, Snert!, was released in 2014.
When she is not working on another poem, you can find her curled up with a book (usually poetry or nonfiction) riding her bicycle, or on a long walk.
Educator
If you are here because you are interested in learning to write a story . . .
I have been teaching the art of story and communications for over seventeen years.
What started as an early and sincere delight in literature and history turned into focused study that culminated in a PhD in storytelling and media, and a subsequent position at a tier-one university.
My courses focus on providing a step-by-step system by which to design a story from conception to submission. I deeply want you to be an independent creator, not confined by rules because you understand the central tenets of storytelling well enough to know when to adhere and when to break with tradition. I want you to be able to take apart your favorite novels, films, short stories, etc. see how they work, identify what you admire in them, and then build on those techniques, making them your own.
I hope my resources help you get started or keep going. Each one was made with a dedication to bring out your creative best. If you have any questions about these offerings, please do not hesitate to reach out. It would be lovely to hear from you.
Thank you for your time, and I wish you the best of luck with your writing.
~Barbara