From Handwritten Poems to Scholarship Wins a conversation with Sidda Abell: The Pen Game:

Hey everyone, 

This week on The Pen Game, I sat down with Sidda Abell, a creative writing student who is wise beyond her years. She recently won a major writing scholarship for her short story, Atlantic, and her journey is fascinating. We talked about everything from the magic of a good pen to the future of creativity.

I left the conversation feeling so inspired, and I think you will too. Here are a few things that really stuck with me:

Writing for Joy, Not for a Job

Sidda has been writing her whole life—poetry, short stories, even 30-page "books" when she was seven! But she has no plans to make it her career. She’s worried the pressure would kill the fun. It got me thinking: Is the best way to protect our passion to not make it our job? We get into the pros and cons.

A Hard Stance on AI

In a world where everyone is talking about AI as the next big tool, Sidda’s take was refreshingly direct. She’s completely against using it for creative work, arguing that the whole point of creativity is the human element—the struggle, the process, the personal touch. It’s a bold perspective that sparked a fantastic debate.

The Birth of an Award-Winning Story

Sidda’s story, Atlantic, started as a simple 15-minute writing exercise in class. With a two-week deadline for a scholarship, she turned that small spark into a 17-page story that won. It’s a perfect example of how the smallest ideas can grow into something incredible if you just give them a little attention.

This was such a genuine and insightful chat. Sidda’s passion for the craft is contagious, and her story is a testament to what happens when you follow your curiosity.

If you want to hear more about her creative process and why she thinks reading is even more important than writing, you won’t want to miss this one.

Listen to the full conversation with Sidda LaBell wherever you get your favorite podcast. 

 

Happy listening,

William Person