Meet Brittany Ackerman: Writer & Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brittany Ackerman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brittany, what’s your definition for success?
My students often begin their papers by defining a key term. I’m much more in favor of starting an essay with an anecdote or a favorite quote, but to define success, it might actually be beneficial to get a dictionary definition. Success (noun): the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. In terms of writing, I had always imagined success as sleeping on a pile of my books or speaking on panels at conferences and wearing expensive coats. I imagined going up elevators in New York City skyscrapers to attend meetings about my work (what exactly happened in those meetings, I didn’t bother to imagine). The scene in La La Land where Mia, played by Emma Stone, finally makes it big and goes back to the coffee shop where she used to work, all done up and glamorous, and is finally given a coffee on the house- that was success. When Jo Ann Beard came to Florida Atlantic University where I attended graduate school, she gave me some of the best writing advice I’ve ever received. She told me, “I’ve been in your position, and you’ll be in mine.” She was saying that the craft of writing is about the hours you put in, and that if your aim or purpose is to write so that you are able to keep writing, then you will be successful. As a teacher, I wouldn’t be doing a very good job if my students’ papers weren’t improving by the end of every semester. But they do; I see them creating arguments and establishing modes of persuasion, finding evidence and tapping into reasoning skills in their writing. I see them growing as writers. Success to me used to mean that I’d be able to sit in bed and eat chips and write, undisturbed, unbothered. But life is never undisturbed or unbothered. Life is chaos, actually. The older I get, the more I realize how chaotic and disordered life can be. But the way I’ve found success in writing, and in life, is to let things come full circle. I’ll be in hell and I’ll be in heaven. I’ll be editing my college newspaper in my twenties and I’ll be getting asked to write about success for a local paper in my thirties. I’ll be in sweatpants eating Jersey Mike’s and writing my novel and I’ll be fully dressed in a classroom having a discussion about early 20th century poetry. And so, so much growth in between all of that. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My dad’s favorite quote was from Star Wars when Yoda says to Luke Skywalker, “Do or do not. There is no try.” I heard this all the time growing up and I think it really influenced me to always put myself out there and not be fearful of rejection or failure. Rather, I’m more afraid of not doing something, of not writing and expressing myself through this chosen art form, than I am of complacency.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My go-to LA hike is Fryman Canyon (also known as Wilacre Park) in Studio City, California. I love that hike because it takes exactly one hour, and it’s not too steep where you’ll be huffing and puffing, but it’s a good workout with great views, perfect for a walk and talk session. After, I usually head to Alfred’s (also in Studio City) for an iced vanilla oat milk latte or an iced matcha latte, sub oat milk.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Red Hen Press for publishing my first book, The Perpetual Motion Machine, in 2018. Vintage for publishing my next book, The Brittanys, which comes out in summer of 2021. Mark Falkin my agent. Carl Bird McLaughlin III my husband. Ilene Ackerman, my mother. AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts for my employment. All my friends, family, and the kindness of strangers.

Website: https://www.brittanyackerman.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suboatmilk/
Other: https://vimeo.com/459460002

Image Credits
Carl Bird McLaughlin III