Volunteer Spotlight: Samantha Tan
Welcome to the Mighty Pens 2021! This year we have so many wonderful volunteers standing behind us and we want to make sure everyone gets the recognition they deserve. Each week, we’ll be spotlighting one or more of our volunteers, and they can tell you in their own words a little bit about them and why they are a part of the Mighty Pens team.
This shoutout goes to Samantha Tan (she/her) for being way cooler than us! Hop on to Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok to get more content from @samanthaistan.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
A: I love designing clothes and sewing, playing the piano/guitar/ukulele, singing along to broadway cast recordings, watching kdramas, and listening to the entire BTS discography. (RM is my bias and Jimin is my bias wrecker!) I also live down the road from the President! Yes, Delaware is *that* small.
Q: Tell us about your pets!
A: I have a chihuahua-pug mix named Lara Jean, but I (lovingly) call her Lady Goofus McPoopus, Goof for short.
Q: What are you currently reading/watching? What was your last 5 star read?
A: Currently reading COUNT YOUR LUCKY STARS by Alexandria Bellefleur! Currently watching Hometown Cha Cha Cha! Last 5 star read was I LOVE YOU, I HATE YOU by Elizabeth Davis!
Q: Are you a plotter or a pantser?
A: Plotter, but I deviate from my outline. I’m human, after all!
Q: What’s your favorite writing snack or beverage?
A: Popcorn and wine.
Q: What’s in your ears while you write?
A: Any movie score, but usually the Pride and Prejudice (2005) score.
Q: Have you participated in NaNoWriMo before? Have you won? Are you participating this year?
A: I’ve participated for the past four years! While I’ve never won, I usually reach my personal goal of 25k words. And yes, I’m participating this year! I love suffering!
Q: What do you write? And if you can, tell us what you are working on now or will be working on for NaNo.
A: I write YA/Adult fantasy and romance! I’m currently revising my Fantasy PI book and will start either my Marriage of Convenience WIP or my Gritty romance WIP. And yes, I am plotting a romance novel with Gritty, the mascot for the Philadelphia Flyers! No, I do not know how I got here!
Q: Any advice for someone who is joining the Mighty Pens or NaNoWriMo for the first time this year?
A: Give yourself some grace. Some people are fast drafters, while other people, like yours truly, are not. Everyone has their own journey! It doesn’t matter how long it takes for you to get words on the page, so long as you actually write those words! Go forth and write like the wind! Or a light breeze!
Q: Are you a Mighty Pens vet or a newcomer? Why did you decide to become a volunteer?
A: I’ve participated every year the Mighty Pens has existed! I decided to volunteer this year because I believe in this group of writers and the cause. I want to do my part in helping things run smoothly.
Q: What’s your favorite part about the Mighty Pens?
A: The community! They kept me from throwing my WIP in the trash, and I’m forever grateful for their belief in me.
Q: Do you have a special connection to WeForest? Or just like raising money for a good cause?
A: I just like supporting good causes!
Thanks for being awesome Samantha and good luck with your revisions and, may we say, very inventive new WIP.
