Blog
Alumni Spotlight: Kari Zander Published in McSweeney's and Lit Angels
by Writing Workshops Staff
3 weeks ago
We're thrilled to celebrate the recent publishing success of WritingWorkshops.com alumna Kari Zander, whose unique voice and creative vision have found homes in two prestigious literary publications this season.
From Workshop to McSweeney's
Just two weeks ago, Kari's brilliantly satirical piece "After Two Extraordinary Years, I'm Stepping Down as Chief Experience Officer of Murder House" was published in McSweeney's Internet Tendency. This darkly hilarious corporate satire showcases Kari's ability to blend humor with sharp social commentary.
This McSweeney's piece began as a homework assignment in Dr. Erica Anzalone's Word Witch: Exploring the Strange Magic of Embodiment class. Do yourself a favor and read Kari's piece now. It is so good!
Poetry in Motion with Lit Angels
Kari's creative range extends beyond satire. Her poetry will be featured in Francesca Lia Block's Lit Angels literary magazine in issue #32: "CORESHAKEN: Writers on The Tiny Moments That Shook Their Very Being", guest edited by Elizabeth Teets. This issue explores those pivotal moments that reshape us, and Kari's contribution emerged from the same Word Witch workshop where her McSweeney's piece was born.
The connection runs deeper: Elizabeth Teets, the guest editor who selected Kari's work, is also one of our instructors. Kari recently completed Elizabeth's workshop The Writer As Obsessive: Writing the Pop Culture Essay, demonstrating how our interconnected community of writers and instructors creates opportunities for growth and recognition.
A Writer on the Rise
Kari Zander, currently based in Durham, NC, has been building an impressive portfolio. Her work has appeared in Mental Floss, Reductress, and the Feminist Fairytales podcast, for which she earned a nomination for an International Women's Podcast Award. These recent publications in McSweeney's and Lit Angels mark exciting new milestones in her literary journey.
The Workshop Connection
What we love most about Kari's success story is how it illustrates the power of committed practice and community. Both of her recently published pieces originated as workshop assignments, proving that the exercises and prompts in our classes aren't just learning tools—they're launching pads for publishable work. The guidance of instructors like Dr. Erica Anzalone and Elizabeth Teets, combined with the supportive workshop environment, creates the perfect conditions for writers to take creative risks and develop their authentic voices.
Join Our Community of Writers
Kari's journey from workshop participant to published author in prestigious venues shows what's possible when talent meets opportunity and guidance. Whether you're drawn to experimental embodiment work, pop culture essays, satire, or poetry, our workshops provide the structure, feedback, and inspiration you need to transform your ideas into polished, publishable pieces. Ready to write your own success story? Explore our upcoming workshops at WritingWorkshops.com and join a community where homework assignments become McSweeney's publications and workshop drafts find homes in literary magazines. Your voice deserves to be heard—let us help you amplify it.
