Education
university of new hampshire
M.F.A. in Creative Nonfiction Writing | 2015-2017
Magna Cum Laude; Winner of the 2017 Nonfiction Prize Gift
B.A. in English: Concentration in Writing & Film Studies | 2008-2012
Cum Laude
Residencies | Workshops
Writer-in-residence & scholarship recipient | Vermont Studio Center | March 2024
Writer-in-residence & scholarship recipient | The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow | Aug 2023 (upcoming)
Writer-in-residence | The Kenyon Review Writers Workshop: Terese Marie Mailhot | July 2022
Writer-in-residence & scholarship recipient | Vermont Studio Center | Aug 2020
Awards | Recognition
Fellowship Recipient | VSC’s Creative Imperative II | April 2021
Scholarship Recipient | The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow | Aug 2023
Scholarship Recipient | Bread Loaf Virtual Lecture Series | Aug 2021
Scholarship Recipient | The Rona Jaffe Foundation - VSC’s Virtual Writing Program | July 2021
Scholarship Recipient | The Rona Jaffe Foundation - VSC’s Virtual Writing Program | May 2021
Scholarship Recipient | The Rona Jaffe Foundation - VSC’s Virtual Writing Program | Oct 2020
Related Work | Experience
victoria sottosanti: writer. teacher. creator
Freelance Writer, Editor, Content Creator + Coach in New Hampshire/New England
Provides creative, academic, and professional writing services & packages to clients
skills + services include: writing, editing, coaching, content creation (print + online), website design, vision development, project management, strategic planning
white river ballet academy
Ballet instructor + dancer
MID VERMONT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Taught JSH English, Language Arts, World Literature, American Literature, & AP English Language & Composition
Designed & provided College Essay Boot Camp program for juniors & seniors
Developed content & curriculum aiming for greater student engagement, understanding, & mastery of skills
Created lessons, activities, and formative & summative assessments
Facilitated socratic seminars & hands-on educational experiences: writing workshops, student-lead lectures, & creative projects
Instructed students in multi-genre creative writing: poetry, fiction, personal narrative, essays, journalism, literary & rhetorical analysis, argumentative writing, persuasive speech, synthesis writing, and research projects
the university of new hampshire
Facilitated MFA class lectures on topics of craft in reading and writing
Peer reviewed essays, stories, poetry, and children's books on the graduate level, providing thorough feedback of praise and suggestions for revision
reader for barnstorm literary journal
Reviewed creative nonfiction submissions to UNH’s literary journal and gave feedback on publication decisions
The Connors writing center
Mentored college students (undergraduates, graduates, and ESL students) one on one through various writing projects at UNH
Received ongoing training and tools in writing mentorship
Northeastern Ballet Theatre
Ballet instructor & company dancer
cru UNH
Campus minister, mentor, speaker, & director of events
Founder & leader of International Cafe (language club & community for international students)
Director of 2015 OASIS Summer Project
Raised $40,000 annually to fund work
Service to the Field
Workshop Leader — Monthly virtual workshops for MFA alumni | Sep 2020-May 2021
Final Judge — UNH Graduate & Undergraduate Nonfiction Writing Awards | Jan 2020
Guest Speaker — visiting author to UNH MFA class on writing & publishing with The Sun | Spring 2023
Guest Speaker —- visiting author to UNH MFA class on craft & editorial process with Creative Nonfiction | Fall 2019
Nonfiction Reader — Barnstorm Journal | UNH | Oct 2015-May 2017
Writing Mentor — Narrative writing mentor for seniors writing college essays | Oyster River High School: Durham, NH & New Market High School: New Market, NH | Sep 2016-Jan 2017
Continuing Ed | Professional Development
Write What Scares You with Heather Sellers | Craft Talks
Bringing Place to the Page with Clinton Crocket Peters | Craft Talks
The Art of the Moment with Beth Kephart | Craft Talks
The Science of Scene with Sean Prentiss | CNF Wednesday Webinars
The Self-Interview: Approaching Memoir Like a Journalist | CNF Wednesday Webinars
Bread Loaf Virtual Lecture Series - Aug 2021
The Curious Writer: Fitting the Pieces Together — CNF’s Self-Guided Course: May 2021
Vermont Studio Center (VSC) Craft Talk & Manuscript Review with Keija Pärsinnen
VSC Craft Talk & Manuscript Review with Paisley Rekdal
VSC Craft Talk with Tiana Clark
VSC Craft Talk with Terese Marie Mailhot
VSC Craft Talk with Jess Row
VSC Manuscript Review with Belle Boggs
VSC Craft Talk & Manuscript Review with Tina Escaja
The Pleasures of the Personal Essay — Dinty W. Moore, hosted by Jane Friedman
Essaying the Day Away — Sonya Huber hosted by Hippocampus
The Self Interview: Approaching Memoir Like a Journalist | Maggie Messet | CNF Wednesday Webinars
52 Snapshots: Memoir Starter Kit for the New Year with Sonja Livingston | CNF Wednesday Webinars
Balancing the Interior & Exterior in Memoir with Ira Sukrungruang | CNF Wednesday Webinars
First, Do No Harm: Writing About Journeys Not Your Own with Deesha Philyaw | CNF Wednesday Webinars
Writing About Dreams | CNF Wednesday Webinars
How to Navigate the Lit Mag Landscape with Hattie Fletcher | CNF Wednesday Webinars
Making the Most of the First Page with Kase Johnstun | CNF Wednesday Webinars
Sharing Culture through Food Writing with Jessica Kehinde Ngo | CNF Wednesday Webinars
Writing What Haunts Us with Mylène Dressler | CNF Wednesday Webinars
Writing the Wound: Transforming Pain into Prose with Sarah Kasbeer | CNF Wednesday Webinars
Writing About Family with Mieke Eerkens | CNF Wednesday Webinars
The Power of Story with Dinty W. Moore | CNF Wednesday Webinars
2017 Creative Nonfiction Writers’ Conference