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Work Samples

Lobsters

In 2008, I spent one night in an ICU room with my intubated father. Years later, I took the searing memories of that endless, uncomfortable night and handed them off to a fictional character, a woman who's just been called to the hospital by her ex-husband's employer after he collapsed and was taken away by ambulance. Why in the world, she wonders, is she still his emergency contact? American Short Fiction chose "Lobsters" as its February 2020 website offering.

PDF icon Lobsters

When Big Wally Lost Two Heads

For several years, NPR's "Weekend Edition" ran what it called the Three-Minute Fiction contest. During one round, novelist Ann Patchett served as judge. She issued a prompt: write a story that can be read aloud in three minutes and uses the words "button," "fly," "plant," and "trick." My story, "When Big Wally Lost Two Heads," was one of those chosen by Patchett to discuss on air and post on the NPR website.

PDF icon When Big Wally Lost Two Heads

Collegiality

One year, Johns Hopkins Magazine asked me to write a short piece for the magazine's last page, where they traditionally published something by an alum. I chose to write about one of the best writers I ever knew personally, a freshman to my junior in my first real college writing class. His work leapt out for its energy and charm. It couldn't quite be contained. It was--he was--a force. He died when he was far too young, not long after his first novel was published.

PDF icon Collegiality

In the Bed

"In the Bed," a creative nonfiction piece, appeared in Post Road, issue 30, spring/summer 2016. An earlier version of the piece received Honorable Mention in Glimmer Train’s March 2014 “Family Matters” competition.

PDF icon In the Bed

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About Elisabeth

Baltimore County

Elisabeth Dahl's picture
Elisabeth Dahl's writing has been published by NPR.org, American Short Fiction, The Rumpus, Post Road, Necessary Fiction, and other outlets and journals. She’s also the author-illustrator of the middle-grade novel Genie Wishes (Abrams). She was a Writing Center Associate Fellow at Georgetown University, team-teaching undergraduates while completing her M.A. in literature and writing. A past recipient of an Individual Artist Award from the Maryland State Arts Council, she lives and works in... more

Short Fiction

As reader and writer both, I like the length constraints of short fiction--the need to focus, strip away. Sometimes pieces come out easily, but more often they require considerable revision before they're ready. 

  • When Big Wally Lost Two Heads

    For several years, NPR's "Weekend Edition" ran what it called the Three-Minute Fiction contest. During one round, novelist Ann Patchett served as judge. She issued a prompt: write a story that can be read aloud in three minutes and uses the words "button," "fly," "plant," and "trick." My story, "When Big Wally Lost Two Heads," was one of those chosen by Patchett to discuss on air and post on the NPR website.

    PDF icon When Big Wally Lost Two Heads
  • Lobsters

    In 2008, I spent one night in an ICU room with my intubated father. Years later, I took the searing memories of that endless, uncomfortable night and handed them off to a fictional character, a woman who's just been called to the hospital by her ex-husband's employer after he collapsed and was taken away by ambulance. Why in the world, she wonders, is she still his emergency contact? American Short Fiction chose "Lobsters" as its February 2020 website offering.

    PDF icon Lobsters
  • Late Bloom (Necessary Fiction)

    This short story--"Late Bloom"--was published by the journal Necessary Fiction in 2016.

    PDF icon Late Bloom (Necessary Fiction)

Creative Nonfiction

The more creative nonfiction I read and write, the more I appreciate the genre. 

  • Collegiality

    One year, Johns Hopkins Magazine asked me to write a short piece for the magazine's last page, where they traditionally published something by an alum. I chose to write about one of the best writers I ever knew personally, a freshman to my junior in my first real college writing class. His work leapt out for its energy and charm. It couldn't quite be contained. It was--he was--a force. He died when he was far too young, not long after his first novel was published.

    PDF icon Collegiality
  • In the Bed

    "In the Bed," a creative nonfiction piece, appeared in Post Road, issue 30, spring/summer 2016. An earlier version of the piece received Honorable Mention in Glimmer Train’s March 2014 “Family Matters” competition.

    PDF icon In the Bed

Poetry

Sometimes when my life has gotten especially busy, I have found myself turning to poetry writing. In the short bursts of time that are available, I can record and explore memories--uncovering new insights, if I'm lucky. 

  • Little Patuxent Review winter 2011 cover

    Two poems of mine appeared in the winter 2013 "Doubt" issue of the Little Patuxent Review. I read them at the issue's launch event (video included in portfolio).
  • Curve

    My poem "Curve" was awarded Third Place in the 2011 Maryland Writers’ Association Short Works--Poetry Contest.

    PDF icon Curve

Humor

I've always wanted humor to infuse my writing to some degree, but occasionally I write pieces that are specifically tailored to be funny (hopefully? to some?).

Middle-Grade Fiction

GENIE WISHES, a middle-grade novel that I wrote and illustrated, was published by Abrams Books in 2013. When I wrote the book, my son was about the main character's age, and I was flooded with memories of that weird borderland between childhood and teenhood, when everything starts to change. I drew the illustrations as I wrote. They seemed to propel me through the project.

"Compassionate, optimistic, and creative, Genie overcomes conflicts with bullies and gossipers with grace and learns that she can find happiness just by being herself." —Publishers Weekly

"Frank and honest insights into evolving relationships, changing bodies, and secrets." —School Library Journal "Genie Wishes was a fantastic book full of humour and heart. I immediately felt an affinity for Genie, and laughed, cringed, and cheered for her and her classmates as they triumphantly conquer fifth grade." —Côte Saint-Luc Public Library "GENIE WISHES feels spot-on, recounting the joys and pitfalls of fifth-grade in a realistic manner that manages to be both humorous and poignant." —Kidsreads

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Elisabeth's Curated Collection

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