by Writing Workshops Staff
A week ago
"I am the ancestor telling a new story, so my grandchildren and theirs may thrive."
These words from Robin Stevens Payes capture the heart of a remarkable creative transformation. A seasoned YA science fiction author with an established readership among Gen Z teens, Robin arrived at WritingWorkshops.com ready to excavate something deeply personal—her grandmother's untold story of fleeing Ukraine's Pale of Settlement. What unfolded was nothing short of a creative metamorphosis, culminating in a Pushcart Prize-nominated poem published in New Verse News.
A Writer Ready for Something New
Robin came to WritingWorkshops.com as the accomplished author of the Edge of Yesterday YA time-travel adventure series, complete with an interactive learning platform and a devoted following of young adult readers. But something was stirring beneath the surface—a multigenerational story of trauma, resilience, and silenced women's voices that demanded to be told in an entirely new way.
Building the Foundation
Robin's journey with us began with Family Stories with Eraldo Souza dos Santos, a course that provided the introduction, tools, structure, practices, and confidence she needed to dive into her ancestor memoir project. The results were immediate and dramatic—Robin went from zero to 10,000 words in just four weeks.
"Eraldo is a gifted writer and fabulous teacher. He was quite generous with us."
The momentum continued with a follow-up course, Writing And/As/About Resistance, also with Eraldo. This class allowed Robin to place her emerging pieces within the context of resistance literature, deepening her understanding of how personal stories can speak to universal truths about speaking out and seeking justice.
Robin also participated in Playing with Time with Amber Sparks, a one-day seminar that took her wide and deep into the traditions of science fiction storytelling and time travel—skills that would prove invaluable for a writer already versed in temporal narratives through her YA work.
Paris: Where Everything Crystallized
The pivotal moment came during the Creative Nonfiction Workshop in Paris with literary agent Mark Owen Gottlieb. In that inspiring setting, Mark helped Robin see where her story was beginning to take shape—and where there were holes that needed attention. Fellow participants in the Paris cohort echoed these insights in nuanced ways, providing the kind of constructive feedback that only comes from creating in community.
Mark impressed upon the group the importance of building an author platform and cultivating community. For Robin, whose previous platform centered on Gen Z readers, this meant creating something entirely new. Acting on Mark's advice, she launched Releasing Memory on Substack—a space for long-form stories and poetry that would help her find her tribe among like-minded creatives exploring similar themes.
A Pushcart Prize Nomination
The culmination of this creative evolution is "Women's History 2025: SAY HER NAME," a poem published in New Verse News that has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. The piece emerged directly from the creative nonfiction project Robin developed in preparation for Paris—a testament to how workshop experiences can catalyze work that resonates far beyond the classroom.
Robin describes her transformation with characteristic honesty: "Before taking the workshop, my writing life was focused almost solely on YA fiction writing, but now it's morphed into creating this wild creative nonfiction/poetry/solo performance hybrid. The project is expansive, exciting and scary, pushing the boundaries."
Wisdom for Fellow Writers
When asked about her secret for pushing through when writing gets difficult, Robin draws on her background as a science writer who once interviewed the neuroscientist who discovered the brain's default mode network. Her advice? Step away. Take a shower. Go for a walk. Let your mind wander.
"Figuring out what comes next, or how to resolve a plot dilemma almost never resulted from pushing. It emerged when I let my focus diffuse and my gaze dim."
For those on the fence about taking a workshop, Robin offers this encouragement: "At worst, you will have a chance to learn or create something new. At best, the experience will launch (or relaunch) you along your writing path. If your experience is anything like mine, you will be glad you did."
What's Next
Robin continues to publish weekly on Substack and is currently enrolled in an upcoming prose poem intensive with John Sibley Williams, further refining the hybrid form her work has become. Her mantra for 2026 captures the spirit that has carried her this far: "Create, create, create!"
What keeps Robin up at night—in the best way—is her multigenerational project [Re]member the World, which she describes as an act of Tikkun Olam—repairing the world by bringing the stories of generations of Jewish women to life. It's a project about resisting shame and silencing, finding one's voice, and healing through storytelling. Themes that are only growing louder, more relevant.
Ready to begin your own transformation? Robin's journey from established genre author to Pushcart Prize-nominated poet shows what's possible when expert instruction meets dedicated practice and supportive community. Explore our upcoming online creative writing workshops and discover your next chapter. Your story is waiting to be told.
