My name is Zinnia Gupte. I'm a fiction writer, poet and traveller living in San Francisco.
Currently, my two fiction projects are a collection of short stories entitled Magicians and Travelers, and a novel in progress called Girl With A Red Oleander. I've been working on these two manuscripts since my MA in Creative Writing at Nottingham Trent University as well as the Tomales Bay Workshops and at various artist colonies like Byrdcliffe Artist Colony and Santa Fe Art Institute.
I hope you enjoy some of the stories I've posted on my site!
ZINNIA'S PUBLISHED WORK
BBC
The Last Girl In Egypt
The Bromley House Library
Lanterns Set To Illuminate the World
Poetry
Nostalgia
More About Me
Born in Calcutta, India and raised near Washington D.C. I spent my post college years working on some very large projects during the internet boom in New York City, London and New Delhi. I started craving new experiences and took a year long trip to New Zealand and Australia expanding myself with news landscapes, new adventures, horeseback riding, painting and music. Through that magical process I discovered the artistic side of myself.
Then I traveled even more throughout India, China, Egypt, West Africa, South Africa, Europe and finally England, where I began studying writing and workshopping my pieces. The workshopping process felt rewarding, but I knew something was missing. I felt inspired to contribute to fiction and poetry in more exciting ways, through deeply spiritual methods, while keeping the focus on process more than product. And then I discovered creativity coaching. It was the perfect mix of creativity, sacredness and self-expression. I found what I was meant to do.
I learned writing in university environments and that's certainly been valuable. But I believe my mostly self taught body of knowledge allows me to think creatively, fluidly, be in touch with the deeper and Divine part my creative mind. It allows me to become more and more creative with the way I access images, the way I compose words, the way inspiration unfolds moment to moment, and the way a story is told.
My background in creative workshop training makes me especially excited to create workshops, classes and one-on-one coaching with my writing clients. My writing and healing background allows me to work with writers and artists to help shape their creative vision, overcome creative blocks, and heal self-esteem. Finally, my business background allows me to create personal project plans for artists, help them set goals and accomplish them.
Education
University of Michigan (1994-1999)
BS in Creative Human Computer Interaction
Nottingham Trent University (2004-2005)
MA in Creative Writing (fiction & poetry)
Stanford University
Writer's Studio fiction classes
Self proclaimed creative catalyst
Reading and absorbing as much creative and spiritual wisdom as humanly possible
Trained through:
Diane Frank Poetry School
Eric Maisel Creativity Coaching
Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way
Brenda Ueland
Natalie Golderberg's Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
Integral Yoga Institute
Spirit of Truth Foundation
Shakti Gawain's Creative Visualization
Seena Frosts Soul Collage
Worldly Experience
Australia : Sydney, Cairnes, Melbourne, Hobart (Tasmania)
New Zealand : Practically everywhere
India : Practically everywhere
Europe: France (Paris), England (London), Spain (Bilbao, San Sebastian), Netherlands (Amsterdam), Germany (Munich), Czech Republic (Prague), Switzerland (Interlocken), Italy (milan)
Africa : South Africa (Capetown, Johannesburg)
Americas : Mexico (Cancun), Brazil (Sao Paulo, Rio De Janeiro)
Other : Puerto Rico (San Juan), Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Cooke Islands
Zinnia as an International Young Leader at the World Peace Festival
Hobbies
Yoga
Dance
Poetry
Traveling
Photography
Mythology, fairy tales and folklore
Coastal walking and hiking
Design
Artist Resume
Prior Professional Resume
