Jesaka Long

Jesaka Long (they/she) is a queer, non-binary writer, editor, and educator currently living in Colorado. Their writing explores themes of found family, identity, and the radical idea of being loved for who you are. Humor, especially its ability to heal, is also an important aspect of their writing and teaching. In their teaching, Jesaka focuses on helping students find the stories only they can tell, develop their specific perspective, and figure out how they want to express it on the page. They have been teaching writers of all ages for more than ten years. Jesaka’s short fiction has won awards and been published in Hunger Mountain and Santa Fe Writers Project Quarterly Review. Their screenplays have ranked in competitions at film festivals in Austin, Atlanta, and Portland. Jesaka graduated with an MFA in creative writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, where they are still involved in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coalition.