Emily H. Cox is a writer and a teacher.
When I say “I’m a writer,” what I mean is that writing is how I understand, and collaborate with, the world around me. Writing is how I grapple with the political and social environments we live in. Whether crafting an experiential essay about Kansas City’s queer wrestling scene, dreaming up characters in a futurist landscape, or reporting on waves of downtown gentrification that shuttered artist-run spaces for a local magazine, writing is my tool of choice – the way I can make an impact in the world, the way I can support my communities, the way I can build a better future for us all, the way I can be my fully-realized self.
The central axis around which my writing spins is liberation: highlighting the injustices of power and privilege in American society, and envisioning liberatory futures. I also love the possibilities and joy in imagining alternate ways of connecting with one another and with life around us.
I’ve worked as a bartender, a librarian, and a tree-climbing arborist. I hold a BA in Media & Cultural Studies from Macalester College. I’ve lived in Minnesota, California, New York, Louisiana, and Missouri. Sometimes the road has been my home: me, my car, my dog. What has remained a constant, revealed and strengthened over time, is that I am a writer and always have been, even before I ever saw my name printed in a byline.
I’m currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing, with a focus in literary nonfiction, at Western Washington University.
What helps me write: playtime with my dog Apollo, challenging rock climbs, and living room dance parties. I’m obsessed with Dirty Dancing and swimming in midwestern lakes in the summertime.