For Ashley-Elizabeth Best, poetry has always been a way to process.
"I like the idea of letting language take me for a walk, to let words help me discover and process how I’m really feeling. When I read my writing, it helps me discover myself and dissect what I’m going through,” reflects Ashley-Elizabeth, who recently won our 2021 Janice Colbert Poetry Award. However, the process of learning and writing has not always been an easy path for Ashley-Elizabeth. “I’m disabled, and I struggled during my undergrad and had to leave school. I was too sick to stay. I was in the process of learning how to live in a disabled body, and manage my life,” she says. “I turned to writing. It helped me process what I was going through".
In 2020, Ashley-Elizabeth found herself gravitating towards SCS and the study of creative writing. “I was drawn to SCS because it was so accessible. Courses were offered online, and I really got to work at my own pace. My instructors were experts in what they do, and they were so accommodating. They really got that we are all adults with busy lives and unique needs,” she says. “I felt fully able to participate. Nothing was going to get in the way of my learning.”
While she just recently started working towards her Certificate in Creative Writing, Ashley came to SCS already a published author. In fact, her debut collection of poetry, Slow States of Collapse, was published with ECW Press in 2016, and her most recent chapbook, Alignment, was published by Rahila's Ghost Press in July. “I’m currently taking Writing the Novel: Introduction at SCS, and am really excited about writing my first novel. My instructor, Kevin Hardcastle, really breaks down the process of writing a novel into manageable chunks. It’s helped me plan and navigate an otherwise overwhelming process,” says Ashley-Elizabeth, who also earned her Honours B.A. in English and History this past spring. “When I saw the opportunity to apply for the Janice Colbert Poetry Award, I figured I have poems I’ve written, and they deserve to go out into the world! I was also really inspired by one of the award jurors, Therese Estacion, who previously won the award, is a published author, and is also disabled. I’d had such a positive experience at SCS, and applying for the award felt like a good fit.”
Ashley-Elizabeth submitted a poem she had written titled Ghazals for an Absent Mother. “This poem is about my unique relationship with my mother, my family, distance, and boundaries. Ghazals are constrained and wandering at the same time. It was a way for me to process my feelings. I find that as the writer, I’m along for the ride with the reader; writing is a way I can step back and better understand myself,” reflects Ashley-Elizabeth. “Winning the award was a shock! Having your work recognized is very validating. I spent a lot of time and effort to produce it, and it meant a lot.”
Today, Ashley-Elizabeth has her degree, two published works of writing, and a poetry award. She’s also working on a second collection of poetry, starting her first novel, and working full-time in real estate. “I’ve learned that life is all about persistence and patience. I go for what I want, and if I need to rest or scale back, that’s ok. I ask for support when I need it. SCS made me feel I was worthy of being there, and reinforced that being disabled should never stop me from pursuing my goals,” she says. “I’ve struggled at times, but I now know that I don’t need to break my body to achieve; I can grow, learn, and manage my disability at my own pace. Really, writing is all about patience and persistence as well; you put yourself out there, you get rejected, but you keep going. You keep learning.