Dawnie Walton

Thesis: Opal & Nev (formerly Aural History), a novel

Advisor: Ayana Mathis

Led an 8-week course for emerging writers at one of New York City's premier programs.

Led 12 promising young writers selected from a pool of applicants, guiding them in the development of their own fiction and critiquing the work of their peers.

Taught 20 students, primarily STEM majors, the fundamentals of short fiction and poetry.

One of 16 writers selected (from a pool of 1,300 applicants) for a merit-based scholarship to attend the prestigious literary magazine’s workshop intensive.

Studied political fiction, novel structure, and long-form stories in workshops and classes led by V.V. Ganeshananthan, Margot Livesey, Ayana Mathis, and Ethan Canin.

In a six-week residency, developed a partial first draft of Opal & Nev.

As a freelance consultant and later a staff editorial executive for FOTO, a consumer-facing startup division within Getty, I told stories through current and archival photography.

• Brainstormed and executed content ideas springing off current entertainment news, popular culture, and social media buzz.
• Led comprehensive visual coverage of tentpole events including the Oscars, the Met Gala, and the royal wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle.
• Managed video and entertainment editors, and liaised with social media and audience development staffers to strategize on how best to expose our content.

• Developed digital strategy and led editorial direction for the Essence desktop and mobile sites, working closely with the digital executive editor and general manager to plan and execute an ambitious roadmap of enhancements and product launches.
• Collaborated with Essence magazine's editor-in-chief to plan the print editorial calendar, devise new franchises and sign off on every page of every issue.
• Advised on overall editorial direction and digital extensions for events including Essence Festival, Black Women in Hollywood, Black Women in Music and Street Style Awards.
• Managed a digital team including 8 content editors plus an art director, photo editor and social media director.
• Represented the brand via TV, radio and online appearances (including The View, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, and The Tom Joyner Morning Show).

Oversaw content for the Celebrity channel features (including special printed editions), keeping a balance between the topical content that kept LIFE relevant and the archival gems our readers adored.

Helmed product launches and worked with marketing and sales teams to brainstorm interactive features tied to the cable network’s shows.

Planned and edited daily content, managing a bicoastal staff of 16, and oversaw the homepage, organizing content based on user behavior and newsworthiness.

A fictional oral history of the beloved rock & roll duo, the enigmatic black female artist and white British folksinger who shot to fame in 1971 New York, and the dark, fraught secret at the peak of their stardom. Forthcoming from 37 Ink/Simon & Schuster.

Flash fiction featured on “Ampersand” (the podcast of Poets ∧ Writers) and as part of “Let’s Play: Imagination, Intuition, and Black Creativity,” a multimedia exhibit of Afrofuturist art at Oakland’s Pro Arts Gallery.

Nonfiction for Essence magazine.

For LIFE.com and Getty Images' FOTO. Interview subjects included Sophia Loren, Jeffrey Wright, Elisabeth Moss, Karlie Kloss, Kim Novak, and others.

For Entertainment Weekly's website and PopWatch blog.

Short fiction for the Double Take reading series, New York, NY.

Short fiction for the Anthology series, Iowa City, IA.

Short fiction for the Witching Hour Festival, Iowa City, IA.

Essay for the community event “This Is Our Peace: Many Races, One Iowa,” hosted by the Iowa Writers’ House.