ABOUT ME
Makena Metz is a writer & songwriter specializing in comedy and speculative fiction.
Check out my portfolio of work including songs, scripts, poetry, and prose!
Want to hire me or collaborate on a project?
Send an email to makena.metz@gmail.com
“Writing is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art. The water is free. So drink. Drink and be filled up.”
- Stephen King
I'm Makena Metz
I am an LA native, a writer & songwriter for the page, screen, and stage, and I believe that writing is magic.
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I write about misfits, nerds, weirdos, and outcasts, through the lens of comedy, sci-fi, fantasy, and magical realism.
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I'm have an MFA in Creative Writing and MA in English from Chapman University and am a proud member of ASCAP, the Dramatists Guild of America, Women in Animation, AWFC, the SCL, and more.
I am a wildcard writer who was born and raised in LA. I'm an Aquarious and extroverted introvert, neurodivergent and disabled - chronically, dynamically, and invisibly ill. I’m also a cancer survivor, invisibly bionic, and passionate about including diverse representation in my body of work.
I love writing about misfits, nerds, weirdos, and outcasts because their stories echo my own. I enjoy watching characters step into their own power and learning to use their perceived weakness as their strength. My writing tends to lean towards comedy and speculative fiction because I love how those genres can reframe and tackle the issues of today.
As an artist, I use my voice to tell stories about our world through an imaginative or theatrical lens. In our ever transforming world, we must write the stories of today, to create audiences who foster empathy and are called to action – not only thinkers, but doers.
EDUCATION
2021-2023
MFA in Creative Writing
MA in English
Chapman University
I attended Chapman University's Dual Degree Program - MFA Creative Writing & MA English. I maintained a 4.0 GPA while working as a Graduate Student Instructor, an assistant to the MFA program, and a Writing Center Tutor. I wrote and defended two thesis projects, and I won the 2023 James L. Doti Outstanding Graduate Student Award. I learned from notable teachers such as James Blaylock, Anna Leahy, and Mildred Lewis.
2013-2017
BFA in Theatre Direction
Minor in Playwriting
Columbia College Chicago
I attended Columbia College Chicago's BFA in Theatre Direction Program and Minored in Playwriting. I maintained a 3.5 GPA while directing a show a year and assisting in other forms (stage management, dramaturgy, etc.) on other productions. I rehearsed and saw my thesis project performed. I learned from working industry professionals in the Chicago theatre scene, such as Mickle Maher, Tom Mula, and Andi Dymond.
Additional Classes through: The Dramatists Guild Institute, New Musicals Inc., The Musical Writers Institute, ESPA Primary Stages, Chicago Dramatists, and The Second City