Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucy Choi.
Lucy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After receiving a heartfelt letter from one of my readers, my journey as a writer officially began. In high school, I published my own novel titled “The Quest Book 1: Adela” in English, despite Korean being my first language. A young reader reached out to me after discovering my book in the local library, expressing how inspired she was by my story and how she wanted to become a writer like me. I became her mentor, recommending books and guiding her on how to start writing her own story. This experience led me to realize my own reason for writing: to deliver hope and dreams to others.
This realization sparked my desire to reach a wider audience. While watching American sitcoms and dramas, I recognized the power of visual storytelling and its ability to touch so many people. I decided to pursue screenwriting and sought out all available resources, including drama writing classes at Broadcasting Stations in Korea and webinars hosted by Modern Family staff writer Sameer Gardezi. After completing my bachelor’s degree in Utah, I moved straight to Los Angeles to find internships and attend networking events to make connections. Along the way, I came across the talented screenwriter Josh Isaacson, whose online screenwriting courses I took for two years. Through this self-taught journey and my unwavering drive, I decided to pursue a Master’s degree at Chapman University, which opened up numerous opportunities for me to collaborate with more people in the industry.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Some people describe me as bold, while others see me as reckless, as I am an international student pursuing my Hollywood dream by writing in my second language. The journey has been a true battle, not against others, but with myself. Learning to write in English, I encountered numerous phrases and terms that I was not familiar with. When I wrote my first feature, I received feedback that my dialogue sounded too formal and literary. To improve my writing, I started reading more scripts, highlighting unfamiliar phrases and vocabulary and incorporating them into my scripts when appropriate. I also transcribed conversations to enhance the actions in my scripts. Another helpful habit I developed was to write down phrases while talking to native English speakers. These simple changes helped me overcome the language barrier and write more professionally.
In Korean culture, being humble is a significant aspect. Boasting or expressing one’s feelings is not common and is considered condescending. When I arrived in the U.S., this cultural difference held me back, and I had to push myself to express myself and stand out. As a screenwriter, I believed that if I wrote good stories, people would come looking for me. However, I quickly learned that I had to market myself and establish my own brand. No one was interested in reading my stories until I promoted myself. So, I worked hard to identify my unique qualities and attract readers by consistently communicating with them and showing who I am.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love writing about children and families. Sometimes I question what separates the border of being a child and an adult, apart from age. I’ve seen many kids who are more mature than adults, and it amazes me when children do or see things that adults cannot. It’s a big, scary world for everyone, even for me. As a writer, I’ve always wanted to remind children of their dreams and their power to achieve them despite what the world says to them. At the same time, I want to remind adults that it’s okay to be kids again and have some fun in our lives.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up in Korea as a kid was not easy. We were always in a competition to receive better grades, and if not, they consider you a failure. While everyone was hot-eyed trying to get the best out of KSAT, I was growing on writing my own story. Thankfully, my parents were supportive of what I wanted to do so with their help, I could pursue my dream of becoming a writer.
Contact Info:
- Website: choilucy.com
- Instagram: 1ucycho1
