BA, PhD, MFA
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Instructor, English
School of Humanities
English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
604.986.1911 ext. 3575
Fir Building, room FR 460
caradigirolamo@capilanou.ca
Education
PhD, Linguistics, Cornell University, 2018.
MFA, Creative Writing, University of British Columbia, 2022.
BA, Comparative Literature, Princeton University, 2008.
"“The writer should always reserve the right to have a better idea.” -- Lois McMaster Bujold"
Bio
Cara DiGirolamo (PhD, Cornell University, 2018) is a scholar and writer of fantastic fiction. Their background in Linguistics, creative writing, and Comparative Literature covers only a small fragment of their wide ranging interests and activities. They write queer speculative fiction, and dabble in building miniature houses, writing unproduced plays about alien cats, and making comics about mice with swords. Their fiction can be found in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Fantasy Magazine, Cast of Wonders, Daily Science Fiction, NewMyths.com, and the Deadlands Magazine.
As a linguist, I think writing is one of the most amazing things the human mind has produced. In my classes, I try and make sure that everyone has a space to challenge themselves and experiment with new strategies and new genres. I strongly believe that no one is naturally creative or naturally a good writer. Writing is a skill that must be learned, and creativity is a practice and a way of seeing the world, that we all have access to.
My area of research focuses on using interdisciplinary theoretical work from linguistics, literature, cognitive science and philosophy to examine the task of the novelist and understand and assist with the problem of creating engaging narrative text.
My scholarly work focuses on the syntax of language change.
My creative work takes the form of fantastic fiction—from music that can cause earthquakes, to fairie drag balls, and mysterious portals to distant places.