Two former Dixie State University students used their experiences and knowledge of writing to each write a book.
“Every Girl’s Guide to College”
DSU alumna Indigo Klabanoff decided to use her college experience and educate other college women by writing “Every Girl’s Guide to College.”
Through her experiences, Klabanoff shared tips on academics, getting along with roommates, safety, sex life, and pretty much anything a woman might run into during college, she said.
The book is short, easy to read and is Klabanoff’s way of handing down lessons she learned throughout her college years.
It is a conversational book similar to an older sister passing down knowledge to an incoming freshman, Klabanoff said.
Klabanoff said the most challenging part of writing her book was being patient with herself.
“I knew I had a lot to remember to put in my book,” she said. “Being patient with myself and getting everything written down was the hardest part.”
Klabanoff started the book her junior year of college, and it took her about three years to finish.
The start of the book came from Klabanoff remembering little experiences and jotting them down every day. She tried to set aside time each day to write, but she mostly wrote whenever the memories came to her.
Feedback about her book was one of Klabanoff’s favorite things about writing it. She said a woman bought her book to give to her daughter and started reading it herself and wasn’t able to put it down.
“Realizing how relatable (the book) was and getting the feedback was the best part,” Klabanoff said. “There weren’t very many lows.”
“Brock Turner Adventures”
DSU alumnus Richard Briggs decided to go a different route when writing his first novel.
Briggs has written two novels about a fictional character named Brock Turner. His first is novel was “Tomb of the King,” and his second novel is “Den of the Devil.” He’s currently working on the third in the series.
The books are adventure stories, which is something Briggs said he enjoys and is why he decided to write.
Briggs said he has always wanted to write novels, so it is a hobby for him now. He said he hopes to continue to learn from the mistakes he makes while being a beginning novelist and to eventually write novels as a career.
Briggs started writing his first novel in October 2014. He started the second installment in June and finished it in September.
Briggs said he tries to write at least 2,000 words per day. He said he gets his inspiration from a lot of his favorite TV shows. He enjoys writing about his friends, said the main character is based on one of his good friends named Brock.
The motivation to write so many words is the hardest part, Briggs said.
“Sometimes I’d wake up and say, ‘Do I really want to write that much today?’” Briggs said. “Because it is something I love, and it’s something I want to do eventually, (so) I get over that feeling. Sometimes I could crank out 3,000 words, (and) other days I’d be lucky to get 300.”
Briggs said he wants people to know his novels are funny and strictly for entertainment purposes, and he has been told the characters are the best part of the stories.
Both Klabanoff’s and Briggs’ books are sold online on Amazon. Both of Briggs’ novels cost $10 and Klabanoff’s is $9.99. Klabanoff’s book is also sold at Barnes & Noble and Urban Renewal.