It all began with a prayer whispered between pages, a story stitched into silence, and a longing to write toward something lasting.
My work as a writer and educator grows from that moment—an ongoing journey to restore erased voices, honor faith, and craft narratives that connect communities across divides.
My Writing Journey
My path as a writer has always been intertwined with teaching and advocacy. While completing my BA in English (Creative Writing), I balanced homeschooling three children and working as a substitute teacher. These experiences taught me how to adapt language for different audiences—whether guiding students through literature or crafting stories that speak to broader communities.
Alongside my studies, I began publishing early works, including a Pre‑K literacy series on Amazon. These projects gave me a foundation in writing for young readers while reinforcing my belief that stories can shape identity and nurture imagination. Preparing my application sample MFA portfolio at the University of Central Florida has deepened this journey, allowing me to explore memoir, Muslim fiction, and advocacy with greater intensity and purpose.
Professional Highlights
Alongside my creative work, I have built a foundation in teaching, editing, and publishing. I completed my BA in English (Creative Writing) while homeschooling three children and working as a substitute teacher, experiences that sharpened my ability to adapt language for diverse audiences. My Pre‑K literacy series, published on Amazon, reflects my commitment to accessible education and storytelling for young learners. I am now preparing my MFA portfolio, where my focus includes memoir, Muslim fiction, and advocacy. These projects allow me to blend literary craft with social commentary, creating work that speaks to both academic and community audiences.
Current Projects
I’m currently preparing my sample portfolio to apply to MFA programs in Creative Writing, where I plan to center my study in writing young adult and middle grade novels, alongside deepening my knowledge of teaching and journalism. This next step is part of a larger vision: to become a prolific writer and educator who gives voice to the void where Muslims should proudly exclaim their place in the American diaspora.
I’m actively seeking publication for several literary short fiction pieces, including “Islam and the Masks” and “Under Your Feet,” as well as a memoir work titled “The Sad Apple Tree Bares Fruit Too,” which explores modern and future Islamic concerns, loneliness, and isolation. These works reflect my commitment to emotional intensity, cultural critique, and storytelling that restores erased narratives.
Advocacy and Vision
My writing is rooted in a deep commitment to restoring erased voices and challenging the silences that surround Muslim identity in American literature. I believe stories can be tools of resistance, healing, and visibility—and I write toward a future where Muslim authors are not only present, but celebrated.
One of my long-term goals is to launch a literary journal that amplifies Muslim voices across genres and generations. I envision a space where fiction, memoir, poetry, and pedagogy converge—where writers can explore faith, life, identity, and belonging with clarity and courage.
As I continue preparing for graduate study, I’m also building toward a career in novel writing, teaching, and journalism, with the goal of mentoring emerging writers and creating inclusive spaces for literary growth. Whether through middle grade fiction, memoir, or editorial collaboration, I aim to be a voice that invites others to speak.
Outside of writing and teaching
I’m a mother of three, a homeschooler, and a lifelong learner. My days are filled with karate practice, archery, and playing alongside my children. Reading, as often as possible, aloud from books that challenge and comfort. Also, getting lost down a few rabbit holes along the way, I mean, “chasing inspiration,”—between laundry cycles and lesson plans.
Faith is the thread that runs through everything I do—from the stories I tell to the way I show up in my community. I believe in quiet resistance, in tenderness as strength, and in the power of language to heal what history has tried to erase.
I write from the margins, but I do so with intention, clarity, and joy. My home is my studio, my classroom, and my sanctuary—and every story I share is rooted in that space.
Jennifer Aboufadle