Meet Mandy Nadyne Clark

We recently connected with Mandy Nadyne Clark and have shared our conversation below.

Mandy Nadyne, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

The first twelve years of my life I lived in a rural town in Oregon where the population was less than 150. My older brother and I found many ways to entertain ourselves. Maybe driven to curb boredom? We lived in Shedd, with two d’s, (not in a shed) if that provides any insight.

I’ve always loved stories and at age nine I started to write short fiction pieces after school on my grandma’s electric typewriter while she assisted customers at the town’s only bank. By age eleven I had my own manual typewriter and would watch movies and transcribe the words as fast as I could (still wish I had that version of The Black Stallion). Some nights I’d steal a Jolt cola from the refrigerator and sit in front of a black and white 13 inch television I had in my room and imagine I was writing for the movies. Perhaps the answer is caffeine? Nope. I believe I keep my creativity alive through necessity with a dash of obsession, dark humor, and a love of sharing stories. As an adult, I continue to create by not only writing, but sewing, painting, occasionally doing background work in TV and movies, and in my leadership role in healthcare. No, my stories are never from work.

I think it’s important to note that I’m alive because I continue to create, rather than wondering how I keep my creativity alive. They are anchored in my mind.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m currently working on a book collaboration with my best friend Lacey. We met when we were both sixteen in our high school bathroom. We’d dated the same guy and were probably supposed to be enemies, but we had an instant connection.

Our working title is: Hope It All Comes Out Okay. A series of photos of women’s shoes under bathroom stalls where each photo is paired with a flash fiction piece written by me. Our goal is to find people who will connect to the stories and remind us all how fleeting moments (even in a bathroom) can empower others to follow their passion – no matter how quirky or serious the content. Tentative release date is Spring 2026.

I’ve been known for several creative endeavors over the years: my Etsy shop, Zillow Pillows in 2007, which then I brought to our community annual Fall Festival in Corvallis, Oregon for 2010 and 2011. I have several flash fiction, flash nonfiction, and short stories published in a myriad of journals. I’ve done background work for TV and movies since 2019. From 2022-2024 I served on the board of directors at The Art Center, our local creative hub.

In my professional life I am a healthcare leader. I work for a non-profit organization where I truly believe in the mission, vision, and values. It has been almost twenty-five years since I started as a unit secretary for the cardiac unit on evening shift, where I simultaneously went to college for my Bachelor of Science in Nutrition at Oregon State University. Halfway through the program my daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, so although I finished the degree out of stubbornness, I certainly no longer wanted to be a dietitian. Some people dive in when life comes that close to your studies, others run away. I’ve run away a lot in my life.

I then used that degree as my stepping stone for my true passion of completing my Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Pacific Lutheran University. My nutrition degree stayed in its folder and judged me from my closet. In a way, I rebelled by traveling from Oregon to Massachusetts eating only pizza and writing fiction stories in each state for the required “Outside Experience” for my MFA completion. My girlfriend Kristi (significant other? partner?) rode with me and while we were in New York we were sight-seeing by the Today Show and I was chosen for the Ambush Makeover with Kathie Lee and Hoda Kotb. It was an exciting trip. We had t-shirts made with all the pizza places we intended to go and created this tagline: 12 stories, 13 states, 14 pizza joints, 15 days. This story or book will come someday. If it could be shaped like a pizza, that would be good, right? Or cheesy?

In 2013 I changed departments in my organization and went to Patient Registration where I quickly climbed from registrar, to lead, supervisor, manager, and my current role now is regional manager (insert The Office reference here). I found myself loving leading a team of engaged staff. I’d taught aerobics when I was 27 for several years and honestly, leading a class and leading a team in healthcare was surprisingly similar.

With 2025 here now, I’m most excited about becoming a grandma for the first time. My son and daughter-in-law are expecting in less than a month. How amazing is it that I’ll be creating with my granddaughter.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Writing is the most consistent and rewarding part of my creative journey. At a young age I was convinced I could grow up and be Stephen King (I did actually think I could turn into him, but then realized that wasn’t possible). I thought telling my dad this important career move I intended to take would make him proud, but his response was simply: “Only Stephen King makes money as a writer, that’s not something you can have as a job.” Hence the first degree in nutrition.

I’m extremely stubborn when I decide to do something. I would say that is one of my driving factors to complete my projects. It may take awhile, but I will get it done.

I’ve worked with many writing teachers who gave me incredible advice and encouragement. Having other writers who see your work and reinforce the idea that you are a writer is invaluable. One of my teachers at Oregon State University once told me my story endings always seemed rushed, but my voice was so strong, to please keep writing. The encouragement from those I looked up to definitely led to getting more confident as I kept trying.

A peer in my MFA also volunteered for a fabulous literary journal out of Montana and came to visit in 2014. He asked why I hadn’t submitted much of my work that year and I remember telling him that I only had these little mini stories or flash pieces. I’d been disappointed my short story form had disappeared. I said, “It’s all just little bits of everything or nothing.” He looked right at me and said, “Mandy, then submit the little bits.” His advice helped me from getting in my own way.

One thing I am certain, having an MFA in Creative Writing does not mean it gets easier or make you a “writer”. In fact, I’d advise you not to go into debt, because the odds of student loan forgiveness can’t be that good, right (but I am one of the lucky ones)? Just read every single thing you can and join some writing groups for free.

My girlfriend is an avid reader and when she reads my work she gives real-time feedback on what’s working and what isn’t working. That feedback is key to getting more words out of me. Support of loved ones, as cliche as it sounds, drives my creativity.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Collaborative work is rewarding. If you are a flash fiction or nonfiction writer looking for someone to work with on a project or a fun idea, please do not hesitate to reach out. My work is almost always literary fiction, but I’m open to any genres or experimental writing too.

I’ve been a first reader for two literary journals and if you run a journal or are part of a team who does, I’d love the opportunity to volunteer or work together. If you love writing, we’ll go together like cheese on pizza. Just know, I’m not some writer, pizza-snob. I’m just woman who never met a pizza she didn’t feel compelled to write about.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mandynadyneclark.com
• Instagram: @mandynadyne
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/mandy-nadyne-clark-6a66451a

Image Credits

Heather Mills Photography