Sheila Rittenberg

Meet Sheila

Writer of the unexpected, teller of truth.

I hadn’t seen my dog for twenty-four hours. Twenty four hours since the accident, since he was hit by a car, since my heart forgot what it was supposed to do. He spoke to me, in this twenty-fourth hour. He did.
I love to write about an odd detail or experience, like this little story beginning. I let my mind rock from there. I often have no idea how the story will unfold, even when it is about real-life experience. I let the story speak to me. This is where I feel the creativity inching up out of a blank interior, almost like a good dream forgotten, then remembered. I like to take risks with my writing. That’s where I find the fun and creative adventure.
Sheila creates short stories, essays, and flash prose drawing on irony and humor, the unexpected, and life's courageous moments. She studied as a Fellow at Atheneum, a masters level writing program, and cofounded Stepping Stones Writing Retreats. She founded Writers Rap About Text (WRAT). Her work is published or forthcoming in journals including The Summerset Review, Chiron Review, LitBreak Magazine, and COMP: An Interdisciplinary Journal, as well as on platforms such as Fiction on the Web.
The day is done. The light is low. I’ve made words from dust, from air, from the rhythm of the birdsong. I’ve set down my glasses. I’m calm. I’m grateful for being able to create.

Published (A Selection)