First Writer in Residence

YpsiWrites is pleased to announce its inaugural Writer in Residence, Angelica Esquivel. 

ABOUT ANGELICA

Angelica holds a master’s degree in creative writing, teaches composition at Washtenaw Community College, and is an editor at Paraselene Magazine. Her writing includes a work-in-progress poetry collection titled  Crying My Best, and a fragmented novel that explores Midwestern Latinidad, ancestral trauma, and spiritual syncretism. She was previously recognized as a Writer of Ypsilanti in 2023.

ABOUT THE WRITER IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM

As the Writer in Residence, Angelica focused her programming around the 2025-2026 YpsiWrites theme, “Writing Together,” offered collaborative workshops for writers to brainstorm, share, and write their stories, poetry, and art. In the fall, she hosted a workshop on poetry and two workshops on flash fiction. Angelica’s slides from her flash fiction workshops can be found here: Session 1 and Session 2. In the winter, Ypsilanti residents were invited to a workshop on creating zines.

YPSIWRITES ANTHOLOGY

Angelica’s residency culminated in a community anthology titled YpsiWrites Anthology and an art exhibit featuring local artists in the spring of 2026. YpsiWrites Anthology is a collection of fiction, poetry, and visual art that reflects the imaginations of Ypsilanti's vibrant creative community. Each piece is distinct and tonally diverse--ranging from funny and uplifting to harrowing and sorrowful. The result is an anthology that is equal parts celebration and archive. 

If you have any additional questions about the Writer in Residency program, please email ypsiwrites@gmail.com.