Ellee Achten

Ellee Achten (she/her) is a Portland, Oregon-based multidisciplinary creative whose work explores trauma, otherness, Self-construction, and the many truths of reality. Through intimate, highly descriptive, and intense lenses she examines how the mind, body, and energetic self respond to life, while uncovering moments of insight, transformation, and self-discovery.

 

Her writing spans memoir, personal essays, book reviews, screenplays, reportage, literary fiction, short stories, speculative fiction, and young adult novels, appealing to readers and literary audiences seeking emotionally resonant, reflective, and genre-spanning narratives. Her writing is recognized for its unflinching exploration of complex emotional and psychological landscapes, as well as its clarity, depth, and literary craft.

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Her written work has been published in acclaimed literary journals and magazines including The Normal School, PANK!, Brevity, Entropy, Proximity, and elsewhere. Ellee holds a bachelor’s degree in Magazine Journalism, a master’s degree in Creative Nonfiction from Ohio University, and an MFA in Fiction and Young Adult Fiction from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

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In addition to her writing, Ellee is a visual artist in commercial and nature photography (www.elleeachtenphoto.com), short narrative films, botanical painting, and ink drawing. Her visual work has been published in regional venues. 

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She also is a formally trained singer/songwriter, described as melancholy indie-folk with haunting melodies and emotional lyrics. Self-produced, lo-fi debut album forthcoming 2027. To check out her work as a vocal coach, go to: www.therootedvoice.com.

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Ellee’s work and teaching reflect a commitment to helping writers, readers, and literary audiences engage with the full spectrum of human experience—honoring vulnerability, embracing transformation, and celebrating the power of story.