Rising Stars: Meet Savannah Locke

Today we’d like to introduce you to Savannah Locke. 

Savannah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My junior year of college, I went to a coffee shop and saw a barista in his mid-twenties and (judgmentally) thought, “There’s no way I will be working at a coffee shop when I’m his age.” I thought 25 years was the deadline for figuring out your career path. Anything later than that was a personal failure. 

When I was 25, I wasn’t working at a coffee shop. 

…I was working at David’s Bridal selling prom dresses and wedding gowns for 10 hours every day. 

It wasn’t a dream job. I wasn’t interested in fashion, sales, or weddings; in fact, I didn’t care about any of those things. I worked there to make money and stay busy while my husband was on tour as a music director. Every night I went home and felt shame about becoming the person I feared: a gal in her mid-twenties with no vision for her life. 

That experience propelled me to identify moments in which I felt most fulfilled, grounded, and myself. My friends and therapist helped me see that writing was a common thread of fulfillment in my life. In every job I had, from being a barista to a youth pastor to an office manager, I naturally integrated writing. 

I began to take writing more seriously and signed up for classes to improve my craft. I’ve written devotionals for Lifeway, songs, and book chapters for Faithful, and continued to build my own voice through social media as a writer. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road at all. Pursuing a career in the creative arts is difficult because nobody’s path looks the same. There might be roadmaps for fields like education or finance but the arts depend on a multiplicity of factors. 

One of the most vital moments for me was realizing that nobody has it figured out. Nobody has arrived. Nobody feels like they’ve “made it.” 

For me, breathing deep and embracing the process rather than idolizing the destination has created a more joyful experience. It allows me to create something true without worrying about the results (ironically, this is the sort of art that resonates most deeply with others because it is not designed to be palatable- it is only concerned with being a truthful reflection of the artist’s experience). 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a writer of songs and stories. I am also a singer and worship leader. I have a Substack called Untangled where I write weekly newsletters. Otherwise, my writing is on social media like Instagram and Facebook. 

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I love getting out of my own world and into the minds of others to get inspired. The Netflix series “Chef’s Table” is wildly inspiring to me- in the same way, chefs create beauty with food, writers create beauty with words. I also love listening to interviews from Smartless and Armchair Expert- particularly ones where comedians and actors are interviewed. 

Contact Info:

• Website: SAVANNAHLOCKE.COM
• Instagram: @savannah_locke
• Other: https://savannahlocke.substack.com/p/coming-soon

Image Credits
Jayda Iye