My name is Claire Shefchik. I grew up in Minnesota, have lived in Tucson and Brooklyn, and I’ve always been a writer. I haven’t always been a sailor, but in 2014, that changed. In 2014, I embarked on an epic two-month voyage onboard the Dutch schooner Oosterschelde, sight unseen. Do I need to mention that I was terrified? Soon thanks to the crew onboard, and after countless screwups, I began to learn the ancient art of sailing and navigation, and made friendships and relationships that I will carry with me to the ends of the earth. I wrote a book about it, which is under contract from Cleis Press/Viva Editions.

Needless to say, it changed my life. If I could find a way to do it forever, I would. I’m halfway there. Now, I travel the world full-time, writing and blogging about travel, sailing and the sea. I’m also a content marketer, copywriter, and freelance writer. I’m both lucky and hardworking, but mostly hardworking.

I have an MFA in fiction writing from Sarah Lawrence College. My work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, The Huffington Post, Time Out New York, Matador Network, XoJane, USAToday.com, Nameberry, The Budget Fashionista, Spinner, Gala Magazine, Beyond Race Magazine, Union Station, In Bantam, Compass Rose, Revolution House, MAKE, Rain Taxi, Medium’s Platypus Review, and Underwater New York. I have been a resident at the Noepe Center/Martha’s Vineyard Writers’ Residency, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Ox-Bow, and received a grant to study speculative fiction with Margaret Atwood at the 2012 Key West Literary Seminar.

If you are curious about my writing, you can view my (ever-expanding) portfolio of publications here.

If you are curious about my professional qualifications, you can view my resume here.

Want to know more, or would you like to hire me?