All Student Success Letters

Uttama Kirit Patel

Dear Gotham,

I arrived in New York City from Hong Kong in 2016 with a vision of “becoming a writer,” though I had been writing my entire life. Having never before taken a formal fiction course, I was nervous. But from the first day of Creative Writing 101 to the last day of Novel Writing II, the biggest shift I found in myself was a move away from self-doubt, and towards creative play and confidence. 

I never intended to write a novel while learning at Gotham. But the brilliant Susan Breen noticed a deeper narrative in the short story I wrote in her class, and suggested I take those characters and develop a novel around them. Ever the obedient student, that’s what I did!

Shape of an Apostrophe, my debut novel, was published by Serpent’s Tail in the UK in April 2025, 9 years after I wrote the first words. I remember clearly the assignment for Novel Writing—I was to arrive on day one with the first paragraph of our future novel written. I’m delighted to say the first paragraph of Shape of an Apostrophe remains nearly as it was on that day. 

The story, about a woman in Dubai who has never wanted children but falls unexpectedly pregnant, evolved through many drafts after that. But to you, Gotham, and to Susan, I owe much of its conception. And to my peers in class, the unfolding of the characters.

As someone who has lived in over a dozen cities across multiple continents, my sense of self, my identity, and my writing has never fully belonged. At Gotham, I found a safe space to brave my narrative without judgement. So of all that you have given me, that was the most generous. 

You shall not be forgotten. 

Love,

Uttama Kirit Patel

***

You can learn more about Uttama and her writing here.