By Haley Zeller, Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor
On Tuesday, November 5, the third Senior Reading event of the semester happened in the Lore Degenstein Art Gallery at 7 p.m. Six more senior creative writing majors entertained the crowd with their fantastical writing.
The first reading was performed by Grace Jernigan. She read an excerpt from her detective fiction novel titled “E.B. Walter.” The reading was very thrilling and intricate, with a detailed and clever style as the main character, alongside others, investigated a crime scene. Jernigan’s advice for both herself and other writers is, “Keep writing and read books for your enjoyment. Don’t think about what others want it to be. Write and read for you.”
The second reading was set in a medieval dark fantasy world, enthusiastically crafted by Kenzie Miller. She says, “Do not base your worth on how your writing compares to other people. What matters is how much of yourself you put into your own work.” Miller’s reading was from the prologue and first chapter of a novel she is working on. The story began with a grisly and foreboding feel, but it was not without a mysterious atmosphere that kept the listeners entranced.
The third reading was done by Jackson Sweetwood, whose choice of work was also of the dark fantasy genre. The excerpt he chose is from a series he hopes to continue working on in the future. It was humorous—eliciting multiple laughs from the crowd—as well as grim and gruesome. The characters were especially unique in their interactions and characterization. Sweetwood’s advice was for his future self, similarly as amusing as his story. He says, “Hey asshole, it’s called a rough draft, get over yourself.”
The fourth reading was presented by Cate Helbig, whose advice for writers is equally as inspiring as her writing. She says, “Write for your own self-actualization and fulfillment. Life is short, so don’t waste it by writing to appease others. This is your individual voice, not theirs.” Helbig’s reading was an excerpt from a sci-fi novel she is working on, titled “Genesis of an Evolutionary Enterprise.” It explored the life of an ecosystem with unique creatures—some more human-like than others. The excerpt was fascinating, and complex in an intelligent and scientific way.
The fifth reading was performed by Emi Harris, who read three exceptional poems layered with emotion, wisdom, and careful reflection. Her use of symbolism and art for composition made the poetry thought-provoking and wonderful. Additionally, her calm, peaceful way of reading them added to their charm. Harris’ advice for writers is, “Consume a lot of media! Find stories, essays, poems, movies, anything that strikes you and write from that feeling. Indulge in it and leap from it. See where it takes you.”
The final reading was performed by Sarah Ledet, who some might know as the Managing Editor for The Sanctuary Magazine. Ledet read a short story titled, “In Which They Were Trying,” which had a tense, purposefully uncomfortable feel as it explored the inner conflict of a woman who was planning to have a child with her wife who cheated on her. Their writing was immersive and captivating. Ledet’s advice for other writers is, “Let yourself be messy on the page. Make bad first drafts, bad second and third drafts too. Sometimes it is just enough to be creating things.”
After the conclusion of the third reading, the creative writing will share one last senior celebration in the art gallery once more.
