By Eowyn Thompson
I think it’s safe to say Creative Writing is one of our campus’s biggest majors, and with so many talented people already involved in the program, it can feel difficult to find a place to really explore your passions in writing, especially if you can’t get into a workshop class.
According to Madeline Davis, a non-major, “In the beginning, it definitely felt as if everyone was already best friends with each other. However, I felt that everyone was really friendly and quickly made me feel welcome. You just have to put yourself out there.”
She also stresses seeking opportunities and staying informed, as information may not be as readily available to you as it is to majors. But, as you’ll soon see, many opportunities on campus are open to all who share a love of writing!
Literary Magazines
There are a huge number of literary magazines and student-run publications on campus, including but not limited to: Rivercraft, Sanctuary, Essay, Gingko Magazine, Flagship, The Squirrel and The Quill. Each publication focuses on something different, everything from travel to literary fiction. One obvious way to engage with literary magazines is to submit to them. With so many categories, I’m certain there is a magazine that your piece will fit into, so give it a shot!
Of course, not everyone has a piece they want to publish. Instead, some want to interact with other writers. There are two different routes you can take to approach this: join a reading board or become a part of the staff.
Reading boards are great because they are less of a time commitment, and they allow you to read and discuss the pieces of other writers. You get to help talented writers get their work out there! Reading boards usually run at the end of the fall semester or the beginning of the spring semester. You can normally find applications for these boards on the magazine’s Instagram.
On the other end of the spectrum, it is entirely possible and definitely achievable for non-majors to become a part of the magazine’s staff. There are several types of editors: a treasurer; a PR manager; and other positions that need to be filled. Students of any major can apply, and whether you want to edit or are interested in something related to your major, they will judge everyone based on their qualifications.
Hear it from Madeline Davis, a Marketing and Advertising and PR dual major, who is the Managing Editor of Gingko Magazine. “As an environmental magazine, Ginkgo is always looking for science majors to join our team and submit their work. But even beyond that, there are so many roles that do not require you to be in the English department. . . Having executive members across majors also helps make our publications more inclusive and allow for new ideas to be expressed!”
Something that is important to note: The Squirrel and The Quill operate differently than the literary magazines. There are still higher positions you can apply for, but all the writing is done internally. If you want to write and edit news or satire articles, be sure to check them out.
Clubs
Everyone always talks about the literary magazines, but one of the most underrated ways to become involved is joining clubs. There are a multitude of clubs that are either centered around or involve creative writing. An example is the Writer’s Institute Club. While they don’t have regular meetings, their focus is to help the literary community bring their ideas to fruition.
In the words of the club’s president, Sydnie Howard, “The Writer’s Institute Club aims to promote and support any student-driven project or independent study that relates to the arts or humanities. This isn’t limited to just Creative Writing, English, or Publishing and Editing majors.” If you have an idea but aren’t sure how to start, reach out to the Writer’s Institute Club or look out for any Open Houses they host.
The SU Slam Poetry Club is another Creative Writing related club on campus. At their meetings, which are in Fisher 223 every Tuesday from 6-7 pm, members write and perform Slam poetry. Additionally, they have a Bi-Annual Slam Poetry Competition, which any major can and have signed up to compete in.
Sydnie Howard, president of the SU Slam Poetry Club, mentioned they hold many open mic nights and collaborate with different clubs and organizations on campus, so there are lots of opportunities to get involved, even if you don’t want to become a full-time member.
On an exciting note, there is a new club currently going through the approval process called the Susquehanna Readers and Writers Collective. Allyson Kling, the president of the SRWC, had this to say.
“This club is geared towards everyone, and is accessible to students of all majors, as well as faculty members too.” This club, according to Kling, will host all sorts of events including presentations, workshops, and other related activities. This is definitely a good way to find community and feedback among other writers.
Events
The Writer’s Institute holds lots of events year-round. Some are one-time opportunities, but one recurring event we are lucky to have is our Seavy Reading Series! About every month, for free, you can go see a published, successful author read their work.
These events are commonly held on Tuesdays at 7pm, and they’re a chance for you to get inspired. On Sundays before the Series events, there is a book club in the library to foster conversations and excitement about the visit. If you’re interested in that, then you may also be interested in the Senior Readings, which instead of visiting authors, you get to hear the work of several Susquehanna students.
Aside from that, one of your best bets for finding creative writing centered events is to follow different clubs and literary magazines on social media. They are constantly holding events, and if you don’t check, you may miss something pretty cool!
Even though we have a lot of Creative Writing students, the community is very welcoming to all who enjoy the craft. Don’t be intimidated to search for experiences. If you look, SU definitely has both major and non-related major places where you can spread your creativity!
https://www.susqu.edu/academics/learn-by-doing/student-publications/ Student Publications