...of a Writer!

Greetings and salutations, Future Panthers!

Being a writer means different things to different people. It can be a means of expression, a form of therapy, a way to form thoughts into words, a medium to tell someone how you feel...the possibilities are endless. 

Christian, for instance, is the voice of the children of the revolution. (Note: if you don't understand this reference, stop reading this post and go watch Moulin Rouge. Now.)

Ever since I was a kid, I've loved to write. It started when I began writing short stories in fourth grade (typically about fairies, but hey, gotta start somewhere right?), then a few years down the road found myself reading fiction assignments aloud to my classmates in junior high. Later on, I was fortunate enough to take a few writing workshops that helped to develop my writing skills, which only fueled my passion for the craft. While UNI does not offer Creative Writing as a major, there are plenty of opportunities on campus for aspiring writers such as myself!

UNI offers a Creative Writing minor that includes an array of classes that students can take "a la carte", meaning they are available to students without a Creative Writing minor. Such classes include Genre Seminars, Critical Writing About Literature, Poetry and Fiction Workshops, and more.

As far as getting work published, UNI is home to Inner Weather, a student-run literary magazine which is financed by the Department of Languages and Literatures. Students can submit original work in the form of ficiton, nonfiction, poetry, and artwork. It is published yearly and showcases anywhere between 10 and 30 artists. You can learn more about Inner Weather here: http://www.uni.edu/langlit/publications

The 2003 Cover of Inner Weather, submitted by a student.

If you are more of a journalist than a novelist, there is always the UNI student newspaper, the Northern Iowan. The Northern Iowan employs journalists to write all sorts of columns, from sports to opinion to political. Students are also hired as photographers and editors for the newspaper. Check out the NI's website here: http://www.northern-iowan.org/

The Northern Iowan newspaper logo- nice usage of the Campanile, right?

Off campus, local venues such as The Lampost and Octopus host slam poetry nights, and guest authors sometimes come to perform readings!

This year, I will be submitting my work to Inner Weather and the Theatre Department's Ten-Minute Play Festival. I'm a little nervous, but also very excited! It is a big step for writers to share and submit their work, but one of the most thrilling and rewarding experiences there is. Wish me luck and look for my name in the next publication of Inner Weather!

Keep putting the pen to paper, Future Panthers!

-Emily (STAR)