Typically, this student-planned event includes the release of the year’s new volume of the “Currents” literary magazine, produced by the Small Press Publishing class, as well as student readings, presentations, exhibitions and giveaways of work.

Among the new events at this year’s symposium will be a student showcase in the evening and a student work walk in which writers can show off what they’ve produced.

“In the past we’ve just had a regular keynote speaker,” says senior Sarah Merlenbach. Sarah has helped to set up the symposium and will be presenting her research project concerning the need for independent bookstores.

The symposium serves as a flagship for the work of students involved in the creation of zines, fiction and nonfiction books, research projects and more. An all-encompassing ceremony, it includes talks, walks and celebrations.

“There will be a send-off for the graduating seniors in Sigma Tau Delta,” Sarah adds.

The symposium occurs just before the Honors Symposium, a separate event occurring on April 26th, at which honors students will present research and semester projects of their own.

Article by Kay Wacasey

The post Upcoming English Symposium: Drury’s English department celebrates achievements and presents new material first appeared on Drury Mirror.

“It’s going to be a collection of art, poems, short stories, maybe some creative nonfiction centered around homebodies,” said junior Regan Puckett, an editor in the class.

The call for submissions tagline explains the theme homebodies as “the rediscovery of people’s creative passions during their time spent at home during 2020. This collage of written works, art and creative expressions show how even at home, human beings have a desire to create.”

A literary magazine is a publication that focuses on literature and creative works. Many different institutions around the world produce literary magazines, or lit mags, to showcase the creative writing and art of those who submit. Lit mags could not exist without submissions, and the staff of “Currents” encourages anyone and everyone at Drury to submit something.

“Anyone [can submit]! We are especially encouraging nonwriters or art majors to submit to kind of branch out of their comfort zone,” said Puckett.

There will be posters up across campus with more information about how to submit and what they are looking for, along with social media accounts on Instagram and Twitter.

With the pandemic this year, things look a little different around Drury, and that is no different for “Currents.” The theme being homebodies encourages the creativity that might have emerged when students were working from home and quarantining during the spring semester.

Senior Evan Deckard, another member of the “Currents” staff, said he’s excited for this year’s edition.

“It’s just a great way for individuals to come together and be able to express themselves. [I’m excited] to see what everybody has going on in their own lives that they’re willing to share with other people. It’s just kind of that inwardness that we typically have in ourselves that kind of brings us all together in realizing, yeah, we have different passions, but this is something we can all come together and enjoy.”

The deadline for submissions is set at Nov. 9, and multiple submissions are encouraged. The “Currents” staff will be working through the publication and selection steps, and in the spring semester, the lit mag will be showcased at an annual event hosted by English honor society Sigma Tau Delta. In the past, selections of the works chosen were read, and then copies of that year’s editions were distributed to all involved.

The email for submissions is currents@drury.edu, and any questions can be sent there as well.

Article by Claire Ellerman

The post Drury’s literary magazine Currents: Seeking creativity inspired by being at home first appeared on Drury Mirror.

Ever considered joining the Mirror?  I joined the Mirror last semester and it has been one of the best decisions I have made.  Working on the Mirror has helped me gain valuable writing skills and grow comfortable having others read my work.

Before working on the Mirror, I was always embarrassed when other people read something I wrote. Now, I’ve grown comfortable with the idea of my writing being public and read by the student body (as well as everyone my mom shares it with back home).

It has also helped me come to terms with having other people edit and revise my work.  It used to be disheartening when others would tell me my writing could be improved. However, since joining the Mirror and working with the editors, I am able to fully understand that they just want to help me improve as a writer. This has made writing workshops and revising work for class easier.

Working on the Mirror has also helped me step outside my comfort zone by reaching out to people for interviews.  This was something that has taken time for me to feel comfortable with. I’m so grateful for being pushed into things that I wasn’t completely comfortable with at first because it has made me gain confidence within myself and helped me better my writing.

Lastly, working on the Mirror has introduced me to so many amazing people.  Without taking the leap and deciding to apply I would have never met the people that I now call friends.

So, if you’ve ever considered joining our team, I encourage you to apply!  Who knows? Maybe you’ll better your writing skills, be pushed out of your comfort zone or meet your best friends!  If interested, reach out to our Editor-in-Chief, cduban@drury.edu or our faculty sponsor, gbooker@drury.edu.

Article written by Marissa Mayfield.

The post Joining the Mirror staff helped me improve as a writer first appeared on Drury Mirror.

Meeting Karen Craigo

Craigo recently visited campus and was the guest of honor at the Drury Humanities & Ethics Center’s Poetry Jam on Feb. 18. During the event, she gave advice on how to create a writing routine.

“I used to write a new poem a day. Which was great! Apparently, that’s difficult for some people to do. But I didn’t give myself time to really figure out what the poem needed,” Craigo stated.  Now, she tries to write every day but switches things up so she doesn’t get too comfortable.

(Photo via unsplash.com)

She continued, “If I have been writing in the morning for a while, I change things up and start writing at night. That way I don’t get too focused on only being able to write in the morning.”

This poet is not just a poet, though. Craigo is also the editor for The Marshfield Mail, as well as a regular blogger. The blog is called Better View of the Moon, and she “writes…about the writer’s spirit.” Craigo has written two poetry collections, Passing Through Humansville and No More Milk, and is working on a third.

In an interview with Tethered by Letters, Craigo stated, “Beginning writers should educate themselves in any way they can. Reading books is a no-brainer, but I say get out of the house and see real, live writers. Sneak into receptions. See what your favorite poet looks like after one too many glasses of some iffy Shiraz.” And who doesn’t love to see our favorite people just a little too happy?

Craigo is just as down to earth as you might expect someone who writes poems like “Ten Items You’re Too Old to Wear” to be. Her poems are just as real as a conversation between two people. She talks about being braless and not caring. She disarms readers with her candor and transfixes with her profound ideas that are almost casually tossed into her pieces. Craigo’s depth and emotion are so constant, it is easy to forget where you are when she reads.

Something she has said in several interviews, and in person, is that “it’s a good idea for writers – and humans! – to take some risks when they’re young. That stuff sustains us later on.” While we have the chance, maybe we should take Karen Craigo up on that. We should take risks, see the world and talk to people we wouldn’t usually.

Written by Cheyenne Heavener.

The post Karen Craigo: Former Drury professor named Missouri Poet Laureate and visited campus first appeared on Drury Mirror.

Today from 5 to 7 p.m., BookMarx will be hosting their monthly Writing Workshop.  Lead by Rex Ybañez, it helps writers of any skill level find a place to start, whether that be writing in general or a new project.  Said Ybañez, “Any level of experience is welcome whether one is a beginner or an experienced writer.”

Ybañez spoke about the importance of having a creative outlet.  “Writing is catharsis. I will not call it escapism but coping, rather.”  He leads several groups in writing workshops around town, with the age range being large, between 19 and 65 years old.

The workshop will begin with a writing prompt from Ybañez.

“Sometimes that back section of the store has art from the previous artwork, which I will use for a specific writing activity to help writers build narratives between different works of art. Sometimes the writing prompt comes from me reading one of my own poems and having a list of things any of the writers may choose to make their prompt to inspire a poem or a piece of flash fiction. Sometimes we listen to a song of my choosing and have the writers look up the lyrics and have them take a line or two from the song to either make their title or first line.”  This portion of the event lasts the first hour.

After the first hour, there is time allotted to an open mic.  Those attending are invited to share their past work with the rest.  In the past, the event has not run past 6:15, so all who wish to share will be given the opportunity.

If you can’t make it today, this is a recurring event!  Every first Friday of the month Ybañez hosts this event at BookMarx.  The address is 325 E Walnut St. and the next time the workshop will be offered is Dec. 13.  The event is entirely free, so why not try your hand at something new or improve upon a longtime love?

Article written by Jacob Maher.

The post BookMarx’s monthly writing workshop offers experience to local artists first appeared on Drury Mirror.

Sarah Merlenbach, the production editor of the 2018-2019 “Currents,” is excited to see what this new edition will hold and hopes to see a wide variety of submissions.

“A good “Currents” submission is a work that captures a theme or idea beyond its simple face-value. It doesn’t have to be some big moral message, like good conquering evil, just something that, when another person reads it, connects to a part of their own life,” said Merlenbach.

Photo via pixabay.com

The theme of “Currents” is different every year in order to showcase a  vast amount of work from many different students. This keeps the publication interesting and diverse.

Who is “Currents” for?

“Our theme for “Currents” this year is Perspectives. We wanted to keep a fairly open concept so that people were free to write what they wanted, rather than feeling constrained by a topic,” stated Merlenbach. “While there have been some common ideas in people’s submissions so far, I don’t want to spoil the issue by divulging them here, or make anyone feel that they can’t submit because their work doesn’t fit one of those ideas.”

“Currents” is designed for anyone to read. There is no set audience, and this is a great chance for students to publish their own unique work.

“I think students and faculty should read “Currents” because the people submitting to us are the writers of the future. These people might be the ones who are topping the “New York Times” bestseller list in the coming years. Besides this, I think there are a lot of unique stories and writers’ voices in this issue that will make you think, but also are really entertaining,” said Merlenbach.

Release date

This year’s edition of “Currents” will be released at Drury’s annual English Symposium, which will be held at the end of April 2019.

Merlenbach continued, “Advice I would give to readers who are interested in submitting to “Currents” next year is to just go for it. If we don’t choose a piece that you submit, chances are it isn’t because it’s a bad piece, but just because we think it might better fit in a different issue. Never be discouraged by a rejection.”

For more information about the issue, email professor Jo Van Arkel at jvanarkel@drury.edu or check out the “Currents” page on Drury’s website.

Written by Kate Bequette.

The post Student literary publication encourages students to submit work   first appeared on Drury Mirror.

National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo as it’s often abbreviated, is a contest held every November. Participants sign up through the NaNoWriMo website, with the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel and finishing by the end of November. This amounts to about 1,667 words per day.

How Did NaNoWriMo start?

NaNoWriMo started back in 1999 in San Francisco with just 21 participants. As the years went on, the event grew bigger and bigger, building a website in 2000. By 2001, there were more than 5,000 writers working together.

Nowadays, the contest attracts more than 310,000 people worldwide, writing a total of more than 1.8 billion words. The contest continues to grow, each year with more writers, and each year with more words written.

Buckle down and write that book

“The best way to get your book done during NaNoWriMo is to make use of whatever time you have, even the little bits in-between,” said sophomore Sarah Merlenbach, who is the vice president of Drury’s creative writing club, Ink’d.

Photo via unsplash.com.

“Besides that, if you can find a consistent time to write each day, that also helps you finish,” continued Merlenbach. “At the end of the day, NaNoWriMo is about getting yourself into a writing routine.”

Support for NaNo, online and in person

NaNoWriMo isn’t restricted to just their website. The group has a strong presence on other online platforms, such as Instagram, Reddit and Facebook. There are even “write-ins” set up by local groups. Participants will often organize a time to meet together at a public space, like a coffee shop, to write and discuss their work.

“Sometimes chapters will even host competitions to see who can get the most words written in the time that everyone is together,” said Merlenbach. “The write-ins help so that you don’t get distracted by other things while you’re trying to write.”

Despite the stress of the contest’s challenge, it doesn’t mean that you have to go into the challenge alone. In fact, finding friends to work with is even encouraged!

“Even though everyone is doing their own project, having somebody do NaNoWriMo with you can help you to hold yourself accountable for your word count each day,” explained Merlenbach. “Besides that, your writing buddies will encourage you whenever you go into a writing slump.”

If you think you’ve got what it takes to finish the challenge, check out the NaNoWriMo website. And if you’re looking for support with your work, check out Ink’d who meets upstairs in the Olin Library at 7 p.m. on Thursdays.

Written by Ryan Smith.

The post Write a novel in 30 days with NaNoWriMo first appeared on Drury Mirror.

Their mission focuses on providing support and encouragement to students interested in publishing their work off campus.

“PubClub will help Drury by giving students helpful information about the professional field of publishing. Writing is an art, but publishing is a business. It’s helpful to understand the difference
if you’re interested in having a public audience for your writing,” Moser explained.

He sees a bright future for PubClub. Moser wants to expose students to the field of publishing beyond opportunities at Drury.

“I also see PubClub as a platform for Drury students to share their stories with communities off campus. We have plans to bring in writers, agents and editors who can help us understand the
competitive and rewarding world of writing and publishing,” he said.

For Moser, his passion for PubClub comes from personal experiences writing and publishing.

“I’ve published in a range of fields: academic articles, travel writing, books on sports, short stories and essays. It’s always fun to have your work published, and I like helping students understand the many possibilities in the publishing field,” he said.

PubClub is more than just an activity to Moser. It is a way to connect with students and give them opportunities to learn about publishing, advance their writing and expose them to new ideas.

“I look forward to every meeting because we get to talk about and share our writing with one another. Students in the PubClub are dedicated to the creative side of writing and the professional
side of publishing. It’s the best of both worlds,” he said.

Written by Kelli Volonte.

The post Publication Club makes its start on campus first appeared on Drury Mirror.

Dr. Katie Gilbert is excited to host this competition for students who are willing to reflect on their own human experiences through sharing the historical figures, books, artworks and more that have influenced their lives.

“We are, at the end of the year, trying to get students to reflect on things that they have studied that have had a lasting effect on them,” said Gilbert. “We are doing this as a way to celebrate the power of the humanities, how influential they can be, and get us thinking about the human experience as a whole. We want to recognize the importance of the study of objects, texts and documents and how they boost both our understanding of the world and our personal happiness.”

Students should submit a photograph of their humanities-related document or object along with a 300 word response about how it has affected them. Submissions should be emailed to Dr. Gilbert at kgilbert@drury.edu. The task is simple, and students will benefit from the creative freedom of this contest.

“The first thing the student should do is pick an image that is of the thing they will be writing about. The picture can be downloaded or taken by the student themselves. They will not be judged on the photography. It is just so that we have a visual of what the student is writing about,” said Gilbert. “[The response] should be about whatever is in the image that has inspired them or has left a lasting impression on them and their lives.”

Gilbert recommends that students give themselves time to revise their work before sending it in.

“The best entries will be those that have a lot of thought and detail put into them. It will involve a personal element in it—a connection,” said Gilbert.

Students should not delay. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, May 3 at 5:00 p.m. The winners will be announced Friday, May 4 at 5:00 p.m.

“I will personally be going through the entries and picking the first, second and third place winners,” said Gilbert. “I would also really like to give students the opportunity to publish their work on the Humanities and Ethics Center’s blog. They are not required to do it, but I would love to have students be open to the idea of having their pieces be viewed for others to see and get inspiration from.”

Not convinced you should submit yet? The winning submission will receive $75. Second place will receive $50, and third place will receive $30.

“This is an easy way to possibly earn money. I also think students should take part in this contest because it gives them the time to pause and really think about what has impacted them. Our lives are so hectic and busy, and I know students are always running from thing to thing. Sometimes they tend to hurl themselves through classes, and they never really get the chance to stop and think, ‘Wow, that book really got me inspired.’ This competition will give students that moment to reflect. The humanities are all about reflecting on how things have changed the world as a communal experience,” said Gilbert.

For information or questions about the competition, contact Dr. Gilbert at kgilbert@drury.edu. Also, check out the Humanities and Ethics Center’s blog at http://humanities.drury.edu.

Article written by Kate Bequette. 

The post Humanities & Ethics Center hosts writing contest for students, winners receive prize money first appeared on Drury Mirror.

Sigma Tau Delta member, Madeline Dale, explains “there will be many speakers from different areas of the humanities, English, and writing fields. These speakers will cover a variety of topics all the way from law to philosophy.”

Even if they aren’t an English or Writing major, most students will be able to find plenty of fun events in which they can take part. There will be student readings, a lunch and some guest speakers. Drury students from the Small Press Publishing class will also release the new issue of their literary magazine, Currents.

According to their website, the magazine is completely student-produced and cycles new issues around campus twice a year. Currents staff accepts submissions of writing and art from any creative Drury student, and any reader is encouraged to contribute.

Towards the end of the day, Sigma Tau Delta will also hold their annual induction ceremony at the Rose O’Neill House. Dale mentioned that in order to join Sigma Tau Delta, you have to be an English or Writing major and have a GPA of 3.5 or higher within English and Writing courses. Students get invited based on those credentials and how active they are in the English and Writing departments.

In addition to the provided food and readings from authors, Dr. Jo Van Arkel and her American Literature I class will also be revealing a special project.

Directly in front of the west entrance of Pearsons Hall, Van Arkel and her students will be writing quotes from famous literary voices on the sidewalk in chalk, ranging from years 1620 to 1865.

“Over the course of the semester our class has somewhat developed an understanding of various American texts, voices, and experiences,” said Van Arkel. “We are going to try to capture those different voices and experiences in quotes that resonate with students in today’s society. Our class is hoping to ultimately capture the American voice.”

Van Arkel adds that she values the university’s active and constant engagement in public discourse.

“This is one of the ways that we can both connect with our history and also celebrate it. The multicultural aspect of that is really important. It is not just one voice, but many voices and many perspectives that are being represented in our timeline,” explained Van Arkel.

Students can expect to read from scholars including Anne Bradstreet, John Smith, Herman Melville and Benjamin Franklin. Bradstreet can even be credited with being the first ever published author in America.

“I think it is significant and important that in some ways, the first voice to come back from across the ocean and be published is a woman,” said Van Arkel.

If you have any questions about the English Symposium, feel free to email Sigma Tau Delta’s advisor, Dr. Kevin Henderson at khenders@drury.edu or Madeline Dale at mdale002@drury.edu.

Article written by Claire Plaster

The post Drury to host annual English Symposium: One professor is using the event to get students involved in literature first appeared on Drury Mirror.