Wordsmiths and story-telling aficionados came together at the Library Loggia downtown for the English Department’s annual Writer’s Workshop. As always, some of the finest literary talents around were hosted by Professor Kate Geiselmann and her team. This year Ohio Poet Laureate Kari Gunter-Seymour, mystery novelist Meredith Doench, spoken word sensation Leroy Bean, and author Trudy Krishner were welcomed on campus.
For several hours, the English Department’s star-studded guest-list discussed their careers, craft, and skills that members of the audience could apply in their own work. Where Doench lead workshop attendees through a writing exercise, Bean mapped out a practical guide to making poetry a regular part of a writer’s routine. No topic was off-limits as the crowd peppered each guest with questions ranging from the mechanics of mystery writing to the mental discipline of a performing poet.
“When it comes to creating, don’t just sit and let all the ideas for this poem just reside in the brain. Write them down, empty yourself, go through them, and then reflect on those ideas and build on them,” said Bean.
Bean explained that poetry came from human experience and that it was important to stay in touch with our lived experiences to create work that resonates with others. Writers should let themselves write bad poems or stories because even that will help them filter their work.
“The writing process is a sequence of mental, physical, or spiritual actions that people take to produce a text. I can’t give you a formula for what your writing process looks like, but whatever it is that can help ground you into a creative space is something worth exploring,” Bean advised.
In between the event’s keynote speakers, members of the audience were invited to share poetry or any work they liked. Students were joined by faculty members such as Caroline Reynolds on the open mic.
Ismael David Mujahid, Executive Editor
(Featured Image from Canva)