Winthrop University is a school known to be overflowing with students who are open to sharing their creativity and talents with others. Students participate in dance and theater performances, along with displaying artwork in galleries on campus and around Rock Hill. Pre-COVID, students would express themselves outside Digs during Common Time.
On Thursday Mar. 25, the Creative Writing Program will be displaying a student-led Creative Writing Showcase. During this event, registered students will be reading their own creative writing pieces to a virtual audience.
Student work may include the genres of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, but are not limited to these genres. Julia Breitkreutz, a junior English major with a minor in creative writing and educational studies, will be hosting the showcase via Zoom.
“Last semester was the first time doing a virtual showcase and luckily there weren’t any technical issues. About forty people attended the event in the fall, so that was neat to see,” said Breitkreutz.
So far, the number of student participants is unknown, but the event usually has seven or eight student participants. However, Melanie Clark, a junior art history major, will be participating by reading a fiction short story to the virtual audience.
“This is my first time sharing my work outside of a workshop setting or to my friends, so I’m a little nervous,” Clark said. “Even if I am a bit nervous, I’m excited to hear other students share their work and to share my own.”
Faith Rush, a graduate student in the English program here at Winthrop, is another student who will be reading her work at the Creative Writing Showcase.
“I will be reading a flash fiction piece, ‘Dead Curls,’ which explores the issues that black women face with natural hair,” Rush said. “My writing focused on exploring issues of race, so I am grateful for any chance to share my work with others.“
Ian Mueller, another graduate student a part of the English program, will be reading a flash fiction piece titled Unseeing.
“I would prefer to read in front of a live audience rather than a virtual one but in the interest of the continued safety I’m fine with a virtual event,” Mueller said.
Thankfully, Winthrop University allows and encourages their students to express themselves in different and creative ways, while allowing other students to participate by watching and supporting their classmates.
“Student readings are so important because they provide a space for young writers to connect with other writers and share their work,” Breitkreutz shared. “It can be daunting
to read your work to an audience, but it’s a great achievement as a writer. The community of creative writers here at Winthrop is so strong and we want to make sure their stories are heard.”
Due to possible interferences, the Creative Writing Showcase may be pushed to Apr. 5, but for right now, the Creative Writing Program hopes to present the showcase on the original announced date of Mar. 25. The event will be held via Zoom, and students can register to watch the event by visiting the Cultural Event Calendar on the Winthrop University webpage.
Winthrop students and faculty should consider attending the event to support their classmates and their hard work.
Graphic Courtesy to Winthrop University Creative Writing Program
