The Writers’ Guild-Fostering a Writing Community
Dr. Karen Dieleman, chair of the English department, explained that the idea for a Writers’ Guild was sparked two summers ago when the English and Communication Arts departments met to discuss introducing an interdisciplinary minor.
The writing minor that was developed included many current classes, but the professors also envisioned a collaborative writing community.
“The Guild is important because it helps writers grow into their identity as writers while also working within community,” Dieleman said. “Through mutual support and critique, members help each other generate ideas, gain confidence, and overcome hurdles in their writing.”
Other benefits of the Writers’ Guild include allowing a space for writers to celebrate their own and each other’s work, to make strides toward being published, and to learn from different professors and staff.
The Writers’ Guild meets weekly, and students divide their time between writing and peer revising. Students also hear a variety of speakers share advice on a multitude of writing and publishing topics.
The class sets goals that students must reach such as presenting their work, getting published, and fostering a community of writing.
The Guild most recently worked on the goal of fostering a community by hosting a writers’ workshop on November 10, where all students on campus were invited to come and experience the ways in which writing can be enjoyable.
Writing skills are not only important for effective communication, but the creative thinking that goes into writing has strong transfer to such fields as business and science.
–Professor Karen Dieleman
“Writing skills are not only important for effective communication, but the creative thinking that goes into writing has strong transfer to such fields as business and science, where imaginative thinking is critical for solving problems or making new discoveries,” Dieleman said.
Dieleman encourages students to participate in the Guild even if they are not enrolled in the writing minor.