When I started at Madison College last year, I was desperately looking for a club to join. I wanted a social outlet, nothing too serious, but still rewarding. I went to an open mic on campus and found that it was hosted by a creative writing club, the Yahara Journal. The first meeting I went to was laid back and friendly. They started with planning upcoming events such as the banned book week or poems on demand. Then we played Scrabble.
The Yahara Journal publishes a book of creative writing and artwork collected from the student body each semester and hosts fun, interactive events throughout the year. I urge anyone interested in creative writing to join. If you feel like your writing muscles are rusty, we are a non-judgmental group to practice sharing your writing with our weekly poem prompt. A group of writers is a great place to get the best book suggestions. It is also a free group of friends.
One of my best memories from my freshman year of college was writing poems on demand. The sound of the typewriter clacking filled the auditorium. Anyone curious enough to approach the table gave us three random words and we would write a poem incorporating those words in under a minute on ancient technology. Every time it would produce smiles, and sometimes we were told “this made my day.”
This year I am the editor in chief of the group and committed to maintaining this creative, welcoming space on campus.
It is important to have a well-established creative presence as a part of every college. The arts inspire, connect and recharge people in all walks of life.
If you would like to join, email us at [email protected] or find us on WolfPack Connect. Calling all writers, we ride at dawn.