On Feb. 21, the Writing Center held a community event called Write Out Loud, where students could share their written works. The written works could be anything, ranging from fiction, essays, research papers, non-fiction, poetry, DND campaigns, song lyrics, as long as it was written, the work could be shared for anyone to hear.
“Write Out Loud is a public reading series that showcases and highlights and gives a platform for the writing and stories of Doane community members,” Director of the Writing Center Jeremy Caldwell said about the event. “This gets people out of their comfort zone a little bit. There are lots of writers on campus, and this gives them a platform to share their works in a new way.”
Caldwell highlights how beneficial it is to share writing in a public setting. It both inspires writers and listeners to apply their writing skills and find commonalities with other writers. Caldwell allows not only students but also staff and community members to read their works. He feels that this makes the process of sharing writing even more powerful.
“Even if you’re shy and intimidated by sharing your work I hope this is a space that inspires confidence. This event allows for the community. It doesn’t pass judgment or criticize the work. We simply enjoy what the author puts in front of us. We hope it builds a network of writers,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell has students in one of his English classes participate in the event in hopes that it encourages students to push themselves out of their comfort zones and use their writing skills for more than just class.
“This is the first semester I have ever incorporated this into my classes. Me and the English Department wanted to use the resources we had to encourage more students to use their writing in a community,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell is hoping to have those who present their writings published in the future and says that events like these can help you become a better writer even if you never read off your own work.