Meacham workshop inspires writers
Cherie Watkins
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: Culture
The English department continued with its semestral tradition and presented the Meacham Writers' Workshop Oct. 28 through 31.
The workshop, according to the program's brochure, is a series of readings from various department professors and guest speakers at night, and students are also encouraged to submit personal writings to be discussed during sessions during the day.
Wednesday, students had to option to receive feedback about their work from writers outside UTC. This opportunity posed as an open door for some students who want to pursue writing.
Travis Stroud, a junior from Chattanooga, said he participated in the workshop to network and to gain exposure. Stroud said he also attended the workshop last year and submitted a story at the student reading which later appeared in the 2008-2009 edition of the Sequoya Review.
Stroud said when he attended the workshop last year he received feedback from Chad Prevost, director of C & R Press and a creative writing professor.
Prevost appeared again this year as a welcomed guest writer and read several works of poetry at the Oct. 30 reading. He also helped lead the Saturday morning seminars.
At Friday's reading, Prevost said, "I'm going to try something different and use visuals and poems about art, poems about fiction."
He opened up with a reading called, "7 Lightening Strikes." He said, "It's mostly monologues based on true stories with some parts made up."
Sybil Baker, assistant director of Meacham and assistant professor of English, said the workshop tends to have an impact on students who participate.
She said, "As far as the Meacham Workshop meetings, they can be exposed to different types of reading and writing styles and so that will help them expand their knowledge of literature."
Participation in the workshop, especially for students, proves to benefit them in various ways, Baker said.
She said, "A lot of students who attend regularly end up doing very well in graduate school going into creative writing programs and getting their Masters of Fine Arts [and] getting paid to go."
The workshop, according to the program's brochure, is a series of readings from various department professors and guest speakers at night, and students are also encouraged to submit personal writings to be discussed during sessions during the day.
Wednesday, students had to option to receive feedback about their work from writers outside UTC. This opportunity posed as an open door for some students who want to pursue writing.
Travis Stroud, a junior from Chattanooga, said he participated in the workshop to network and to gain exposure. Stroud said he also attended the workshop last year and submitted a story at the student reading which later appeared in the 2008-2009 edition of the Sequoya Review.
Stroud said when he attended the workshop last year he received feedback from Chad Prevost, director of C & R Press and a creative writing professor.
Prevost appeared again this year as a welcomed guest writer and read several works of poetry at the Oct. 30 reading. He also helped lead the Saturday morning seminars.
At Friday's reading, Prevost said, "I'm going to try something different and use visuals and poems about art, poems about fiction."
He opened up with a reading called, "7 Lightening Strikes." He said, "It's mostly monologues based on true stories with some parts made up."
Sybil Baker, assistant director of Meacham and assistant professor of English, said the workshop tends to have an impact on students who participate.
She said, "As far as the Meacham Workshop meetings, they can be exposed to different types of reading and writing styles and so that will help them expand their knowledge of literature."
Participation in the workshop, especially for students, proves to benefit them in various ways, Baker said.
She said, "A lot of students who attend regularly end up doing very well in graduate school going into creative writing programs and getting their Masters of Fine Arts [and] getting paid to go."
