LERON WELLINGTON
Staff Writer
What aspiring writer doesn’t want a safe space to share their literary work? One of the many clubs on campus that allows for that is Writers’ Ring, a club where writers come together to share and improve their writing.
Students can bring in a variety of work including spoken word, short stories, lengthier works and anything else they’d like to have workshopped.
Students not only get a chance to put their works out there but to read other works as well. They are able to have input in their peer’s writing and continue the constant cycle of working on their crafts.
James Lillin, a senior acting, English and women and gender studies major, serves as the club’s president. (Editor’s Note: James Lillin is a Staff Writer for The Leader.)
“We started out as just a place for writers to workshop their poems, stories, songs, plays, screenplays or whatever they might be working on, meeting one day a week,” said Lillin. “Since then we’ve grown to have weekly workshop meetings, additional long-works meetings for novel/play/musical type work, round-table talks with local poets and professionals and semesterly Poetry Slams.”
Devin Johnson, a freshman computer science and audio/radio major, has spent most of his first year working on his poetry and spoken word.
“At its core Writers’ Ring is a club that works to improve the literary works of students on campus through weekly workshops and critique,” Johnson said. “All GB and e-board members have a part in the critique process, each providing a unique perspective on what a piece may or may not need.”
The club has many upcoming events that can be enjoyed by all students and faculty. On March 1, with the help of Sigma Tau Delta, they will be holding an Open Mic at 21 East Bookstore in Dunkirk. There, you can enjoy students’ works that will be shared in the quaint literary alcove. The local bookshop also sells used books for unbelievably cheap prices.
Joined by other clubs like Poetic Perspective, Writers’ Ring will compete in a poetry slam, hosted by Pure Ink Poetry at University of Buffalo on March 4. There, the talented handful of poets will compete against other universities. Invitations are extended to the public.