Do any writers at ETSU want an outlet for their creativity? If so, the Literati Creative Writing Club might be the perfect match.
Literati is a student-run creative writing club at East Tennessee State University that provides members with an opportunity to peer review original work from a variety of genres, such as non-fiction, fiction and poetry, among one another.
“I want Literati to grow,” said new club president Bryana Marshall. “I want everyone to come together as a big workshop community where we can help each other with our writing and grow from that.”
The club was founded in 2008 by a former student named Jasen Bacon, and was previously called Written Off. Since its founding, the group has been student-run with a new president each year.
Literati’s faculty advisor Jesse Graves has been associated with the club since 2009, and is an English professor here at ETSU.
“The primary goal of Literati has always been to provide the best opportunities for young writers to share their work, and gain exposure to talented professional writers and teachers,” said Graves.
He explained that the group has been responsible for securing funds that bring authors to ETSU, including the “Emerging Writers” series, which brought in Amy Greene and Wiley Cash.
The organization has also been involved in literary celebrations like Poetry Month.
Club meetings take place on the last Friday of every month in the ETSU Culp Center Cave from 2-3:30 p.m. Members usually bring drafts or ideas of their original work to review with one another.
Marshall said the club is welcome to anyone to join, and Literati aims to create a community environment where everyone is equal.
“There’s no induction ceremony or anything like that involved in joining,” Marshall said. “Just email me.”
According to Marshall, anyone in the organization who would like to have a personal meeting with her outside of the scheduled gatherings can do so. Meeting with other members one on one is also encouraged.
With a new president and a new chapter beginning in Literati, why not check it out?
To join or gain more information, contact Bryana Marshall at marshallba1@etsu.edu.
