Inviting People into Our Literary Commune

“In summer, the song sings itself” –William Carlos Williams

No, Mr. Williams, the song does not sing itself. I’m several hundred hours into a yearbook project, and summer or not, the project is not “singing by itself.” It’s not even letting out a flat murmur. As such, I’m battling a “so what” or really just a “too busy” attitude when it comes to pulling my mind around to a literary plane this week. But that very ambivalence is precisely what we need to examine. When everything else in life is consuming and we feel that we don’t have time for reading or writing, that gives us a glimpse at how others marginalize it too.

Ever had a friend who didn’t “get” why you loved to read things other than occasional John Grisham paperback? Ever got a yawn or even a strange look when you worked up the nerve to confess your humble writing efforts?

Probably, yes. If we wanted to take a truthful look at ourselves, we would have to admit that we literary-minded sort are in a world all our own—a beautiful, lyrical, richly-textured world—but our solitary world nonetheless. A commune. While the occasional traveler drops by to stumble through As I Lay Dying for a high school literature class or a brave soul shows up to test a timidly composed poem at a book club, our commune is relatively small. It’s just not everyone who wants to spend the rarest of all gifts—free time—in our world of classic literature or in the toils of fiction-crafting.

Pilgrim, Pilgrim, Where Goest Thou?
No, writing and literary explorations are not for everyone, and it’s probably unrealistic to think we can convert all the world to suddenly drop their Wii and join us in our commune to feast upon Tolstoy, Faulkner, and Flaubert. But… if we believe that ours is a great world and that the act of reading and writing and enriches any world, shouldn’t we want to take our commune to those around us in some small way?

Opportunity Comes Knocking
I have the unique means to do precisely that. At Gateway, we have just expanded our Writing Center. With this new-found, much-needed space comes the chance to kick the school year off with renewed gusto. Though the primary function of the Writing Center is to offer one-on-one tutorials to students with special writing needs, I also envision our Writing Center working as a vehicle to promote reading and writing—inviting young students to tour our literary world.

My Ideas

Monthly Brown Bag Lunch with Guest Writer – I’d like to bring in a published writer once a month. Fortunately with WEC nearby, I should be able to swing it. It’ll be a bring-your-own-lunch. The author can address the group and then field questions from students and guests. Seeing real people in our area who’ve been published should encourage fledgling writers and open the door for writing mentorships.

Monthly Special Writing Tip – While students can come in at any time and ask their writing questions, sometimes it takes a set forum to break the ice. Monthly I’d like to present a special tip and then host an open forum so students can ask any questions they may have.

Writing Contests – Sometimes it takes a contest and a deadline to get us writers motivated. Contests may be just the nudge needed to help young writers write and share their work.

Here’s Where You Come In

1. What else?


2. If you had access to such a resource, what would you want out of it?

The Challenge
This is my way to merge our literary world with my present world. What can you do to share it with yours?