Capitol News

Michigan State University has introduced a new space for creative writing students, the Writers’ Studio, located in Wells Hall. This initiative was spearheaded by Divya Victor, Associate Professor of English and Director of the MSU Creative Writing Program. Victor recognized the need for a dedicated environment where students could focus on their writing without distractions.

Victor explained the importance of such a space: “Writing is a somatic practice, which means it integrates the body, the mind, society, and the environment we live and work within.” She emphasized that arts practice is a form of labor deserving supportive spaces.

The Writers’ Studio offers amenities like comfortable seating, writing desks, computers, snacks, and an expanding library to inspire creativity. It is accessible to writers through an online form and can be used individually or by small groups.

Tim Conrad, Assistant Professor of English, finds the studio beneficial for his class discussions. “Writing is the cause of thought, not the end product,” he said. The studio aims to provide open and generative spaces for students to explore literature deeply.

The creation of this space involved coordinated efforts from faculty and students in the MSU Department of English. Justus Nieland, Chair and Professor of English who supported Victor’s proposal stated: “A thriving creative writing community is an essential part of the power of the arts and humanities to make our campus and world more meaningful.”

Isabell Ku, an English major volunteer for setting up the studio remarked on its collaborative nature: “The space exudes creativity... knowing that you can walk in and potentially meet someone new is a lovely thing.”

Eve Dowding, another student expressed her appreciation for having a communal space: “There’s a sort of comfort in knowing that the space is inhabited and kept up by a community that I’m part of.”

Interest in creative writing at MSU has been increasing with over 90 out of 400 English majors choosing this concentration last fall. The program includes author visits and various co-curricular opportunities like participation in literary journals.

Victor sees these developments as vital to fostering a supportive culture at MSU: “We need to send a clear message to our students that when they are part of people doing this work we will have their backs... Our future depends on joy... communion... well-being.”

For further details visit College of Arts and Letters website.