Writing thrives on campus with the Creative Collective, a group that offers an encouraging space to students at any stage in their writing process. The Collective meets every Monday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in The Writing Studio, which is located on the top floor of the Schroeder Library. It is led by writing consultant Julianne “Jules” Carew.

Open to writers of all skill levels, the group encourages exploration and collaboration. “Writing clubs have been a source of friendship and fun in my life since I was in elementary school,” said Jillian Endicott, senior and student coordinator for the group. She added, “At the Creative Collective, we believe that writing does not have to be a solitary experience.” Carew said the group provides “a creative space where people can come and just check in. Also, to keep themselves accountable.” She added, “Even if you only come for one time a week, you're still creating an hour out of your week for writing.”

Writers are free to discuss their work as much as they like at the Creative Collective. “I try and do prompts that will serve lots of different people based on where they're at,” Carew said. “There's no pressure,” she added, “You can come once, never come again. You never have to read your work aloud. You can sit in the back and not talk.” Carew mentioned that she has gleaned helpful insights from simply sitting in and listening to others talk about writing.

Of course, writers are welcome to participate in the discussion. “We want to encourage and inspire each other in our writing journeys,” Endicott said. Carew said she wants to create a welcoming place for writers. “And I also just really like to make myself available to the people who come.”

Creative Collective meetings usually have a unique activity or material as inspiration. These include prompts, character sketching outlines, postcards, books, photos, stickers, art supplies and songs. “Some of my favorite creative pieces that I have written have come from a prompt or activity that I participated in at a creative writing club,” Endicott said. Past sessions have used retro photographs, collages and blackout poetry as creative fuel.

Carew started the group in 2020. “At the time,” she said, “my son was really little and I just kind of needed a reason to get out of the house. So I just tried to create the space that I wish I had had when I was in college because I always wanted a creative place to go.” She added, “If I had met me when I was your guys’ age, I would have wanted me to be generous with what I know. So I’m just kind of passing the torch.”

For those interested in the Creative Collective, email Endicott at jillian.endicott@eagles.cui.edu to receive emails about the group’s meetings. Carew encourages writers to join even if they’re unsure. She said, “I feel like a lot of students come in and they're like, 'I don't have anything to write about.’ And I'm like, ‘You're alive.’  Just by being here, you have something to write about.”

Tags: Writing, Writing Studio

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