Those with an interest in creative writing, whether for Dungeons and Dragons or more individual works, can hone their skills by joining either the Writers and Warlocks or Write Place clubs.
Organized and run by the Kennesaw State Writing Center, both groups allow students to explore these interests, not just by doing activities but by working with others and forging connections.
Write Place is the ideal club for those who write in a broad sense: poetry, fanfiction and short stories. With all types of writing accepted, a similar diversity exists in the activities that help attendees flourish.
“What we do varies each week depending on what our members are going to benefit from most,” Club Leader Haley Hunt said. “We do a lot of open discussion…we have at least once a month peer reviews…we go all through constructive feedback. We did a genre series where…for a month or two each week we would focus on writing a different genre.”
The most crucial lesson taught in Write Place, however, focuses less on technique or discussion but instead on ensuring writers both maintain and refine their work.
“One of the key points that I like to emphasize is…our job is not to discourage people from writing something we don’t like, it’s to encourage them…to do it better,” Hunt said.
Given the tendency of creative writers to face rude criticism from readers, this type of feedback can sound like a relief to prospective writers. Luckily for them, that feedback has actually helped Write Place members make genuine strides in their work.
“Getting feedback from multiple perspectives is very useful and has helped advance the way I write,” Write Place member Trinity Marlow said.
Writers and Warlocks, as the name suggests, is a club meant to appeal to Dungeons and Dragons players. As a club overseen by the Writing Centermembers will naturally need to write and improve their ability to do so; however, existing D&D players should be happy to know they can learn a wealth of skills by joining.
“I think the real skills you gain during time spent in this club are writing…, visualization and communication skills, because you have to communicate effectively with the game runner and your team to try and work your way towards an objective, like any other sport or game,” freshman Writers and Warlocks member Rhett Ammons said. “It also helps develop your writing skills…you have to make up a story and allow for potential branches to occur within that story. So it’s a lot…more work than writing a story, you have to write a living story.”
New D&D players or those looking to get into the game similarly can find relief in the fact that writing skills are but one element taught in Writers and Warlocks. Just as Write Place focuses on helping members refine the stories they want to tell, this club seeks to allow players to have as much fun as possible.
“You don’t have to have any experience about the game; you don’t have to have any experience…writing, because I know I don’t. It’s really fun to…expand your creative ideas here,” freshman club member Collin Gay said.
Those already skilled in creative writing can also find a lot to enjoy in Writers and Warlocks. The jump from more conventional narratives to those where interactivity must be accounted for may seem daunting, but several key principles are shared between the two.
“I’ve been doing creative writing for about seven years now…and I was actually a player before I started writing, so I already knew what it was kind of like to adapt to what a good story would be: a conflict, a character, how they grow based on conflict in the end. And it’s no different…in this creative writing group; you just create obstacles for your characters,” junior Rouse Moreno said.
Those curious can find more information about both clubs, like their meeting times and contact information, on the Writing Center’s website. Those looking to join can find meet dates on the Writing Center’s calendar.
