BFA in Creative Writing at LU

Hey guys! My name is Miranda Boswell, and I am the new social media manager for the BFA program at Lakeland! I’m looking forward to keeping you updated on all things creative writing. I love to write nonfiction and poetry, and my favorite author is Matt Haig. Outside of school I love spending time on the banks of Lake Michigan, hanging out with my friends, and working at Target. I am so glad you are all here to support and learn about the BFA program. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to send a message!

Registration for the Great Lakes Writers Festival is OPEN! Free and open to the public, the festival is a wonderful chance to take workshops with award-winning authors, attend readings, and share community with other local writers. Check out the website for more information on this year’s visiting authors!

We have two fantastic writers coming to campus for this fall's Great Lakes Writers Festival. Visit greatlakeswritersfestival.org to learn more. We hope you'll join us!

Superman, Batman and Musko: Lakeland grad enjoys life as comics shop owner Hackl, a 2017 Lakeland graduate, is in the third year of owning/operating The Bugle, a comics and collectibles shop that earlier this year moved to its current location at 1223 N. 8th Street in downtown Sheboygan.

We are very excited to share Darcyn Shane Gross's (BFA '23) debut publication in Turning Leaf Journal!

"What to Do When You See a Bear While Walking" toggles between the internal and external, past and present, to explore themes of family, addiction, and the moments of awe between it all:

"Addiction and self-loathing are powerful urges that eat and tear at your stomach, and it’s easier to accept those than it is to try and fight back. However, to be thrown around mercilessly by these desires, while easier to accept, is not sustainable."

Read Darcyn's essay in its entirety by clicking the link below. Congrats, Darcyn!

“What to Do When You See a Bear While Walking,” Darcyn Gross What to Do When You See a Bear While WalkingBy Darcyn Gross Sometimes, when our father couldn’t come camping with us, my brother and I would pitch up our tent in the front yard, just a fe…

Congratulations to Assistant Professor of Writing Madeleine Wattenberg, who has been selected as a 2024 Artist-in-Residence by the University of Michigan Biological Station! In this role, Dr. Wattenberg will live at the biological station and facilitate workshops for summer researchers and students while working on her second book. Learn more about the residency and Dr. Wattenberg's plans here:

Two Artists Selected for Summer Residencies at U-M Biological Station | U-M LSA University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) The Artist in Residence Program is designed to introduce new artists to northern Michigan and give them the opportunity to interact with the robust scientific community on campus.

Congratulations to this year’s class of graduating BFA students! We’re proud of the work you’ve accomplished and grateful for the words you shared. On to the next chapter indeed!

Each year, Lakeland University celebrates academic excellence by honoring its students with various awards. This year, Marian Cramer and Tayler Otten have been recognized with the Outstanding Student in Creative Writing award, while Rachel Pagel was given the Outstanding Student in Professional Writing award.

Let's extend our heartfelt congratulations to these diligent students for their outstanding achievements!

Congratulations to Miranda Boswell, a major in English and Creative Writing, on receiving the Emerging Leaders Award at the Blue & Gold Awards! Well done, Boswell!

Senior Creative Writing student, Marian Cramer, is set to unveil her senior project: a chapbook of poems entitled Gutted.

Exploring the theme of deconstruction across physical, mental, and emotional realms, Gutted delves into the intricate layers of human experience.

Curious to find out more? Join us for Cramer's public reading on May 3rd at 6:30 p.m. to witness the poetic journey unfold.

Join us in celebrating Tayler Otten in our last Farewell Friday feature for the semester. Tayler, a double major in English and Creative Writing, shares her cherished Lakeland memory, her thoughts on Lakeland University's Creative Writing program, and details about her upcoming public reading. Congratulations, Tayler!

Join us on May 2nd at 7:00 p.m. for a public reading hosted by the Creative Writing Advanced Fiction class. Students will be sharing their original fiction short stories, and everyone is welcome to attend for free!

Time for our second Farewell Friday feature of the semester! Meet Marian Cramer, a double major in Creative Writing and English with an emphasis on professional writing and pedagogy. Check out the pictures above to read her favorite Lakeland memory and her personal thoughts on Lakeland University's Creative Writing program. Congratulations, Marian Cramer!

The Undergraduate Research Symposium was a success! David Aragon, Tayler Otten, Marian Cramer, and Leah Henckel all did a wonderful job sharing their work to the Lakeland community. Check out the pictures from yesterday of the readings and presentation. Congrats and good work!

It's that time of year again for our Friday Farewell features! Allow us to introduce Rachel Pagel, a current senior who will be graduating this spring with a major in Professional Writing. Read above to explore her reflections on her time at Lakeland University and her experience in the Writing program. Congratulations, Rachel Pagel!

Congratulations to English professor Dr. Mark Heimermann whose new book, Grotesque Progeny, is now available for preorder from University Press of Mississippi!

“In contemporary Western society, childhood appears more protected than ever to the casual onlooker. Yet, we are increasingly fascinated by narratives in which children are depicted as unsettling beings, both dangerous and endangered, sometimes chaotic or even evil. In Grotesque Progeny: The Commodification of Dangerous and Endangered Children, author Mark Heimermann argues that these representations reflect cultural anxiety regarding a shifting conception of youths from emotional assets to economic ones.”

Click the link to learn more!

Grotesque Progeny In contemporary Western society, childhood appears more protected than ever to the casual onlooker. Yet, we are increasingly fascinated by narratives in which children are depicted as unsettling beings, ...

Creative Writing student Tayler Otten will be sharing her final project at her public reading in May. Please show your support by attending as she reads from her novel, Kindling Hearts!

“If you’re not scaring yourself, you’re not writing something true.”

Lyz Lenz shared her story with students as she stressed the importance of telling one’s own personal truth and realizing the power of one’s voice.

Lenz will continue to share her stories tonight from 5:00 to 6:15 in Laun 209. The floor will also be open for open mic opportunities.

Get ready! Renowned author Lyz Lenz is coming to Lakeland University on March 26th! These events are free and open to everyone. Refer to the flyer below for more details if you're interested.

Lakeland professors, Jodie Mortag and Madeleine Wattenberg, embarked on an enriching journey to the Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference in Kansas City, Missouri, from February 7th to 11th. Engaging in a plethora of stimulating panels covering topics such as generative writing, themes of motherhood, writing about s*x and shame, and the translation of South Korean poetry, they returned brimming with inspiration and eager to share their newfound insights with their students.

They rekindled connections with old friends, including Emma Hudelson's "Sky Watch: Chasing an American Saddlebred Story" (University of Kentucky Press), Yalie Saweda Kamara's "Besaydoo" (Milkweed Editions), and Lisa Ampleman's "Mom in Space" (LSU Press). Exploring the expansive book fair and immersing themselves in the readings of talented writers, they left the event invigorated!

Check out this reading of poetry by Wisconsinites in their native languages!

Free event!
Join other Wisconsinites for a reading of poetry in their native languages. Discover a deeper appreciation for poetry by relying on the rhythm and music to move you, rather than the words themselves. No registration needed. For the Zoom link, see the event description on our website.

https://writeondoorcounty.org/inspire_events/international-mother-language-day-reading-2/

Mark your calendars (March 25th-27th) for events featuring author Lyz Lenz at Lakeland University! Stay tuned for details, but in the meantime, dive into a sneak peek of her insights through a Q&A. Learn more about her below!

March 26th is the big day, with Lyz Lenz featuring an Author Reading, Student Open Mic, and a presentation titled "Writing in the Age of Despair." Don't miss out!

Is the Wisconsin Book Festival on your list of favorite programs to attend? Do you have strong communications skills and events experience? Consider applying for our Communications & Events Associate position! This part-time job blends social media and other writing tasks with author events planning and management.

Read the full job description here, and apply by February 15: https://bit.ly/wbfcommassociate

Former editor-in-chief of The Lakeland Mirror, Clarice Case, has been named editor of the Southern newspapers owned by Multi Media Channels (MMC) – the Campbellsport News, the Dodge County Pionier and the Kewaskum Statesman!

She attended Lakeland University and graduated with a B.A. in writing. Congratulations!

MMC Names New Editor

Clarice Case has been named editor of the Southern newspapers owned by Multi Media Channels (MMC) – the Campbellsport News, the Dodge County Pionier and the Kewaskum Statesman. She succeeds former editor Mitchell B. Keller.
“I am thrilled that Clarice is stepping into this role as editor and look forward to watching the papers grow under her leadership,” said Dave Wood, MMC general manager.
Case has been a journalist with the DCP since November 2021, and has exhibited a strong commitment to community journalism covering multiple assignments featuring local sports, schools, people, government, organizations and community events.
Case is a lifelong Mayville resident and a Mayville High School graduate. She attended Lakeland University and graduated with a B.A. in writing.
Her journalism career began with Lakeland’s student newspaper, The Mirror, where she was a writer and editor-in-chief. As an intern during her final semester at Lakeland, Case began to explore telling stories from her hometown; an opportunity she continues to expand in each area the newspapers serve.
Case can be reached at [email protected].

We are thrilled for Darcyn Gross, Lakeland BFA ‘23, who has been selected as a 2024 Cheuse Fellow by the The Alan Cheuse International Writers Center. This fellowship will fund Darcyn as he travels to Japan:

“With his fellowship, Darcyn intends to follow the path of his favorite poet, Matsuo Basho, who traveled just under 1500 miles across Japan in around 150 days. While absolutely not walking 1500 miles in 150 days, Darcyn does hope to gain a deeper, firsthand understanding of Basho and his craft. In his own writing, he aspires to draw a fraction of the knowledge regarding the soul, nature, and being that Matsuo Basho was able to capture in his journey.“

We can’t wait to see what work emerges from this experience. Congrats, Darcyn!

It’s time for our one and only farewell Friday feature this semester! Meet Melissa Kassens and read her thoughts about the Creative Writing program. Also featured below is her public reading of her upcoming book, Grit and Glimmers. Be sure to check it out! Congratulations, Melissa Kassens!

Take a look at this poetry submission opportunity!

Send us your original poetry as part of our second annual Sidewalk Poetry Program! Up to three poems will be selected and stamped onto public sidewalk squares that are slated for repair throughout the city.

✏️📖 To learn more, or to submit your poem, visit www.meadpl.org/sidewalk-poetry. Paper forms are also available at Mead.

Check out the photos from the Great Lakes Writers Festival! Thank you to all who attended, our featured writers Marianne Chan and Clancy McGilligan, and those who made this event possible!

Don't miss the Great Lakes Writers Festival today and tomorrow! Check out the website www.greatlakeswritersfestival.org for details of events. Students, the reading at 11 am today in the Bradley Theatre is a CONVOCATION CREDIT!

This amazing event is coming up fast! Go to http://greatlakeswritersfestival.org/ to secure your spot now!

Here is another sneak peek of the second visiting author coming to Lakeland on November 2-3 for the Great Lakes Writers Festival! Clancy McGilligan is the author of the novella “History of an Executioner,” winner of the Miami University Novella Prize and a Shirley Jackson Award finalist. He also grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.