No homework allowed

Students share creative pieces in new writing circle

Darby Staup
The Signal

UHCL Writing Center’s services have come full-circle by offering peer editing opportunities with the Creative Writer’s Circle, also known as The Circle, to add to the one-on-one tutoring services the Writing Center offers students.

New this semester, The Circle’s goal is to help writers on campus connect and support one another through the creative process.

“The Writing Center’s mission is to help all types of writers,” said Ellen Birdwell, Writing Center tutor and Circle facilitator. “We noticed a lot of creativity on campus, but no place for creative writers, so we took it as our mission.”

At meetings, Circle members are able to hone their writing skills and receive constructive feedback from other members throughout the entire writing process.

“When we turn a set of private impressions or memories or even daydreams into a text so well-shaped and polished that others can enter into our vision and respond to it, a very important human cycle has run its course,” said John Gorman, professor of literature. “The nicest thing is that it will be primed to run some more.”

In addition to fiction and nonfiction, writers can share poetry, lyrics, blog posts and graphic novels. The only limitation put on written work is that class assignments are not allowed, since the focus of The Circle is creative writing.

“I’ve always loved writing and in college you don’t get to do it immediately,” said Cresta Bayley, Writing Center tutor and member of The Circle. “This gives you a good excuse to do so.”

The Circle meets every Monday in the Writing Center Seminar Room, SSCB 2.105.02, from 5 to 7 p.m. The Circle is open to all UHCL students, staff and alumni. Meetings will not be held during the Cappuccino Bono Open Mic nights so writers will be available to listen and participate in those events.  For more information on The Circle, contact the Writing Center at 281-283-2910 or writingcenter@uhcl.edu.