Creative Writing Guild holds Poetry Night

Students present their poetry at Poetry Night. Quang Le photo

Students intrigued by the written rhyme were invited to join the Creative Writing Guild for their first Poetry Night on Thursday, Sept. 10, designed to celebrate the works of talented poets.

The guild, dedicated to aiding members improve their creative writing skills through discussion and critique, also gave the stage to some students’ own poetic works.

The evening event, held in Patterson Hall, was conceived to allow members of the guild and other interested students a forum to discuss their favorite works of poetry, as well as read aloud some of their personal creations. Pizza, soda and vibrant conversation were served to great reception, and despite a tumultuous downpour which mildly soaked a few of the participants, the event proceeded with humor and applause for all involved.

Spencer Smith, a sophomore English major from Dothan, Alabama who serves as guild president, spoke about the organization’s founding principles.

“Our goal is to attract people who, in my opinion, feel like they have no place to go with their opinions and creative ideas,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of clubs for journalism and those of a nonfiction stance, but I feel we don’t have a lot for fiction.”

This stance is reflected in the guild’s approach to presenting their works in a group setting.

“I want a kind of place where everyone can have a spot to give their opinions and share their writing without feeling too harshly critiqued,” Smith said.

Smith is joined by Vice President Andres Moreno, a sophomore biomedical sciences major from Pike Road, Alabama, who first came to the club seeking a foundation to explore his creative side.

Moreno said many individuals await the opportunity to share their creative vision, and that the Creative Writing Guild is the perfect avenue to see it realized.

“Do something that’s outside of your comfort zone, even for a little bit,” Moreno said. “You don’t have to stay, you don’t have to dedicate yourself to it. Just doing something new will always be a step in the right direction.”

Among the presenters was Cameron Belcher, a junior English major from Birmingham, Alabama, who opened the event by reading “The Lightbulb Moment,” an essay Belcher composed to commemorate his formative relationship with poetry.

Belcher cited the works of Edgar Allan Poe and German American poet Charles Bukowski as personal inspirations, appreciating their derivation from traditional forms and content.

“It’s not very academic at all; it’s pretty raw and sometimes gritty,” Belcher said. “Sometimes it makes them look bad, but what I appreciate about it the most is the authenticity.”

Daisy Ford, an undecided freshman from Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, is one of the Creative Writing Guild’s newest members, joining earlier this semester to hone her writing skills.

“If you want to write poetry, you don’t have to follow any rules,” Ford said. “That’s what I tell myself every time I write. I’ve seen a couple other people present their books that they are writing, and it’s making me feel like maybe I can do this.”

Future events like Poetry Night will be announced as they are developed. Interested students can join the Creative Writing Guild for their weekly meetings every Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Smith Hall Room 271. For more information, they can also contact Spencer Smith through ssmith241474@troy.edu.