For the past five years, Writing Program Director Vi Dutcher has been leading the charge for “Write Now,” an event where faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduates can come together and write.
At this event located in Common Grounds, writers who participate in “Write Now” have the opportunity to indulge in the “coffee shop”-style atmosphere and write with a few others. This relaxed mood has allowed for a remarkable number of literary accomplishments — manuscripts have been finished and accepted for publication, articles have been completed, and conference proposals have been written.
While this weekly event is open to everyone, it is primarily professors and staff who participate. However, Dutcher describes the opportunity to write together in community as “[promoting] writing and writing culture.”
This is one of the biggest boons “Write Now” provides for EMU’s campus — its creation and extension of writing culture. It creates a safe, comfortable environment for anyone on campus to come and write anything they want. While there might not be large groups of people attending and partaking in “Write Now,” even being around “EMU faculty and staff who are in the midst of writing promotes writing culture on campus,” Dutcher said.
While this is a chance for undergraduate students to spend time writing with their professors, this is not a tutoring opportunity. “Write Now” is a space where all can enjoy writing side by side with professors and peers and focus on one’s own work.
The creation of “Write Now” was inspired by Student Kairos Place, which is a week-long retreat at a mountain lodge for EMU undergraduate writers during the month of May. Students are allowed to use this time to work on senior theses, theater shows, and any other work they need to accomplish. The peaceful atmosphere and the emphasis on putting aside time to write were what Dutcher wished to recreate on campus with “Write Now.”
Dutcher said, “My dream is that each semester there would be a ‘Write Now’ event every day of the week, and one semester we achieved that.” With continued work and a wider awareness, this dream could become a reality in the near future.
At the moment, Dutcher is the only faculty actively leading “Write Now” events, though she is usually joined by several others. “Write Now” will continue through the end of the semester and for many more years, building community and producing writing. If ever the chance comes around to participate, all those who join will make the writing culture of EMU all the richer.
