Writers in Community
Overview | FAQ | Communities
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Writers in Community?
Writers in Community is an internship program within the Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing Program at Old Dominion University. Writers in Community works in cooperation with local organizations to reach out to children and adults who can benefit from the opportunity to express themselves artistically. By introducing people to the pleasures of reading and writing, Writers in Community promotes literacy, self-esteem, and self-expression. Each internship is designed to meet the needs of a specific community.
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How did Writers in Community get started?
Writers in Community at Old Dominion University began in 1997 with the work of Paul Sznewajs, a former ODU graduate student who initiated a volunteer artist-in-residence writing program for the patients at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters. He modeled his efforts after the New Horizons program at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and since graduating from ODU, Paul has gone on to start the Snow City Arts Foundation, a similar artists-in-residence program at Rush Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Paul's initial efforts at CHKD in Norfolk provided the contacts needed for Temple West, the first Writers in Community coordinator, to start the for-credit internship program at ODU. After much research and preparation, Temple oversaw the first semester of interns in the spring of 1999 as they began their work in various communities across Hampton Roads. Currently, the Writers in Community coordinator is a rotating position taken on by third-year graduate students. With each new round of leadership comes new ideas that allow Writers in Community to continue to grow and change.
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What is a Writers in Community internship?
Although this internship does not require students to attend class or answer exam questions, it still demands a great deal of their time and attention. Though the coordinators put them in contact with their communities, it is the interns' responsibility to design a curriculum that suits their particular group. Interns are encouraged to make the most of this opportunity to learn about themselves as writers and teachers. For more information regarding the specific requirements of the Writers in Community internship, see the course syllabus.
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Who are the Writers in Community interns?
Writers in Community interns are qualified M.F.A students in creative writing who share a knowledge of literature and a love of writing. Many of these graduate students also teach English classes at Old Dominion University and are experienced educators, mentors, and writers.
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What do Writers in Community interns do?
Interns work as writers-in-residence for their communities, adapting their skills to the needs of their participants. Interns use poetry, fiction, oral history, performance poetry, playwriting, journal writing, and other literary forms to foster creative expression in their community participants. Writers in Community interns never have to critique or evaluate anyone's writing. Their goal is not to find "great writers," though interns are often surprised by the talent they discover. Instead, interns aim only to encourage and nurture participants' creative efforts.
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How do I become a Writers in Community intern?
All MFA students in the creative writing program at ODU are eligible to participate in Writers in Community. MFA students register for the internship by contacting one of its current coordinators or its faculty advisor. The coordinators then work with the registered students to match them with communities that both interest and need them. Students receive three credits for their internship upon completion.
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