OWL provides students an opportunity to write for leisure, fun

By Emily Feldmesser
Transcript Correspondent

College students have enough academic writing to do for class, but some OWU students take time out of their busy lives and write creatively for their own enjoyment.

The OWL, Ohio Wesleyan’s annual literary magazine published in late spring, is where they can publish their poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, literary journalism and art.

The OWL is open to students of all majors and publishes a wide variety of works. “Satisfying pieces of writing and art is the only theme we have,” said senior Anni Liu, one of three co-editors of The OWL.

In the past, the English department funded magazine has also published academic essays by faculty and students, interviews, music and translations. It was read last year at Beehive Books.

According to Liu, the mission of the magazine is to provide a venue for what could be called the literary arts and they “publish current and past students’ writing and seek to promote our burgeoning authors.”

“If it can be reproduced, folded to size and made relatively flat, then submissions might include charts, maps, spreadsheets, prints, drawings, designs, tiles, graphic novels and pop-up books,” Liu said.

“We only publish writing that seems to embody fresh, witty, polished, moving and thoughtful writing.

We usually receive about a hundred submissions each year.”

Junior Ellie Feely, co-editor of The OWL, said it is important to explore other facets of writing.

“It’s important to write without any ulterior motives,” Feely said. “With classes, it’s easy to be confined to certain types of writing, but with creative writing, you’re not confined.”

Senior Chris Marshall, co-editor of The OWL, said it is important to read and write for enjoyment.

“We encourage escaping the required reading so that students can enjoy reading and writing,” Marshall said.

By breaking out of the assigned readings and writing, students are able to find their own voice, said senior Chelsea Zwayer, co-editor of The OWL.

“When reading and writing what others tell you to, it’s easy for outside sources to influence you,” Zwayer said.

“Creative writing gives you more of a personal voice.”

Jillian Maruskin, public services librarian, said that creative writing helps engage students in their classwork and get a different perspective on the writing.