Cainon Leeds and Mary Rowan will have their poetry published in Expressions Magazine this spring. Courtesy of Marc Dickinson
By Jessica McNeece
Staff Writer
Creative Writing Contest poetry winners Cainon Leeds and Mary Rowan will get a behind the scene look at being a published writer during the Literary Arts Festival on April 1.
They will be able to go on “tour” with other published writers by reading their work to a student body and getting feedback by professional writers.
“I get to meet with a professional poet one-on-one and get to talk more in depth about poetry,” Leeds said.
Krystal Hering is an English professor here at DMACC Boone and was the coordinator and judge of the Creative Writing Contest.
“It gives the contest winners an audience being judged. They also get feedback from published writers and it can encourage them to keep writing,” Hering said.
The contest deadline was originally in December but it was extended to get more submissions in.
“The December deadline was less than 30 submissions. The extended [deadline entries] was 45,” Hering said. “It was still lower than last year. Word just must not have gotten around. We just had fewer submissions.”
Creative Writing Contest winners get to read and meet with the writers about their work. All the winners get their work published in Expressions Magazine at the Literary Arts Festival.
“I think it is important to get recognition. To write and share it can be a confidence booster for students. It can mean a lot more than an A in class or a pat on the back by a teacher. It comes from someone who doesn’t know you or your work so it can be really encouraging,” Hering said.
Staff Writer
Creative Writing Contest poetry winners Cainon Leeds and Mary Rowan will get a behind the scene look at being a published writer during the Literary Arts Festival on April 1.
They will be able to go on “tour” with other published writers by reading their work to a student body and getting feedback by professional writers.
“I get to meet with a professional poet one-on-one and get to talk more in depth about poetry,” Leeds said.
Krystal Hering is an English professor here at DMACC Boone and was the coordinator and judge of the Creative Writing Contest.
“It gives the contest winners an audience being judged. They also get feedback from published writers and it can encourage them to keep writing,” Hering said.
The contest deadline was originally in December but it was extended to get more submissions in.
“The December deadline was less than 30 submissions. The extended [deadline entries] was 45,” Hering said. “It was still lower than last year. Word just must not have gotten around. We just had fewer submissions.”
Creative Writing Contest winners get to read and meet with the writers about their work. All the winners get their work published in Expressions Magazine at the Literary Arts Festival.
“I think it is important to get recognition. To write and share it can be a confidence booster for students. It can mean a lot more than an A in class or a pat on the back by a teacher. It comes from someone who doesn’t know you or your work so it can be really encouraging,” Hering said.
DMACC Ankeny instructor, Marc Dickinson is also one of the Creative Writing Contest judges this year.
“Just being able to submit their work is a huge progress. Honoring students that have potential in moving on with writing. Even those who don’t get accepted, it is still a goal to keep writing,” Dickinson said.Creative Writing instructor Sam Pritchard challenged Leeds this summer to better round his ability at poetry writing.
“Cainon had a tutorial in the summer and he would stop by and I would give him feedback and little assignments. Cainon is self motivated though, he is going to be successful without my help,” Prichard said.
Leeds also thinks that on top of his motivation that Prichard was a big help to his success.
“I don’t have many instructors that get me and know how I tick, Sam Prichard was one of them. He pushed me to be creative,” Leeds said.
Leeds hopes to be a business management analyst but he also would like to have a piece published someday.
“Seeing the library full of books that people will look at to read. I think, I could be up on those shelves. Who knows where I could go if I put the work into it,” Leeds said.
The professional writers that are coming to visit will also be talking to all DMACC students not just the contest winners. They will be reading their published work at all the DMACC Campuses within the three days.
“DMACC students get exposure to the world of literature that they aren’t normally accustom to seeing. If you want to be a writer it is good to know there are real people out there,” Dickinson said.
“Just being able to submit their work is a huge progress. Honoring students that have potential in moving on with writing. Even those who don’t get accepted, it is still a goal to keep writing,” Dickinson said.Creative Writing instructor Sam Pritchard challenged Leeds this summer to better round his ability at poetry writing.
“Cainon had a tutorial in the summer and he would stop by and I would give him feedback and little assignments. Cainon is self motivated though, he is going to be successful without my help,” Prichard said.
Leeds also thinks that on top of his motivation that Prichard was a big help to his success.
“I don’t have many instructors that get me and know how I tick, Sam Prichard was one of them. He pushed me to be creative,” Leeds said.
Leeds hopes to be a business management analyst but he also would like to have a piece published someday.
“Seeing the library full of books that people will look at to read. I think, I could be up on those shelves. Who knows where I could go if I put the work into it,” Leeds said.
The professional writers that are coming to visit will also be talking to all DMACC students not just the contest winners. They will be reading their published work at all the DMACC Campuses within the three days.
“DMACC students get exposure to the world of literature that they aren’t normally accustom to seeing. If you want to be a writer it is good to know there are real people out there,” Dickinson said.