How do people cope during these times?

I am writing this as a muted Zoom conference window sits on the right side of my monitor. There, in my peripheral vision, are the friendly faces of a group of women faculty who are committed to meeting each week to write. We usually meet in a cozy conference room in the 麻豆原创 Education Complex.

When the coronavirus pandemic sent us home, we decided to keep meeting virtually.

After we check in on each other for a few minutes and set our writing intentions, we get to work. We have written grants, edited book chapters, and revised manuscripts together. But when the coronavirus pandemic sent us home, we decided to keep meeting virtually.

It’s different, but it works. We still see each other. We check in on each other. And we write. This day, I’m writing this column as part of the women’s writing-group time.

I always wonder if anyone will show up to these meetings. We have every excuse not to show up鈥攊t’s the end of the semester. Grades are due soon. We have kids at home. It’s so easy to prioritize many things other than writing. And yet, we show up. I sometimes wonder if that isn’t half the battle with anything worth doing?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot.

Surprisingly, I have found myself returning to yoga and meditation, two practices I used to follow almost religiously, but which I let slip over the years as my life got busier and other things took priority. I know a lot about yoga and meditation. I was trained as a power yoga instructor 12 years ago. Twelve years earlier than that, I practiced vipassana meditation regularly twice a day.

So I kind of thought I was still reaping the benefits of both. Didn’t I take deep breaths when waiting in line at Disney? Didn’t I do downward dog after a long session of grading papers? Didn’t I spend time in prayer every morning? And didn’t I go to yoga classes from time to time with friends?

But the longer I stayed home, the more I found myself longing to practice yoga and meditation regularly again. So, one morning, I rolled out my dusty mat on the porch, turned on a free yoga streaming class, and began a series of sun salutations. Then I plunked myself into a quiet corner, turned on my Calm app, and meditated for 10 minutes. (Yoga prepares the body for sitting still; it is a lovely precursor to meditation and prayer.)

Within a few breaths, I was home again. Ah, there I was! Back in my body. Back in the rhythm of my breathing. Back in that delicious spaciousness where time seems to stand still, and I can let go.

There, in that space, I saw how much grief I had been carrying due to the pandemic. Grief over those lost, those dying, those struggling, and those alone.

Resting in this space, I also remembered the good, too鈥攏eighbors meeting outside for a social distancing cocktail hour, nature flourishing with fewer cars on the road, my boys going outside and becoming more independent, actors and artists sharing their art on social media and lifting us up, the folks singing in Italy.

Ahh. I realized something then. The thinking of the thing is not the same as the doing of the thing. Thinking about something is not the experience of that something. Experience costs. And takes time.

I read recently that for academics, we face a particular problem because we tend to think about so many things, that we sometimes can unknowingly fool ourselves into believing we have experienced the thing we have thought about. But reading and studying about parenting is not the same as being a mother, and reading and studying about meditation does not still the mind. I am grateful that even during this awful pandemic, there are still gifts to be found.

For me, the gifts have been reconnecting to my family, reconnecting to what I most love about my work, and this: reconnecting to that quiet place deep inside where my heart sings with joy, my mind settles, and all is well. Despite the chaos in the world, and even in my home sometimes. Underneath all the noise, there is a quiet place, reminding me not to panic. Yes, there is grief. But there is also joy. Both/And.

Underneath all of it is a place of spacious stillness, a place of peace. Peace that I can bring back to the world, back to my home, back to my work, and back to my family. May it be for you as well. Whether it鈥檚 found in prayer, meditation, stretching, walking outside, or simply lying on your back looking at the sky, may you find that quiet place inside you, and may you bring it back to a world which so desperately needs it.

Michele Gregoire Gill is program coordinator of the 麻豆原创鈥檚 education doctorate in curriculum and instruction and is a professor of educational psychology in the Department of Learning Sciences and Educational Research. She can be reached at Michele.Gill@ucf.edu.

The聽麻豆原创 Forum聽is a weekly series of opinion columns from faculty, staff and students who serve on a panel for a year. A new column is posted each Wednesday on 麻豆原创 Today and then broadcast on W麻豆原创-FM (89.9) between 7:50 and 8 a.m. Sunday. ) Opinions expressed are those of the columnists, and are not necessarily shared by the 麻豆原创.

While it seems like everyone wants to write a book, the number of people who follow through with that dream is significantly fewer. Why? Maybe it鈥檚 because of a lack of time鈥攂etween a career, hobbies, raising children, and the never-ending to-do list, 24 hours in a day never feels like enough.

Learning how to write a book, developing that idea into a full plot, and writing those 50,000 to 100,000 words that make up a book all require time. And we won鈥檛 even talk about the endless rounds of revisions, figuring out how to get the thing published once it鈥檚 finished, and on and on鈥�

After seven years of studying the craft of storytelling, and drafting and revising four books, I still haven鈥檛 reached publication.

At least, that鈥檚 been my experience. After seven years of studying the craft of storytelling, and drafting and revising four books, I still haven鈥檛 reached publication. I have so much more to learn and improve on before my work is ready.

But I don鈥檛 think time is the only factor that prevents people from chasing their writing dreams. Instead, it鈥檚 an excuse that masks the real reason they don鈥檛 even try: Fear. Fear that they won鈥檛 be good enough. Fear that their ideas are worthless. Fear that they will fail.

As poet and novelist Sylvia Plath said, 鈥淭he worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.鈥� And a lot of that doubt stems from misconceptions that we, as a society, have about creativity.

Misconception No. 1: Creativity = uniquely original ideas

I get it. You want to write something that no one else has ever written before. And you will. Not because you鈥檝e come up with an idea that has never been done before, but because no one else is going to combine story elements together in the way you will and because no one else is coming to the story with the exact same background, tastes and experiences as you.

Humans have been telling stories as long as we鈥檝e existed, so the chances that someone else has written a book about a ghost haunting a boarding school are good. That鈥檚 OK. Suzanne Collins wasn鈥檛 the first to write about teens fighting to the death. Bram Stoker probably wasn鈥檛 the first to set a terrifying tale in a gothic castle. Their stories are still full of creativity because of the way they chose to tell them.

So don鈥檛 stress if your idea bears a passing resemblance to some other book. As you write it, it will become uniquely yours.

Misconception No. 2: Creativity requires an innate talent

This type of thinking is a trap we鈥檝e all fallen into. By the end of elementary school, I鈥檇 already decided that I just wasn鈥檛 鈥済ood鈥� at drawing. But the truth is that I never took the time to learn how to draw. I didn鈥檛 take art classes, I didn鈥檛 practice. We tend to put art鈥攚hether painting, writing or playing the piano鈥攊nto a separate category from other skills, a category that we surmise requires some special piece of DNA to be successful.

Anyone can learn coding or phlebotomy with enough practice, we believe, but if you aren鈥檛 an immediate violin virtuoso, there鈥檚 no point in trying.

Ask any artist about the years they spent honing their craft and you鈥檒l learn about the hours of practicing that complicated piece of music, the 50 failed sculptures before the masterpiece, the terrible first draft that had to be rewritten and revised a dozen times before it became a best seller. We see artists as innately talented, as overnight successes, because we don鈥檛 usually get to peek behind the curtain at the failures and the persistence that led to their triumph.

So when you write that first chapter but then decide it鈥檚 complete and utter garbage, don鈥檛 give up. Keep writing and by the time you get to 鈥渢he end,鈥� you鈥檒l already be a better writer than you were before. Read a book or find a blog about how to craft a compelling story. Study your favorite novels to figure out how they pulled off that twist, what made you sympathize with the main character, why you just couldn鈥檛 put it down.

Write another book and another. Make friends with fellow writers who can help you find the flaws in your work (because bonus misconception: Writing doesn鈥檛 have to be a solitary act). Use their feedback to improve your book. Write another book, revise it and revise it again.

Is it hard? Yes. There will be days where you cry over your keyboard and wonder if you should quit. Nights where the words just won鈥檛 come. Keep practicing; don鈥檛 give in to self-doubt. Because in the end, the joy of creating鈥攐f knowing you took a kernel of an idea from your head and turned it into something鈥攊s incomparable.

Emma Gisclair is a library technical assistant at the 麻豆原创 Library鈥檚 Curriculum Materials Center. She can be reached at Emma.Gisclair@ucf.edu.

The聽麻豆原创 Forum聽is a weekly series of opinion columns from faculty, staff and students who serve on a panel for a year. A new column is posted each Wednesday on 麻豆原创 Today and then broadcast on W麻豆原创-FM (89.9) between 7:50 and 8 a.m. Sunday. () Opinions expressed are those of the columnists, and are not necessarily shared by the 麻豆原创.

It鈥檚 where I began to explore my writing voice, where I found other people who loved the same stories as me, and where I discovered the first thrill of sharing my work with the world鈥攊f the 11 people who read my angst-filled Harry Potter fan fic count as 鈥渢he world.鈥� Simply put, fan fiction made me the person I am today.

Fan fiction has been misunderstood for years, from authors who attempt to forbid fan fiction based on their work, to late-night talk-show hosts who have used fan works to embarrass their celebrity guests. It鈥檚 assumed by many to be of poor quality (sure, some of it is, but so are some published novels), comprised completely of erotic content (there are millions of G-rated fics), and written solely by teenagers (there are plenty of teens and adults in the community). Fan fiction often isn鈥檛 seen as 鈥渞eal鈥� writing and its creators are perceived as incapable of forming their own worlds and stories鈥攅ven though their ranks include best-selling authors such as Andy Weir and Naomi Novik.

The spirit of fan fiction鈥攊f not the name鈥攅xisted long before the Internet.

The spirit of fan fiction鈥攊f not the name鈥攅xisted long before the Internet. We can even find examples in classic English literature. Shakespeare based Romeo and Juliet on a poem written 30 years earlier by Arthur Brooke, which was in turn based on a story from French and Italian literature. And isn鈥檛 Paradise Lost really an extensive Bible fan fic?

If we travel even further back through human history, we reach an inherently collaborative and adaptable form of sharing stories鈥攐ral storytelling. Without a definitive, printed version, stories were embellished and changed by whoever was telling them. Fan fiction continues this storytelling tradition today, by playing with the stories we love and making them our own.

For me and many others, fan fiction was a sandbox to play in before gaining the confidence to build castles on the beach. The world and characters had already been created, allowing me to focus on learning to craft a story. I explored tropes and pacing and dialogue; I attempted to wring emotion from my readers鈥攐ften in a heavy-handed manner, but it was practice. Like an aspiring painter might experiment with other artist鈥檚 styles before finding their own, or a musician spends years studying and playing famous pieces before composing their magnum opus, I needed that time to develop my writing in a low-stakes environment.

I learned valuable lessons while writing and reading fan fiction that stick with me today as I craft my own stories. Writing fan fiction exposed me to readers鈥� opinions, both good and bad. I learned that you can鈥檛 please everyone鈥攚hat one reader loves, another will hate鈥攁nd that even if you say, 鈥淣o flames, please!鈥� (flame = an intentionally cruel comment), you can鈥檛 control anyone else鈥檚 actions. Some people just enjoy being mean.

I don鈥檛 worry when another writer has an idea similar to my own because fan fiction taught me that creativity isn鈥檛 solely based on ideas, but instead lies in each person鈥檚 unique take on a concept. A dozen people may write a fan fiction about Harry Potter鈥檚 secret twin, but none of their stories will be identical鈥攅ach will reflect the style, preferences and perspective of the writer.

But more important than the writing lessons or the practice was the community I found. For a shy 13-year-old who years ago spent most of her time nose-deep in a book, finding other people who loved the same stories as me, people who wanted to explore the possibilities of those worlds, was a revelation. I discovered the joy of sharing my passion with other people. I gained confidence in my writing and in myself鈥攚hich has enabled me to embrace opportunities like participating in the 麻豆原创 Forum columns for the next year.

I hope that everyone can find that place in the world (or the internet) that helps them to express themselves.

And if you don鈥檛 understand someone else鈥檚 chosen community and are tempted to mock it, just remember: No flames, please.

Emma Gisclair is a library technical assistant at the 麻豆原创 Library鈥檚 Curriculum Materials Center. She can be reached at Emma.Gisclair@ucf.edu.

The聽麻豆原创 Forum聽is a weekly series of opinion columns from faculty, staff and students who serve on a panel for a year. A new column is posted each Wednesday on 麻豆原创 Today and then broadcast on W麻豆原创-FM (89.9) between 7:50 and 8 a.m. Sunday. Opinions expressed are those of the columnists, and are not necessarily shared by the 麻豆原创.

My impression of these people certainly changed because a poorly written email, paper, or article shows that the writers were negligent or didn鈥檛 know any better. Taking time to review what was written can help ensure the reader understands the message.

Writing obviously is an important skill that we utilize every day, from texting our friends and family to emailing our colleagues, so why don鈥檛 people pay more attention to the details? Writing well just seems to have become a lost art.

From my observations, I have also noticed that many people don鈥檛 differentiate between writing formally and informally. Abbreviations such as LOL and OMG and emoticons should always be avoided in professional and academic settings. Misspelled words are among the worst mistakes to make 鈥� and easiest to fix, because of spell-checkers on our computers. There have been so many times when I see other students and acquaintances submit writings with rows of scribbled red lines indicating that words are misspelled.

There has been a current educational shift of resources and attention to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields and careers, but more emphasis still should be placed on improving writing in students across all disciplines. Without the necessary writing skills, people cannot effectively share their research and ideas.

I often review papers for friends in various disciplines. Unfortunately, some of them don鈥檛 articulate or thoroughly explain their research because they lack basic writing and critical-thinking skills.

Regardless of our profession, we all have to write in order to communicate. Whether you are a student, an academic scholar, a physician, or even a business associate, you must be able to write coherently and professionally. While many of us may not be profound writers and have to produce multiple drafts to improve our work, writing well will help you succeed.

Having the capability to write well means one can formulate intelligible ideas and articulate them into legible sentences. In turn, we are able to critically think about our own work and can constructively evaluate each other鈥檚 ideas.

Surprisingly, many students and even professionals who have excelled in their collegiate coursework struggle with communicating their ideas because they did not learn how to write well. Aside from the basic essay format that has been engrained into the public school curriculum, many people have had limited opportunities to exercise writing abilities outside of the required English courses. Writing wasn鈥檛 a big focus of some of my undergraduate courses because of class size and other reasons.

Writing allows for us to put our emotions and thoughts into words that we may have difficulty expressing through speech. It is a way for us to express ourselves as individuals. And writing does not always have to be formal, such as in academic papers, grant proposals, etc.; it can be fun and artistic.

Writing is a skill that should be practiced on a regular basis, so take personal responsibility to improve your technique. Practice by posting in your own blog, creating short stories, or sending meaningful notes to your loved ones.

And don鈥檛 forget to use a dictionary and re-read what you write. By editing yourself you may learn a thing or two for your next correspondence or writing assignment.

Vu Tran is an anthropology graduate student in 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Sciences and a recipient of the 麻豆原创 Order of Pegasus for academic achievement. She can be reached at vuqntran@knights.ucf.edu.

Instead, I heard 鈥淕et a job.鈥� (And: 鈥淵ou鈥檝e only got six months before you start paying off that student loan.鈥�)

I was encouraged by many, of course, to find work that I would enjoy, that would maximize my skills and my creativity. I was raised to believe money didn鈥檛 matter all that much. But I wasn鈥檛 told to 鈥渇ind your passion鈥� and, if I was, I鈥檓 not sure I could have found it鈥ven if you鈥檇 given me a glass of wine and a life coach.

It鈥檚 possible this is a Midwest sentiment. I grew up in the heartland, raised by first-generation Americans. We鈥檙e known to be relentlessly practical (and polite). And, it鈥檚 possible, I was told this and no longer remember because I didn鈥檛 take it seriously.

This may seem odd to my creative writing students and people who know me well, because I am a person who is passionate about many things, especially reading literature and trying to write it. My mother says I began reading at 3 and even if she鈥檚 exaggerating, my favorite childhood memories are summer days in the hammock with my library books. When I wasn鈥檛 reading, I was writing or, at least, watching the world as a writer does, observing and analyzing while trying to make meaning out of it all. Not much has changed in 40-some years. But still it seems odd to call it my 鈥減assion;鈥� it鈥檚 simply who I am as a person. The act of writing rarely feels like an act of passion. It just feels hard.

After graduation, I spent the next 15 years writing for various advertising and marketing companies. I wasn鈥檛 passionate about these positions, necessarily, but there were projects I became passionate about. At night, I still read and I wrote what I wanted to write, not what I was paid to do. I joined writing groups and book clubs; I went to workshops and readings. I published a few things. I even got paid a few times. I鈥檓 mathematically challenged, but if I had to guess I鈥檇 say I average about .0002 cents an hour for my creative work (and that鈥檚 probably a high estimate).

I suppose to many that doesn鈥檛 feel like success or, at least, it certainly doesn鈥檛 seem to correlate with the notion that 鈥渢he money will follow.鈥� The money, for my 鈥減assion,鈥� hasn鈥檛 even limped behind me. And while I鈥檓 happy it worked out for Walt Disney and Steve Jobs, I lose zero sleep over my own 鈥減assion鈥� income.

When I started the MFA program in creative writing in my late 30s, I looked at it as a gift I gave myself. For years, I felt as if I wasn鈥檛 improving artistically on my own. I get weary when people say 鈥渨riting can鈥檛 be taught.鈥� Of course, it can. It鈥檚 the equivalent of saying trumpet players are born that way. My professors helped me shape my work in immeasurable ways. I鈥檓 forever grateful.

While I was there, I taught as a graduate teaching assistant and found I loved teaching. After I graduated, I was fortunate enough to be hired. I tell everyone鈥攐ften鈥攈ow much I love my job. I work hard to do my job well and to keep growing as an educator. I feel like it was something I was born to do, but I鈥檓 still not sure I would call it 鈥渇ollowing my passion.鈥� I am passionate about my students. I am passionate about the work we read and the work they write. I am passionate about the service-learning work they engage in. When I stop being passionate about these things, I鈥檒l find something else to do. But even though the term 鈥減assion鈥� remains problematic for me, I suppose I reserve it for my own creative work鈥hich still hasn鈥檛 produced any real income despite a growing list of publications.

My students often ask me how to make a living as a writer of literature. I know very few people who do, so I send the students to speak with visiting authors and others in our department. I tell them about jobs they can get as students with degrees in the humanities. I鈥檓 convinced studying the arts鈥攁nd trying to create your own art鈥攎akes you a better person, one this world desperately needs. I鈥檓 hugely proud of them and their willingness to pursue this path.

But I worry about this rhetoric we seem to collectively agree on, one that assumes everyone has a 鈥減assion鈥� that鈥檚 full of power and just waiting to be unearthed and used for financial gain. Some people do; some people may not. But I believe everyone has a purpose, and everyone can find activities that fulfill them. And, sure, those activities can absolutely lead to jobs, but they don鈥檛 have to.

If you do what you love鈥攐r what you like or what you find important or useful for yourself or for the causes you believe in鈥攊t鈥檚 possible 鈥渢he money will follow.鈥� But it鈥檚 also possible, it won鈥檛.

Do it anyway.

Laurie Uttich an instructor of creative writing in the English Department.听She can be reached at聽laurie.uttich@ucf.edu.

is associate professor of English at Central Michigan University, and his work centers on teaching writing, literacy, and technology. As director of CMU鈥檚聽Chippewa River Writing Project, Dr. Hicks has direct experience with the changing nature of writing and the advent of digital literacy, and he synthesizes that information into his teacher training and student lessons.

Author, educator, and international speaker offers a presentation focused on engaging students, especially those students who are the most disengaged from the classroom or the subject.

National education consultant Cheryl Ellis of will offer a unique and informative presentation on Examining the DNA of Writing 鈥� digging into the real building blocks of literacy to help students advance their skills and their interest.

, author and distinguished literacy professor, will offer attendees a framework for engaging learners in reading and writing for the 21st century.

In addition to these presentations, several sessions centered around writing and literacy are planned, including preparing students for the new Florida Standards Assessment, principles of effective writing instruction, teacher and peer feedback on student writing, assistive technology tools for writing, and many others.

Executive director Wendy Stevens and deputy director Laurie Lee from will present a fascinating talk on how to read like a writer 鈥� and how to get your students to do so too. Renowned literacy scholar and author and educational consultant and author Roberta Berglund are preparing a talk on the Florida language arts standards, and arts educator Mary Palmer will speak to how the arts can be a pathway to successful reading and writing instruction.

2015 Florida Teacher of the Year presentation will focus on reading, writing, and literacy in specific content areas, while 2014 Florida Teacher of the Year Dorina Sackman will share with attendees the winning recipe for developing literacy and content learning for students in 6-12 grades.

Additional presenters include senior research fellow at 麻豆原创鈥檚 Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government , Florida DOE writing specialist Julia Somers-Arthur, award-winning children鈥檚 author/illustrator Ethan Long, education director , and reading educator, author, and symposium organizer Vicky Zygouris-Coe.

The 17th annual Literacy Symposium takes place April 3rd at the Education Complex and Teaching Academy buildings on the 麻豆原创 campus. To find out more about the Symposium or to register, visit the聽.

This year’s keynote author,聽Terry McMillan, is a bestselling author whose books have not only been loved by millions of fans but have also been successfully adapted into major motion pictures (Waiting to Exhale听补苍诲听How Stella Got Her Groove Back). With her latest release,聽Who Asked You?, Terry McMillan continues to highlight her ability to tell emotional and moving stories that feature relatable, real-life characters. Her talk at this year’s festival will give Ms. McMillan a chance to share her life, her work, and her inspirations with new and longtime fans alike.

With 2015 marking the 150th anniversary of the end of the U.S. Civil War, author S.C. Gwynne’s聽book聽Rebel Yell, an in-depth look at the life and career of Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson, comes at the perfect time. Going beyond the history of events during and after the Civil War, Gwynne’s book examines how a once relatively unknown general with little experience came to be the successful battle leader and historic figure we know of today.

Contemporary histories are featured as well, from聽Sheri Fink’s聽depiction of the hurricane Katrina aftermath at Memorial Hospital in聽Five Days at Memorial, to Luis Martinez-Fernandez’s complete history of聽Revolutionary Cuba; from the little-known story of women journalists and the early days of food writing in聽Kim Voss’聽The Food Section,聽to the untold fate of Florida farmworkers in Dale Slongwhite’s聽Fed Up: The High Costs of Cheap Food, to the history of how America’s game took shape in Richard Crepeau’s NFL Football: A History of America’s New National Pastime.

Moving from history to memoir, the 2015 麻豆原创 Book Festival is also excited to welcome聽Yamma Brown, daughter of the legendary “Godfather of Soul” James Brown, to the event. Her book,聽Cold Sweat: My Father James Brown and Me, offers a revealing look at a daughter searching for the love and approval of a complicated father – who also happened to be one of the most legendary musicians and performers of our time.

With science and mathematics education making headway and headlines across the country, it makes sense to bring in an expert who specializes in advancing the study of science by making it fun.听Dr. Ainissa Ramirez, author of聽Save Our Science听补苍诲听Newton’s Football: The Science Behind America’s Game, does just that through her series of science education web videos, her books, and her presentations across the country. A tireless evangelist who encourages students of all ages to聽pursue聽science, math, and engineering, Dr. Ramirez’s talks are always interesting, exciting, and engaging.

Food and fun go hand in hand, and several authors this year focus on food, nutrition, and refreshment.听, author of聽The Fallacy of the Calorie,聽will offer attendees a unique cooking demonstration that illustrates his book’s guide to healthy eating that is as enjoyable as it is easy.听Jen Karetnick, the “Mango Mama” of Miami, offers up a fresh take on the humble mango, and recipes from world-renowned chefs who prominently feature the tropical fruit in her book Mango. And since a cold beverage goes great with any meal,聽Mark DeNote, author of聽The Great Florida Craft Beer Guide, takes craft beer fans and travelers on a journey to the unique small-scale breweries throughout the sunshine state.

Murder, mystery, and intrigue are perfect fodder for page-turning stories, and several authors this year have thrilling books to share with readers.听Randy Rawls,聽Carla Norton,聽Patrick Kendrick,聽James O. Born,聽Bob Williams, and聽Steph Post聽have all crafted fascinating fiction that will have you glued to the stories. Their discussions will offer insight into how they find their inspiration for stories, and how the setting of each book is as important to the action as the characters.

Teen readers and adults alike will enjoy hearing from young adult writers聽Michelle Madow,聽Ella Martin,聽Jessica Martinez, and聽Ellen Hopkins. From friendships to faith, from escaping fear to fitting in, each of these authors’ books features gripping storylines and tackles real problems that book lovers young and old can enjoy.

Powerful poetry from聽Carol Frost,聽Ashely Inguanta, and聽J. Bradley, science fiction and dystopian tales from聽Chris Hejmanowski and聽Stephanie Erickson, short stories from聽Cecilia Rodriguez-Milanes, fascinating fiction from聽Ann Hood,聽Nathan Holic, and聽Chantel Acevedo, career advice for returning troops from聽John W. Phillips, discussions with horror film and sci-fi filmmakers from聽Chris and Kathleen Vander Kaay, imaginative tales from several children鈥檚 writers – More than 30 authors are taking part in the 2015 麻豆原创 Book Festival, truly offering something for everyone.

Mark your calendars and make plans to learn more from these great authors about their books at the 6th Annual 麻豆原创 Book Festival, April 18th at the 麻豆原创 Teaching Academy, Morgridge International Reading Center, and Education Complex.

But then, that is the purpose of this course that teaches how to use the art of persuasion and effective writing to shape outcomes.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know that I鈥檇 be capable of doing this much,鈥� Goolsby, a junior public relations/advertising major, said about her final project to benefit homeless people in Brevard County. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe I actually accomplished this.鈥�

Students in the course were required to identify a problem to which they wanted to respond and then implement a civic-engagement campaign. Goolsby鈥檚 project included raising money and supplies for groups that provide aid to the homeless, rallying other students to support the cause, and organizing a volunteer day to help feed the homeless.听

Results of about a dozen projects were showcased Thursday at The Burnett Honors College.听聽

Johanna Anda-Bellorin鈥檚 campaign calls for voters this November to approve the sale of medical marijuana because it could help her 80-year-old grandmother who has painful rheumatoid arthritis and her 11-year-old cousin who has autism and epilepsy.

鈥淎 lot of people don鈥檛 understand what it is or how it can be used,鈥� the junior said.

Sophomore Danielle Saff created a Homeless Bill of Rights that she is pushing the Florida Legislature to pass. The 10 points in the bill include guarantees such as the right to travel freely in public areas and the right not to be subject to unreasonable search.

鈥淭he purpose of this bill is to minimize discrimination against the homeless by ensuring that the homeless are not deprived of the rights and privileges that all other citizens receive,鈥� she wrote in her project.

Other campaigns raised awareness of Indian River Lagoon pollution, worked to establish聽a Seminole County counseling program for victims of school bullying, pushed to keep the arts in schools, and promoted other topics.

Elizabeth Wardle, the class professor and chair of the Writing and Rhetoric Department, said she was pleased with the campaigns by the students, who were 鈥渢o see themselves as active citizens who can use rhetoric to make change in their communities.

鈥淚鈥檓 never surprised by what students can do, but I was impressed. Once they got into it, they were really motivated.鈥�

The course will be one of the core classes of 麻豆原创鈥檚 recently approved Bachelor of Arts in Writing and Rhetoric, housed in the Department of Writing and Rhetoric. The department is part of the College of Arts & Humanities.

The new major scheduled to start this fall is the first of its kind in Florida and is an extension of 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt鈥檚 vision for students to learn to write more effectively.

When the Department of Writing and Rhetoric was separated from the Department of English in 2010, part of the new department鈥檚 mission was to improve the writing of all graduates from 麻豆原创, Wardle said.

鈥淭his is the final piece of the mission Dr. Hitt gave us. We鈥檙e trying to respond so that when students graduate they鈥檙e career-ready,鈥� she said.

Degree courses will include writing in digital environments, writing for nonprofits, marketing your writing, and other topics.

The program is designed to produce graduates proficient in analyzing, creating and editing, and to prepare them to be 鈥渕ore effective and ethical citizen-communicators,鈥� according to the degree鈥檚 outline. They鈥檒l also have opportunities to work with community and business partners in publishing, education, healthcare, marketing, public relations and other industries.

Several of the students who showcased their projects Thursday said they plan to switch their major to the new Writing and Rhetoric degree instead of just completing the requirements for a minor. All of the courses in the current minor in Writing & Rhetoric can be applied toward the new major.

For more information about the new degree, go to .听

The program was awarded the Writing Program Certificate of Excellence, which is given to up to 20 programs a year that imaginatively address the needs of those they serve while using best practices and effective assessment. Since 1949, the Conference on College Composition and Communication has been the world鈥檚 largest professional organization for researching and teaching composition.

Faculty and staff from 麻豆原创鈥檚 Department of Writing and Rhetoric, which oversees the first-year composition program, will accept the award at the conference鈥檚 annual convention in March.

鈥淥ur department is honored to be recognized in this way,” said聽Elizabeth Wardle, department chair and interim director of first-year composition. “Our first-year composition program has undergone extensive and very positive changes over the past three years, and we are pleased to see that these changes have been noticed nationally.鈥�

麻豆原创鈥檚 first-year program is exemplary because of its experienced faculty, small class sizes, nationally known pedagogy and peer-reviewed student publication, Stylus. The program also hosts the annual Knights Write Showcase聽 to highlight the exceptional works produced by first-year writers.

Launched in 2010, the Department of Writing and Rhetoric also provides writing opportunities for students beyond the first year through its writing and rhetoric undergraduate programs, which include a degree in writing and rhetoric and certificate in public and professional writing, and writing graduate programs, which include a master’s degree in rhetoric and composition and graduate certificate in professional writing.

The department also offers writing-related assistance, training and research opportunities to students and faculty from all disciplines. That assistance has been offered through the writing-across-the-curriculum program and the University Writing Center, which since October have been housed in the new Center for Writing Excellence on the first floor of Colbourn Hall.

The 麻豆原创 Center for Writing Excellence celebrated its grand opening last week in a newly renovated space on the first floor of Colbourn Hall.

The space is home to the University Writing Center and the Writing Across the Curriculum program, which are part of the Department of Writing and Rhetoric. That department also includes the First-Year Composition program as well as undergraduate and graduate-degree programs in writing.

The University Writing Center provides individual and small-group consultations for undergraduate and graduate students from all majors. Founded in 1997, the center employs 32 student-tutors and last year saw more than 8,000 consultations. Remote writing-center consultation stations also have been established in the 麻豆原创 Library and at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management campus, in addition to regional campuses in Cocoa and Daytona Beach.

The Writing Across the Curriculum program was initiated in 2010 by 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt to help faculty from all disciplines assign and respond to student writing. The work is accomplished through faculty consultations, workshops and assistance with developing writing assignments for classes of all sizes. In the past year, the Writing Across the Curriculum program has worked with 50 faculty members from 12 departments, including Chemistry, Nursing and Mathematics.

At the grand opening of the Center for Writing Excellence, Hitt announced a $30,000 endowment by the Atkins Foundation to improve the written and oral communication skills of STEM students. Atkins, one of the world鈥檚 leading engineering and design consultancies, employs more than 100 麻豆原创 graduates. The endowment will allow the center to create innovative programs related to specialized writing instruction and tutoring for students in STEM disciplines.

To learn more about the Department of Writing and Rhetoric, visit .