Most people who know me well know that my one and only passion is writing. I guess you can say it’s the only thing I’m good at; the only thing I would like to make a career out of. My name is Sarah Herrera and I am a sophomore here at Texas A & M International University majoring in Communications in Journalism with a minor in Creative Writing. My ultimate goal is to one day have my own column and write whatever my heart desires.
Almost every adult I know has asked me that infamous question that most aspiring writers are asked, “What are you going to do with your degree, and how will you make it a career?” I have become all too accustomed to answering this question. The fact of the matter is that there are so many things you can do with my degree. What most people fail to realize about writing is that it is needed in your everyday life. I promise you that in any career you may choose for your futures, writing will be a requirement. While the thought of rejection scares me to death as a writer, two very wise and experienced people have assured me that rejection will not fail you completely. TAMIU is not known most for its creative writing program, however, the program has increasingly grown over the last couple of years, thanks to Dr. Jose Cardona Lopez and Dr. Suzette Bishop, two fine professors who run the Creative Writing Program here at TAMIU.
Bishop, originally from a small town by the name of Glenville, New York, has obtained three different degrees. She has a BA from Oberlin College where she majored in English and minored in Creative Writing, an MFA from the University of Virginia, and a DA (Doctorate of Arts) from the University of New York at Albany, both in Poetry Writing. She has been teaching at TAMIU for ten years now, teaching everything from freshman composition and creative writing to upper level literature courses.
“I always loved to read as a child, and I liked making up stories. My mother encouraged me to write, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do by the time I was in junior high,” said Bishop.
This outstanding poet has published a numerous amount of her work, including Cold Knife Surgery, a chapbook published in 1998, and the great She Took Off Her Wings and Shoes, which was chosen for the May Swenson Poetry Award and published in 2003. Bishop has also had the accomplishment of winning First Place for The Spoon River Poetry Review.
Lopez, Head of Creative Writing at TAMIU, is originally from Palmira, Colombia. “I grew up there, enjoying my life studying, reading, starting writing, and doing all of that among friends,” said Lopez about his childhood. He vividly remembered the sweet of the sugar cane and his love for music. Later, he and his family moved to the United States where he obtained his MA in Spanish from the University of Louisville. Lopez also has a Ph.D in Spanish from the University of Kentucky. He has been teaching at TAMIU for over twelve years in which he has taught Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, and Creative Writing courses.
Lopez is an avid short story, short novel, fiction writer. He has published a novel, Suenos para una siesta, and three collections of short stories, La puerta del espejo, Siete y tres nueve, and Todo es adrede. Among this, he has also published several short stories in newspapers and magazines from his country and abroad and has also written scripts for soap operas. At the level of his academic research, he has published Teoria y practica de la nouvelle.
“For a student, one of the main reasons to decide to minor in Creative Writing is to build or reinforce his or her vital approach to literature as a creator,” said Lopez when asked what draws people to the minor.
One of the many advantages of the Creative Writing Minor is that it allows you to use your creativity in all aspects. Unlike research, creative writing is more freelance and fun. “Whether you are exploring your creativity or interested in fully developing your writing skills, a Creative Writing Minor complements any major,” explained Bishop.
TAMIU offers many activities and programs for aspiring writers, such as Reflections and La Carta, campus literary magazines where students are allowed the chance to publish prose, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, graphic design, and photography pieces. There are also events such as poetry readings sponsored by Killam Library, and the Lamar Bruni Vergara Academic Conference where students present their research of any sort to an audience. Also, TAMIU brings distinguished writers to the campus through “The Voices in the Monte Writers Series” and through the Campus Activities Board.
I will be the first to admit that writing isn’t easy. There will be many times when you get writers block and even a harsh critic or two, but once you have finished a good piece it is the best feeling in the world. Even if you haven’t showed your love for writing to anyone or your actual writing, I cannot push you enough to take that extra step to make your writing known. Take the time to participate in campus events that will, what I like to call, “get your foot in the door.” You’d be surprised with how getting yourself involved will add color to your resume.
Writing is a quality that most people wish they had. It is the ability to gather your emotions through ingenious words to captivate an audience. Although writers are faced with critics and rejection, I still believe writing is among all, a gift. Perhaps you won’t get rich doing it, but if you truly enjoy it, do it.