Chapter Writing and Publishing Activities

Ideas

  • Publish a chapter newsletter. Many chapters keep informed about ongoing events and what members are doing by printing a simple newsletter every semester or every month.
  • Publish, or help sponsor, a literary magazine for students. A departmental or campus magazine can help gain support for your chapter and provide a needed voice for students.
  • Hold a "How to Get Published" seminar.
  • Sponsor a campus writer's workshop group. Many members are aspiring writers, and a campus workshop group can provide a good outlet for talent.
  • Publish an anthology that contains writing samples from your chapter's newest inductees.
  • Invite a magazine editor to speak about publishing and what the job market has to offer English majors.

Suggestions for Implementation

  • These projects all take a good deal of planning and cooperation. Before you assume this responsibility, make sure you have enough committed, active members to carry out the necessary work.
  • Make sure you work closely with faculty and department staff. Contests and publishing may require jury members, readers, or editors.
  • Fundraising will be important in any publishing project. Check local printers as well as campus sources for prices before beginning a project. See the handbook for materials on fundraising.
  • Look into your campus standards for publishing. It is better to face possible censorship before you have any printing done.
  • ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE! Publicize events in your school paper as well as in your local community paper.