Upper-level creative writing students participate in panel presentations to discuss the role of form, suspense, process, and inspiration for ENGL 409, Advanced Creative Writing Portfolio. (Left to right: John Preville, Dan Motz, Genevieve Smith, Jenny Clark, and Michael Oakes)
“If there‘s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison
As a major or minor in creative writing, you’ll be part of an intimate program with enthusiastic faculty. We give undergraduate students opportunities to get publishing experience before graduation. Unlike larger programs where your work may be lost in large workshop classes, our faculty are excited to work one-on-one with undergraduate students. To encourage innovation and experimentation as students develop their voices, all majors complete coursework in prose, poetry, and performance writing.
A junior course lets students refine their voices and practice their craft in their preferred genre in a class where they will get feedback from students of multiple genres. Seniors take the Creative Writing Portfolio course, a capstone class in which students write a unified collection of publication-ready work in their preferred genre, working with the instructor of their choice on an independent study basis.
Student publication is encouraged in Snowdrifts, an annual publication produced by creative writing students. You can also get involved in publication production through our internships with Border Crossing, LSSU’s teaching journal.
see program catalogA minimum of 124 credits (at the 100 level or higher) must be earned for graduation with a cumulative gpa of 2.00 or higher. A gpa of 2.00 or higher is also required in your Major, as well as in your General Education Requirements.
Leah Mockridge (Creative Writing/Communication, ’21) has accepted a position as Director of Marketing at Red Dog Logistics. She is also pursuing a Master’s in English at Grand Canyon University.
Genevieve Smith (Creative Writing/Communication, ’19) has published her short story, “The Thereminist Takes Requests,” in Boston University’s Clarion Magazine. She is currently working as a Creative Marketing Assistant doing writing and design work for Jefferson Lines in Minneapolis.
Sydney Rain (Creative Writing, ’17) has published her debut novel, Well of Vengeance, with her publishing and editing company, Midnight Owl Publishing. In addition to working on the rest of the Lunen Kingdom Series, she works as a freelance editor.
Clay Winowiecki (Creative Writing ’17) has accepted a position as a Reporter for the Chronicle-Tribune in Marion, Indiana!
Jana Tahtinen (Creative Writing ’17) has been accepted to the Vermont College of Fine Arts and Lesley University MFA Programs in nonfiction!
Ana Robbins (Creative Writing ’17) has been accepted to the Creative Nonfiction program at Bay Path University!
Charlotte Mazurek (Creative Writing ’16) has accepted a position as an Audio Describer with CaptionMax.
Maxwell K. Cleary (Creative Writing ’14) had his debut original play, Remember Me, produced at Issue Box Theater in Toledo, Ohio!
The BA program in Creative Writing has been selected as a “Most Affordable Creative Writing Program” by CreativeWritingEDU.org.
Being part of the Creative Writing Program at LSSU was transformative for me as both a writer and a young professional entering the workforce. The program didn’t just teach me about writing; it also provided a deeper understanding of the “why” behind creative writing through the study of literary history. This perspective has driven my passion for storytelling, filling my work with meaning and purpose in my post-graduate career.
The workshops I participated in during the program were crucial to my development as a student. Regularly giving and receiving constructive feedback has helped me critically evaluate my own work as a writer. This skill has been equally valuable in my professional life, where feedback is essential for growth. From crafting compelling scripts in a newsroom to engaging community members through marketing efforts in the automotive industry, I now approach each project with confidence, adaptability, and patience. The Creative Writing Program taught me that great writing doesn’t always happen on the first try—it’s a process of revision and refinement. This lesson has been vital in my professional life, where patience and persistence are key to creating work that resonates and makes a difference. I will always be grateful for the program that has given me the tools to create meaningful, impactful work across all my professional endeavors.
My experience in the English department at Lake Superior State University, specifically the creative writing and literature courses, has been nothing short of impeccable. Through taking these courses, I have seen various forms of improvement in my comprehension, literacy, critically analyzing, and experimenting creatively.
I have always been passionate about these subjects; however, through three and a half years of taking classes under Julie and Chad Barbour, I realized I was capable of achieving a lot more than I originally believed. My options for career paths and higher education have grown exponentially and I could not have done it without the guidance and support from these two professors.
My studies at LSSU helped prepare me to be an effective graduate school candidate because of how small of a campus this is and how incredibly talented the professors are in my department. I was able to work multiple internships, which most undergraduates can hardly dream of working at bigger schools.
I was able to work at a deep level on my writing with professors whenever I desired to, which often translated to weekly meetings. I was able to have wonderful classmates in my department who meticulously edited me and kept my head straight to keep my writing tight. There’s so many incredible things about the English department at LSSU. I cannot thank the professors and my classmates enough!
Career Paths
Each year, the Department of English holds three writing contests for LSSU undergraduates: the LSSU Short Story Contest, and two contests for the best papers written in the previous calendar year in ENGL 110 and ENGL 111. Rules, directions for entering, and deadlines are listed below.
Here to learn more about our poetry scholarship? The Osborn Poetry Prize is endowed separately from the Annual Writing Contests. Starting in the 2017-2018 academic year, the Osborn Poetry Prize will follow a different pay structure and eligibility rules from those listed here. You can read more about the poetry scholarship here.
This contest is open annually to any student at LSSU who submits up to two stories during the submissions period (January 31-March 31). Stories can be fiction or nonfiction. Each story must have a title. All entries must be e-mailed and sent as attachments to english@lssu.edu. In the e-mail, mention your story title(s) and student number. In the file attachment, include only your student number and address on the top left-hand corner of the first page. Do not include your name. Put “LSSU Story Contest ” in the email title. There are no restrictions on subject or style. The judges reserve the right not to award any prizes. Submission of your entry is considered permission to publish it in an LSSU student journal and/or on the English website.
The winner of this contest is selected anonymously each year by a panel of judges.
2022 Winner
Mary Sonnabend, “Ducky Dee’s Magical Menagerie”
For this contest, the judges look for a research paper written in ENGL 111 at LSSU that demonstrates an ability to develop a clear and sustained argument using your own ideas as well as college-level sources. To submit, email your essay to english@lssu.edu, with the subject title “Best ENGL 111 Paper.” The deadline is March 31 of the year after the year in which the paper was written. In the text of your email, list the title, the semester the paper was written, the name of your professor, and your own name with contact information (address, email, and phone). Please do not put identifying information on the entry file itself; only a title. The judges reserve the right not to award any prizes.
The winner of this contest was selected anonymously by a panel of judges.
Best ENGL 111 Paper Contest ($100 prize)
2021 WINNER:
Gabrielle Cayouette, “Love, Lust, and Friendship: Why Relationships Should Be More Than Just Sex”
For this contest, the judges look for an essay written in an ENGL 110 class at LSSU that demonstrates a clear purpose and develops that purpose in a thoughtful style. To submit, email an essay to english@lssu.edu, with the subject title “Best ENGL 110 Paper.” The deadline is March 31 of the year after the year in which the paper was written. In the text of your email, list the title of the essay, your own name with contact information (address, email, and phone), the name of your ENGL 110 professor, and the semester the paper was written. Please do not put identifying information on the entry file itself; only a title. The judges reserve the right not to award any prizes.
The winners of this contest were selected anonymously by a panel of judges.
2021 Winners:
ENGL 110 Best Critical Paper Contest ($50 prize)
WINNER:
Sydney Hubert, “The Need for Better Sex Education”
ENGL 110 Best Personal Essay Contest ($50 prize)
WINNER:
“I-75”
LSSU Short Story Award
Mary Sonnabend for “Ducky Dee’s Magical Menagerie”
Best ENGL 111 Paper Contest
Gabrielle Cayouette for “Love, Lust, and Friendship: Why Relationships Should Be More Than Just Sex”
Best ENGL 110 Papers“I-75”
Sydney Hubert for “The Need for Better Sex Education”
Stellanova Osborn Poetry Contest Winner
Karalyn Jobe for “A Poem Lost”
LSSU Short Story Award
Jennifer Gavreau for “The Apologists”
Best ENGL 111 Paper Contest
Sophia Wessel for “From Schools to Suffering: A Story of Intergenerational Trauma in the Native American Community”
Stellanova Osborn Poetry Contest Winner
Leah Mockridge for “Thank God and Blame Women”
LSSU Short Story Award
Rachel Tallon for “Milk Stains on the Bathroom Ceiling”
Best ENGL 111 Paper Contest
Andrew Quon for “From Formosa to Taiwan”
Best ENGL 110 Papers
Insufficient Entries
LSSU Short Story Award
2019 Winners (in alphabetical order)
Elizabeth Garavaglia, “Asexual Awakening”
Amy Lehigh, “Narrative”
2019 Finalists
Kayleigh Harnden, “The Day My Father Died”
Genevieve Smith, “The Thereminist Takes Requests”
Dylan Wyatt, “The Enemy of Fear”
Best ENGL 111 Paper Contest
2018 WINNER: Fixated on a Flower by Whitney Drenth with Dr. Louann Disney
Runners Up:
The Modern Pandemic: Y. pestis in Sub-Saharan Africa by Karalyn Jobe with Dr. Louann Disney
Misrepresentation of Female Characters in Movies by Jocelynn Burtch with Prof. Kathleen Connors
Finalists:
The Impact Sexual Behavior Portrayed in the Media has on Adolescents by Eileene Naniseni with Dr. Louann Disney
Fish Stocking in Michigan: The Unseen Importance by Kaitlyn A Fisher with Dr. Louann Disney
Development of Skills through Peer-Mediated Interactions by Sidney Wilkins with Dr. Louann Disney
The Impacts of Breastfeeding in Comparison to Formula by Michaela Garner with Dr. Louann Disney
Best ENGL 110 Papers
ENGL 110 Best Critical Paper Contest
WINNER:Maternity Leave in the USA by Emilee Kennedy with Prof. Julie Barbour
Runners Up:
American Division-The Star Spangled Banner by Zander Park with Prof. Jillena Rose
Rhambo by Natalie Nowak with Prof. Tyler Dettloff
Other Finalists: Rap: Romanticism Redefined by Tristen Mysen with Prof. Kathleen Connors
Social Ramifications of New Gender Theory by Andre James with Prof. Shirley Smart
Watchdog by Isaac Anderson with Prof. Tyler Dettloff
ENGL 110 Best Personal Essay Contest
WINNER:
Chance by Natalie Nowak with Prof. Tyler Dettloff
Finalists:
When Scars Become Memories by Zander Park with Prof. Jillena Rose
How the Game of Sport Changed My Life by Steph Del Bosco with Prof. Shirley Smart
A Humble Household’s Hearth by Jeremy Turnbow with Prof. Dettloff
LSSU SHORT STORY CONTEST
WINNER: Genevieve Smith, for “A Very Brief Tale of a Most Unfortunate Fate”
RUNNER UP: Taylor Worsham, for “What January Brings”
FIRST-YEAR WRITING BEST PAPER CONTESTS
ENGL 111 Best Paper Contest: Nicole Arkens, for “Innocence Lost: A Research Paper Conducted on the Sexualization of Minors”
RUNNERS UP:
Kent Barlow, for “An Evaluation of Renewable Energy Production in the Midwestern United States”
Madelyn Collia, for “Dance and Movement Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder”
Brandon Gage, for “An Analysis of the Adventure Industries of Michigan and New Zealand”
MaKaila Marrison, for “The Double Standard and Hillary Clinton”
ENGL 110 PERSONAL ESSAY
Jessica Orazietti, for “Apprehensively in Love”
RUNNER UP: Kali Henke, for “Broken Savageness”
ENGL 110 CRITICAL ESSAY Jessica Orazietti, for “Casual Killing”
RUNNERS UP:
Jennifer Campbell, for “Is Survival Sufficient?”
Brendan Lukomsi, for “Passive Thesis Writing: Turning the Argument on its Head”
Aysha Scarton, for “Station Eleven through the Eyes of Criminal Justice”
Stellanova Osborn Poetry Award
Winner: “At Ten I was an Astronomer,” Destinee Bruce
Runner Up: “Ruination,” Makaelynn Marten
Finalist: “Stay,” Elizabeth Enos
Finalist: “Just in Case You Were Wondering,” Mary Sonnabend
Finalist: “Prisoner of My Cranium,” Alexis Woodward
LSSU Short Story Award
Winner: “The Diaper,” Jenny ‘Ana’ Robbins
Runner Up: “The Four Horsemen,” Paige Cavaness
Runner Up: “Inkless Tattoo,” Devin Hartman
Finalist: “Deadline,” Elizabeth Enos
Finalist: “Chloe,” Jana Tahtinen
Finalist: “Peck Street,” Grace Williams
Finalist: “Managua at Night,” Clay Winowiecki
Best 111 Paper
Winner: “Loving the Alien: an Analysis of David Bowie’s Spiritual Evolution,” Daniel Foix
Best 110 Paper
Winner: “On Natural Morality,” Mel Gilbertson
2016 Stellanova Osborn Poetry Award
Winner selected by Jessica Care Moore: “Dad Worries” by Adam Uhrig
Runner Up: “In the Cabin” by Charlotte Mazurek
2016 LSSU Short Story Award
Winner selected by Jessica Care Moore: “01101101 01110101 01110011 01101001 01100011” by Daisy Fentiman
Runner Up: “Love Story” by Jenny ‘Ana’ Robbins
Best ENGL 111 Paper
Winner: “Psychology of Goaltending in Ice Hockey” by Gordon Joseph Defiel
Best ENGL 110 Papers
Personal Essay Winner: “Mopping with Love” by Molly Campbell
Critical Essay Winner: “Wind Energy: Risk vs. Reward” by Molly Campbell
2015 Stellanova Osborn Poetry Award
Winner selected by Ellen Airgood: Snake by Cornelia Hobbs
2015 LSSU Short Story Award
Winner selected by Ellen Airgood: Dream Eater by Katie Murray
Best 111 Paper
Winner: Stephanie Spray, “Effects of PTSD in Military Personnel After Deployment to Iraq”
Best 110 Papers
Personal Essay Winner: Scarlett Hermann, “Going Back”
Critical Essay Winner: Olivia Guillard, “Technology in the Classroom”
Best 091 Paper
Winner: Alexis Donovan, “Why Children Should Be Involved in Sports”
2014 Stellanova Osborn Poetry Award
Winner selected by Joseph Haske: “I Long to See the Day” by Daisy Fentiman
2014 LSSU Short Story Award
Winner selected by Joseph Haske: “Five Years” by Daisy Fentiman
Best ENGL 111 Paper
Winner: Lindsey McCullough, “Japanese for English Speakers”
Best ENGL 110 Papers
Personal Essay Winner: Charles Hunter, “That’s the Ticket”
Critical Essay Winner: Jennifer Fredericks, “The Safety of Aspartame”
Best 091 Paper
Winner: Tyler Aikens, “Autism Training in the School System”
2013 Stellanova Osborn Poetry Award
Winner selected by Helen Frost: “Once Upon a Dream” by Michael Krueger
2013 LSSU Short Story Award
Winners selected by Helen Frost (Tie): “Slipping Away” and “Mother of God,” both by Stephen Keller
Best ENGL 111 Paper
Winner: Michael Gordon, “Social Sustainability and China’s One-Child Policy”
Best ENGL 110 Papers
Personal Essay: Winner: Jerusha Lane, “Of Pants and Paragliders”
Critical Essay: Winner: Victoria Steffke, “Grab Some Rubbers: It’s the Law “
Best ENGL 091 Paper
Winner: Scott Pardon, “Criminals Are Not Bad People”
2012 Stellanova Osborn Poetry Award
Winner: John Keller, for “The Phone of Martha Taylor”
2012 LSSU Short Story Contest
Winner: Michael Krueger, for “My Kingdom for a Flower”
Best ENGL 111 Paper
Winner: Johnee Whalen, for “The Problem with Guided Indecision”
Best ENGL 110 Paper
Winner: Alex Guillard, for “Thin is In”