For some people, publishing a book is a life goal or a bucket list item, but there are others like Kyra Walker, a sophomore at the College of Arts & Sciences, who thinks “Why wait? “

Walker worked on his new for a year and she hopes to publish it by the time she graduates in 2024. Sit tells the story of a vampire romance where complications arise and the protagonist must save his bloodsucking lover through messages she receives in her dreams.

“It’s a work in progress, so I’m still trying to figure this all out as I continue to write it,” Walker said. “But from the original book that I was writing at the start, and playing around with the characters, I thought it was quite interesting and I’ve never read a book like this.”

Over time, the book’s plot and messages have changed, whether because of Walker’s own ideas or suggestions she received. Walker is vice president of the Marquette Writing Society, which has helped her overcome obstacles in her writing career.

“It’s definitely helped me with writer’s block because I tend to stick to romance, but the writing society has helped me broaden my genres, so there’s days of writing fantasy or mystery or horror,” Walker said.

The Writing Society includes members from freshman to graduate students who meet once a week to work on their writing skills by free writing, following prompts and participating in activities. They also share and critique each other’s work to help each other improve.

“The idea is to have time in the week to write creatively because it’s really hard to find that time between classes and all the other things we have,” Molly Glowacki, a senior at the College of Health Sciences and president of the writing society, said.

Although there are students who wish to publish, the group also offers other options to their members.

“There’s the Marquette Literary Review and I know a lot of our members submit to it,” Glowacki said. “We usually try to promote that because I think a lot of people are reluctant to submit their work, and that’s one of the things we try to encourage because it’s a Marquette organization.”

The Marquette Literary Review is the university’s annual creative writing journal, with submissions from the Marquette community. From poetry to short stories, the journal seeks to showcase all forms of creative writing.

“Even people who don’t consider themselves creative — you’re still making art, even if you don’t know it,” said Jenna Koch, a sophomore at the College of Education and the journal’s editor. “You can write ppersonal essays in class, poetry notes on the app or taking photos on vacation, all of this is art that should be shared with the collective.

Walker isn’t the only member to write longer work.

“I have a novel that I’ve been working on for a long time and so this club helps me keep track of that among all the other things going on at school,” Glowacki said. Glowacki’s novel details the adventures of his band of heroes battling demons and other supernatural forces.

For some students, writing is a skill that takes practice, and getting published is the ultimate goal.

“Write a novel, publish one, and see it on the shelves at Target or Barnes & Noble,” Walker said. “It’s definitely the dream there.”

However, Walker and Glowacki wouldn’t have gotten this far without the motivation of their fans. From teachers, family and friends, the two writers have received advice that they share with other budding authors.

“No matter how hard it seems, no matter how long it takes, don’t give up because at some point you will get there. I’ve been writing for seven years, and I haven’t finished a long novel yet, and I want to get there but I know it’s going to take time, so don’t give up if you want to do it,” Walker said. .

Glowacki’s years in the organization left him with useful advice for the rest of his life.

“The biggest writing advice I have, especially for writers who are students right now, is to keep going because it’s easy to lose track and lose inspiration by focusing so much on coursework and the stress. I think writing is a great way to feel less stressed and take a mental break from everything,” Glowacki said.

With this guidance and support, writers work towards achieving their publishing dreams. Be on the lookout for Marquette students at the local Barnes & Noble over the next few years. To learn more about the Marquette Writing Society, you can follow them on Instagram at @mu_writingsociety.

This story was written by Izzy Fonfara Drewel. She can be contacted at [email protected]