Outside the Classroom

The creative writing experience is not limited to the classroom.

Publications

Students serve as authors and editors for Lewis & Clark’s many publications. Journals that solicit student creative work include

  • The Meridian—student writing and artistic pieces on international and cross-cultural issues
  • Polyglot—showcases creative works originally written in non-English languages, published side by side with their English translations
  • Palatine Hill Review—student writing including poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction; all submissions as well as the layout of the publication are reviewed by a student board
  • Journal of Gender Thought and Expression—publishes poems and stories with a focus on gender issues as part of the annual Gender Studies Symposium
  • Pause—one-act plays by student playwrights as part of the theatre department
  • The Mossy Log—biweekly student newspaper
  • Journal for Social Justice—offers students the opportunity to voice their concerns, share their unique experiences, offer radical viewpoints, and propose solutions
  • More information about all of these publications can be found on the Student Media Board website.

Poetry and Fiction Readings

The English Department sponsors as many as a half dozen poetry or fiction readings each year by visiting writers. These occasions are supplemented by other on-campus presentations sponsored by other college groups such as General Education, Arts@LC, and the Gender Symposium. Often visiting artists will meet with writing classes or lead workshops as well as present their own work. In recent years, we have welcomed Major Jackson, Sherman Alexie, Dorothy Allison, Louis Simpson, Donald Justice, Madison Smartt Bell, David Sedaris, Carole Glickfeld, Charles Baxter, Thomas Glave, and Wayne Wilson.

Networking

Portland is a thriving literary city. Aspiring writers enjoy an abundance of bookstores, readings, internships, and networking with fellow authors.

William Stafford Archives

We are home to the collected papers of the National Book Award-winning poet and peace activist William Stafford, who taught at the college for decades. As a research destination, Watzek Library Special Collections has hosted scholars from around the world. Several of our students have worked with the Stafford collection, where they’ve taken the first steps toward earning master’s degrees in library science or peace studies.