Students at Quincy University now have a new place to hone their writing skills and foster creativity through the recently launched Creative Writing Club. Led by Librarian Lindsey Witt, the club welcomes students of all levels to share ideas, receive feedback, and improve their writing craft in a supportive environment.

The Creative Writing Club meets in the Gray Gallery of Brenner Library, where creative minds gather to explore different aspects of writing.

“I wanted there to be a kind of a welcomed pace like with that same energy for writers and you know even for students who may feel uncomfortable with their writing skills,” Witt said. “It’s a lot easier I think to work on those skills when you’re working on something fun.”

At each meeting, Witt introduces a prompt designed to spark imagination and engage students in unique writing challenges. At the club’s recent meeting, students tackled the challenge of creating villains, delving into techniques like setting and perspective to bring their characters to life. During this meeting, the club uses coffee mugs with ideas and pictures to help boost inspiration and give a visual idea if needed.

This week’s prompt, “Crafting the Perfect Villain,” encouraged members to think critically about how to shape a compelling antagonist and give them a creative backstory and motivation. Witt envisions the club becoming a central part of the QU creative community, where students can build lasting connections and gain confidence in their writing.

Though still small, the club has a dedicated group of attendees.

“We usually have the same group of people each time,” Witt said. “It’s a very small group, but I don’t mind the size as long as people are coming and enjoying themselves.”

Witt hopes the club will grow, creating a thriving community of writers at QU. For now, the intimate setting allows for focused feedback and meaningful interaction, benefiting each member’s creative journey. Witt hopes that word of mouth and student interest will lead to growth, as a larger group would bring diverse voices and perspectives to the club.

The Creative Writing Club meets every other Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. and sometimes 5 to 7 p.m. in the Gray Gallery inside Brenner Library. The prompt for the next meeting is “First Lines from Famous Authors,” and all interested students are welcome to attend.

For more information, students can stop by Brenner Library and speak with Lindsey Witt.