UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa — Penn State’s Public Writing Initiative (PWI) is piloting a Student Publishing Project for the spring 2024 semester, giving student writers an opportunity to take their writing public through a series of consultations and resources geared toward publication.
“College students write often for class, but their writing rarely reaches readers beyond the course instructor,” said Elizabeth Parfitt, scholar in residence for writing and communication with Penn State Learning. “Part of PWI’s mission is to encourage Penn State students to consider what happens when you send your ideas out into the public world. The Publishing Project’s goal is to demystify the publication process and help students see that their voices matter. In taking their written work public, students are engaging in important conversations going on in the world.”
Public writing covers a wide swath of areas, and includes opinion pieces, letters to the editor, blogs and even social media posts. Many students engage in public writing every day, without conscious awareness. PWI aims to bring student writing to the forefront and give it the wider audience it deserves.
How undergraduate students can apply
The spring 2024 pilot program seeks six to eight writers from any college and discipline at the University Park campus who have a strong interest in writing and publishing. Writers must be current Penn State undergraduate students who have promising drafts already written. The initiative recognizes that the draft itself doesn't need to be of publishable quality, but the idea must have a targeted public audience. Emphasis is placed on students who recognize the importance of their voice and their reasons for writing.
Participants in the pilot program will receive two or three consultations with a PWI fellow, gaining insights into the publishing process, project development and initial coaching. Additionally, students will engage in a small-group networking event with a Penn State student publication editor, fostering a community of like-minded writers and providing opportunities for questions as they build connections.
Students who become a part of the pilot project will have access to a wide array of resources to assist them on their journey toward publication, including PWI fellows with firsthand experience in public writing and publication. In addition, writers will have the chance to document their journey to publication on the PWI blog.
“Even for professionals, publishing can seem like a daunting process if you don’t have supporters helping you along the way. PWI wants to be that support network for students. We want to amplify student voices and demonstrate the power in publication,” Parfitt said.
Students who are interested in applying are encouraged to fill out an application form before Dec. 15. For more information on PWI’s Student Publishing Pilot Project and to express interest, visit The Public Writing Initiative online.
About the Public Writing Initiative
The Public Writing Initiative is a project of The Writing Center @ Penn State Learning. The PWI’s mission is to provide opportunities for instructors to bring public writing into the classroom, and for students to consider the impact of writing for audiences beyond the classroom. This pilot program aims to empower student writers by providing resources, consultations and networking opportunities to help students publish their work in various platforms, from personal blogs to mainstream publications.
Penn State Learning is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education, the academic administrative unit that provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State.