Erin is a sophomore at the University of Michigan majoring in psychology with a prospective creative writing minor. She is an aspiring prose writer who aims to entertain as well as illuminate mental health struggles through her work. In her free time, Erin enjoys photography, binge-watching Netflix, and catching up with friends. Erin is enthusiastic about this upcoming summer, as she hopes to achieve her goal of writing a novella.

Lola is a second year Michigan student studying Film, TV & Media. She loves a lot of things, but mostly writing. She's especially passionate about screenplays, movie reviews and poetry. Lola is inspired by bright colors, clever song lyrics and cold weather. She is very excited to share her writing with the world.

Rachel is a senior pursuing a BFA in Art & Design and a minor in entrepreneurship at UMich. She focuses on graphic design in collaboration with advertising, marketing, apparel design, and activism. She is passionate about art in all forms of expression like drawing, music, reading, and writing. Writing has always been something Rachel has loved doing, and she has taken multiple classes in the creative writing field to expand her talent and interest in the subject. She creates art through visuals and writing to dive into her own identities and emotions. 

Cecilia is a sophomore from West Bloomfield, Michigan studying film, television and media. From a young age she has enjoyed reading and writing fiction, and she has recently started writing poetry, as well. She loves writing about miniscule details and moments in her everyday life. In general, she enjoys all things creative, and spends her free time crocheting, listening to and playing music, and reading.

Melissa is a sophomore in the LSA who is currently undeclared but is hoping to be a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics major, with a concentration on environmental issues. She is part of Planet Blue Student Leaders and plans on going to law school after undergrad. She has been writing poetry since she was in high school, and most of her works focus on femininity and relationships. She is thankful for her teachers and professors who have helped her work on her art for the past several years, and is excited to see what will come next for her poetry!

Jenna is a senior at the University of Michigan, where she has won two Hopwood awards for her poetry. Her work has appeared in the New Croton Review. She enjoys writing in cursive and listening to records, especially Alice in Chains’ MTV Unplugged.

Umana is a sophomore at UMich, majoring in Economics and minoring in Philosophy and Applied Statistics. She is a lover of the arts in all of its forms, particularly drawn in by literature and theater, and her passion for writing has led her to explore as many aspects of it as possible. She is most fond, however, of poetry. Much of her work is devoted to the subject of rebirth and healing, drawing on both the terrifying and beautiful experiences of living and loving. She spends most of her free time on- or back-stage, doing everything from acting in shows to costuming them. She is excited to be directing her first original full-length musical this semester, and eager to continue pursuing writing and the arts however she can.

Kieran (they/he) is a 3rd-year FTVM major and Spanish minor. He writes whatever he wants, but mostly screenplays and songs. They have a Spotify page — check it out! They are also part of the ComCo improv comedy troupe. 

Haley is a freshman at UMich in the UROP Creative Writing program. She loves to write poetry and short fiction, exploring themes of emotional complexity, empowerment, and loss. When she isn’t writing, she likes to go on walks, paint, and listen to music. In the future, she hopes to gain a professorship and publish her own books, with the intent of both creating change and exploring the multiplicities of the human experience.

I've always thought I've been bad at first impressions. I feel I can often fail to dial it back and on the first date, maybe at an Olive Garden, and ask my date if they feel like they are anybody's best friend or if they think anyone knows them better than they know themselves. I think it's important to come out of the gate running, to approach the topic at hand with a fierce intensity. Should that intensity be applied while eating chicken alfredo...maybe not, but it's something I think should be applied to writing. It's one of my favorite reasons to write, as it can force us to feel uncomfortable, and by feeling uncomfortable, I think we become alive. 

Telise is a first year at Umich. She has been writing since she was 8 years old and hopes to pursue a career in the publishing industry. Aside from writing, she loves snowboarding, fashion, and cooking. Although her pieces are primarily interested in the boundaries between humanity and what exists beyond it, she also enjoys writing nonfiction essays on a variety of topics. 

Chelsea is a 4th year creative writing major and women & gender studies minor. She enjoys writing in as many mediums as possible, from short stories to novels, to creative nonfiction to screenwriting. She is interested in exploring the feminine perspective through a gothic and horror lens, as well as using poetry and essays as a means of making sense of one's experience of the world. In her free time, you can find Chelsea surrounded by the animals she volunteers with, making music with Amazin Blue Acapella, or hosting her bi-weekly "weird women" book club with friends. This is her first poetry reading!