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By Shehtaz Huq ’14
Ernest Hemingway purportedly bragged that he could write a story in six words. At Lafayette’s annual Write-a-Thon, students were given a little more leeway and asked to write a memoir in eight.
Mara Natale ’16 and Grace Marchena ’15
Among 30 entries, film and media studies major Mara Natale ’16 (New Providence, N.J.) took first place with “I put on my big girl shoes anyway” in the 8-Word Memoir Contest, while English and psychology double major Grace Marchena ’15 (Hopatcong, N.J.) won honorable mention with “Every train was an option. I chose staying.”
The College Writing Program and English Department co-sponsored the event, an evening that encourages students, faculty, and staff to engage in any and all kinds of writing.
The Write-a-Thon featured a variety of writing prompts such as live dances and a performance by a guest actor. Each table also featured prompts from magazines, photographs, and postcards to be used as “muses,” and copies of The Marquis literary magazine to jumpstart the writers’ creative juices. Guests also had the opportunity to write on oversized banners hung from the walls, which featured prompts such as “Write Anything!” and “Wall of Secrets.”
The Write-a-Thon was facilitated by Lee Upton, professor of English and writer-in-residence, and J. Christian Tatu, coordinator of the College Writing Program. Bianca Falbo, associate professor of English, Elizabeth Rosen, instructor of English, and English major Shehtaz Huq ’14 (Grapevine, Texas) served as judges for the event.