The MFA reading and event series, conversations@efryomson, held two successful events this past month. conversations@efryomson is organized by the Butler MFA and works to compliment the popular Vivian S. Delbrook Visiting Writers Series, which brings in twelve major national writers every year. The objective of conversations@efryomson to provide unique opportunities for Butler MFA students and to foster a community among the MFA.

From Fire to Form: the Sanity of Writing

Through conversations@efryomson, MFA students Kim Carey and Bailey Merlin led an interactive workshop giving Butler MFA students a taste of a writing for wellness workshop. Carey and Merlin, along with several other MFA students, are sharing their passion for creative writing and igniting the cathartic nature of writing in writing groups around the city. Currently, Butler MFAs run workshops at hospitals, rehab centers, assisted living homes, and schools around the Indianapolis area. Merlin runs a workshop in a youth psychiatric unit. She said, “It’s hard work but well worth it.”

In addition to the gratification of sharing her passion for writing and knowing she is helping others, Carey said running a wellness writing workshop has benefits to her creative writing. “Just getting it out is my favorite part,” she said. “I get so many ideas from just listening to other people’s stories.”

To demonstrate the personal and creative benefits of this type of writing, Carey and Merlin led a group of current MFA students through five different writing prompts with options to share after each one.

Because of the personal nature of the writing prompts, the MFA students who attended the workshop experienced yet another benefit. Friendships deepened as new understanding of each other emerged. As usual with this MFA class, lots of ever-present humor created an enjoyable evening.

Nationally, writing for wellness is growing in popularity as more people see the benefits of therapeutic writing. The Butler MFA is rising to the call for more groups and training. In addition to volunteering at one of the workshops, all Butler MFA students are encouraged to consider taking Hilene Flanzbaum’s summer course on Writing for Wellness. Email Hilene or Mindy for more information on the course.

Sunset Story Hour

The second conversations@efroymson event this month was the first ever Butler MFA story slam. Our version of The Moth meets a poetry slam, The Sunset Story Hour invited the MFA community to celebrate good story telling and great friends. Three finalists were selected from an open call to all Butler MFA and undergrads to compete for Amazon gift cards, fame, and glory. Two MFA students and one undergrad were chosen to present their best story to an audience with no notes.

A standing room only crowd was entertained by three presenters who delivered wildly different personal stories. There was laughter, there was heart-racing tension, there were tears, and there was thunderous applause. One of the finalists admitted she was extremely nervous. “I’ve never read in public, and now I’m doing it from memory.” Once she practiced about a hundred times and received encouragement from professors, students, and friends, she was ready. “It really helped that so many people were supportive.” One the most supportive people was her fellow competitor. “She emailed me all week telling me I’d do great. I felt like we were in it together, which made me want to perform better, too.”

The story tellers did such a great job, the judges refused to select a winner and named all three victors in their own right. Nicole, a Butler undergrad who came to the Story Hour to cheer on a friend, said, “It was so much more fun. The speakers were all so good, it was really relaxed, not like a regular school event. There was a dog [Millie, the MFA mascot] walking around, and pizza, and it felt like I was being talked to, not read at. I loved it.”

Ultimately, the night was declared a raucous success by the presenters and the audience. Once it was over, one finalist said, “I was crazy nervous, but it was the most fun thing I’ve done.” She encourages everyone to submit next year.

Don’t miss the remaining converstations@efyoymson events:

3/29: A job that doesn’t feel like a job: Creative Writers in Marketing & Advertising, 7:00PM

MFAs are often not just creative writers, but creative thinkers. Join us for a panel of these “creatives” featuring advertising directors, copywriters, marketing consultants, many of whom will call their creative writing the foundation of their business careers.

4/1: Poetry Lunch Hour – Marilyn Hacker, 12:30

4/15: Poetry Lunch Hour – Poet TBA, 12:30

Open to all Butler community members, each Lunch Hour will feature discussion of a selected poet’s work. A selection of poems will be emailed in advance of the discussion with RSVP, so no book purchase is necessary. Lunch is also provided with RSVP.