Sara Cook

Class of 2016, BA in Literature, BA in Psychology

Sara Cook

What was your favorite part of studying Creative Writing at UE?

My favorite part about studying creative writing at UE was the crazy amount of support. I was an anomaly in that I was taking creative writing classes for my own interest without it being my major. I had never let anyone read my writing before, and doing so for the first time in a room of creative writing majors was intimidating; however, my professors and peers really made me feel at ease, and I felt supported and advised rather than judged. That support boosted my self-confidence and helped me believe in myself and my work.

What did you experience in UE's CRW department that feels special/unique to our program?

One of the things I found special about the program was the student reading series. The department encourages students to not only write, but to share their work in a more public setting. It was nice to see everyone gathered outside of class to support their peers, and I appreciated being able to hear the pieces my classmates had spent so much time perfecting.

What was your favorite Creative Writing class and why?

My favorite creative writing class was Intro to Short Story Writing with Dr. Nik. The class itself was great because I was exposed to several authors I had never read before, and I saw my writing improve over the course of the semester. The first day of class, Dr. Nik told us we were not to compare ourselves to anyone and to stop second-guessing what we could do; those words have stuck with me post-graduation and have mattered a lot in my everyday life. I still think about this class often.

What are you up to now?

I just moved back to Indiana from California in the last few weeks, so job applications are serving as my writing practice at the moment. In the meantime, I am preparing to apply for graduate programs in Literature; I intend to earn my PhD and pursue teaching at the collegiate level. I am also working on a couple different poetry series that center on issue in my own life. I am not currently published, but I am hoping to change that in the next few years.

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