Writers come to the Lafayette Writers’ Studio for a variety of reasons.
Some have only begun to cultivate their creativity. Others have been writing for years and need additional guidance to take their projects to the next level. No matter what drives you, we welcome writers at all stages of their writing journeys.
Our students have gone on to study creative writing, earning admission to premier MFA programs from Bennington Writing Seminars and Butler University to Stetson University.
Our students have won awards for their work from grants from the Indiana Arts Commission to the Ronald Barnes Memorial Grant and the Intro to Journal Award offered by AWP to the author of an esteemed story.
Our students have published books, stories, essays and poems in esteemed presses such as Finishing Line Press, Poets & Writers, Brevity’s Nonfiction Blog, Indiana Voice Journal, and many, many more.
Selected student accomplishments
I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with the following writers. I congratulate all of them on their current accomplishments and those that are yet to come!
Steve hallett
A Life for a Life: A Book of Poems by Steve Hallett, Finishing Line Press Steve Hallett explores themes of social and environmental justice, and humankind’s relationship to the natural world. His poetry has been published in Bitter Oleander, Roanoke Review, Stillwater Review, Blueline, Plainsongs, and New Limestone Review. A Life for a Life is his first book of poems. Steve is an alum of the Fiction and Nonfiction Writing Workshop.
Kent Tolliver
When Angels Fall by Ken Tolliver. A graduate of Indiana University, Kent began his career in the field of social work and children's services. Retiring in 2015 allowed Kent to bask in the joy of his family, but also gave him time to pursue his long held passion of writing; specifically fiction. After receiving professional instruction in creative writing, he has authored several short stories. When Angels Fall is his first novel. Kent is an alum of the Fiction and Nonfiction Writing Workshop.
Stacy Holden’s piece “Postcard From the Pandemic: Turning Fifty-Three in Indiana” appeared in Poets & Writers, April 6, 2020. She is an Associate Professor at Purdue University and has been a recipient of two Fulbright Grants, the Carter Manny Award and Purdue University Enhancing Research in Arts and Humanities Grant. She is also the author of The Politics of Food in Modern Morocco (University Press of Florida, 2009) and A Documentary History of Modern Iraq (University Press of Florida, 2012). Stacy is an alumna of the Fiction and Nonfiction Writing Workshop and the Intensive Writing Workshop.
Heather Frankland, alumna of Re-seeing & Reviving: A Revision Workshop, as well as other classes, has published Midwest Musings, a chapbook with Finishing Line Press.
Malathi Raghavan, alumna of the Intensive Writing Workshop & Ask and Author, as well as Writing Jumpstart, published her Tiny Love Story in the New York Times, “Songs of Ukraine,” on August 23, 2022. Malathai, also published the Op-Ed, “It’s Not Only Human Lives Being Upturned by the Russian Invasion” in the Los Angeles Times on April 11, 2022.
Angie Klink, alumna of the Intensive Writing Workshop & Ask an Author, received word that the first chapter from her memoir, Limber as a Rag will be published in the Gals Guide Anthology.
Susan Kisinger, alumna of the Intensive Writing Workshop & Ask an Author, published the short story, “A Split Second, 1962,” in Flying Island. Her story was recently nominated for a Pushcart Award.
Mary Kate K, alumna of Teen Flash Fiction, received an Honorable Mention by Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for “After the Rain,” a story she wrote and revised as part of our class.
Wendy Brown, alumna of 3 Weeks, 3 Personal Essays, published “TWA-Flight #514” in Months to Years magazine.
Kim Woods, alumna of the Fiction and Nonfiction Workshop and Intensive Writing Workshop, The Ronald Barnes Memorial Grant Recipient for her nonfiction book on carillons.
Michael Lewis, alum of the Fiction and Nonfiction Workshop and Intensive Writing Writing, Individual Artist Grant Recipient, from the Indiana Arts Commission 2019-2020. Michael also published “Just Enough Light to See: How to Keep Your Story Moving in Brevity’s Nonfiction Blog, June 3, 2020.
Alexa Quezada, recipient of the 2020 AWP Intro to Journals Award and the Mary Louise Rea Short Story Award from IUPUI for her story, “Any Way the Wind Blows,” a story that originated in Melissa’s Intermediate Fiction Writing Workshop.
Stacy E. Holden, alumna of the Fiction and Nonfiction Workshop and Intensive Writing Workshop published “Ah Ya Ween (Oh Where Am I),” Hinterland Magazine, Issue 4 (2020), 54-57 as well as “Ten Things I Learned While Reading a Memoir I will Not Review for Brevity" Brevity’s Nonfiction Blog, November 12, 2019.
Nicole Brooks, alumna of Writing Jumpstart, Fiction and Nonfiction Workshop and current MFA candidate, Butler University, published three poems “The Actor” in the Minola Review, "The Third Man" in The Indianapolis Review, and "What is Elemental" in Barren Magazine.
Patricia Martin, alumna of Fiction and Nonfiction Worksop and current MFA candidate, Bennington College. Patricia is also the author of three books on consumer trends. To learn more visit http://patricia-martin.com.
Sammie Morris, alumna of Fiction and Nonfiction Workshop and current MFA candidate, Stetson University
Mike Herzog, Never Too Late: Get Unstuck, Escape Mediocrity, and Design a Life You Love https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1734062002/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1