An Inside Look at USC’s Undergraduate Writers’ Conference

By Danielle Collins ‘20

Every spring semester, USC holds its annual Undergraduate Writers’ Conference. Hundreds of undergraduate writers come together to share their creative and academic work (not to mention some prizes are awarded as well). Keep reading to learn more about the conference, and how to get involved next year!

The Event:

1) Group Discussion:

• Everyone in the group reads each other’s submissions beforehand.
  
• Submitters to the conference meet in small groups of about 5 people. A USC senior leads the discussion, which lasts about an hour. Everyone shares compliments and critiques of each other’s work.
• This is a great way to engage in scholarly discussion with your peers! You will learn a lot from their papers, and receive constructive criticism on your own work.
  

2) Magazine Mingling:

• In between discussion and dinner, some of USC’s magazines set up tables at the event so students can discuss submitting their work.
  
• The magazines are:
• Palaver Arts Magazine (for creative work)
  
• Scribe (for literary and academic work)
  
• Illumin (for science and technology)
  
• Outstanding Academic Papers by Students (OAPS)
  

(Above: the editors of Palaver Arts Magazine at the conference)

3) Dinner, Keynote, and Awards:

• The official conference ceremony is held at Town & Gown.
• Dinner is served! (and don’t forget dessert)
  
• Keynote Speaker: Alex Espinoza, author, professor, and Chair of the department of Chicana(o) and Latina(o) Studies at California State University, Los Angeles
  
• Espinoza shared some of his personal history growing up in California, and the importance of writing in his life. He then read a portion of his own writing, which was incredibly moving.

• Awards announced by USC Provost Michael Quick
• Four Categories:
• Researched Essay
• Analytical Essay
• Professional Writing
• Creative Works
• $1000 for First Prize, $500 for Second Prize, and recognition of Honorable Mentions
  
• Additional prizes:
• Levan Institute Ethics Essay Contest
  
• Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy Essay Contest

How To Get Involved Next Year:

• Keep an eye out for emails, or check their website. The conference occurs every spring, so expect the submission deadline to be sometime in February or March.
  
• You will be asked to submit your piece, along with some information about what class you wrote it in and what you gained from the writing experience.
  
• You can submit multiple pieces, but only one per category.
  
• Rising seniors: you can also volunteer to lead group discussions, in addition to submitting your piece(s)!
  

My Thoughts:

The conference is a great way to meet fellow writers and discuss your writing. The group discussion is especially rewarding because you receive constructive feedback on your work, which can help you improve that specific piece or your writing in general. Plus, you should always take advantage of a free meal at Town and Gown! The keynote speaker was wonderful, and the ceremony is a great opportunity to support your fellow writers, whether or not you win. I hope to see you there next year!

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