Madrid: A Writing Journey
This June, faculty in the Department of Creative Writing led a two-week summer writing program in Madrid, Spain. Madrid: A Writing Journey is a program designed for aspiring writers looking to broaden their writing skills by immersing themselves in the environment while learning from the literary heritage Madrid has to offer.
The participants were given the opportunity to visit museums and historical sites, while also being able to explore the city independently. At each location, the students were tasked with an activity to test their imagination. For example, the group visited Retiro Park where they enjoyed a picnic and browsed the local book fair with the goal of writing an excerpt about their experience. At Rastro Market, the class explored and looked at the different trinkets among hundreds of tables. Their goal was to photograph one item and write a short story about it.
Besides the opportunity to practice their writing, the students also participated in workshops thanks to the collaboration with La Escuela de Escritores de Madrid. On the train ride to the city of Ávila, the students attended a workshop about the history of the city, exploring figures such as Saint Teresa and Moses de León. Once the group made it to Ávila, they were assigned to write a haiku each time they found something interesting within the walled city.
This program allowed every individual the opportunity to flex their creative muscles, learn strategies from renowned authors and industry professionals, and helped them network with fellow novice writers. The Department of Creative Writing created a program full of exciting experiences that elicited positive responses. Jeralyn Barbie, an undergraduate, shared “Spain was an incredible experience… a blessing of lasting memories.” In agreement, Lori Kullberg, graduate student, said “The Writing Journey to Madrid was [a] wonderful experience [that nurtured] my creating writing… [I gained] a lovely, new community of friends… and [made] lifetime connections.”
For more information about Madrid: A Writing Journey, contact the Department of Creative Writing at creativewiting@utep.edu