Creative writing showcase spotlights student work

For Mara Gover, the most defining moment in her life was the death of her father when she was four, a moment she believes to be the continuous inspiration for her writing.

Gover, 25, creative writing major from Estill County, began writing fan fiction in her younger years, a hobby that developed into general fiction writing once she entered high school.

After earning a degree in anthropology, she returned to Eastern to pursue her dream in the creative writing program, in which she is now a senior.

And Gover said she is excited to have the opportunity to preview some of her work to fellow Eastern students in Thursday's Showcase Showdown in Herndon Lounge from 3:30 to 5 p.m., an event the creative writing program has initiated to give writers a chance to display any of their writing, including fiction, nonfiction and poetry.

"We want to promote the creative writing program," Gover said. "I see a lot of people on campus who write creatively, but will not venture into the major for fear of disappointing parents."

Gover acknowledged writing can be a career of limited financial gain and said students who are gifted in writing should not let that stop them.

However, these students should have something to fall back on, which is why she obtained a degree in anthropology, she added.

Julie Hensley, professor of the creative writing capstone course, said she also encounters students both scared and curious about the program, but she finds that people in this major still find lucrative jobs.

"It's still an English degree with skills," Hensley said. "Students just have to find a way to sell those skills, whether it be business or technical; there are jobs. And these days many jobs require a graduate degree anyway, so you might as well major in something you love."

Currently Gover is exploring what she calls "life writing." She takes real-life situations and turns them into fiction, she said.

"I am writing a story about a woman who decides to start cleaning houses nakedly," Gover said. "It's a story about two women [who are friends], one is stable and the other is newly divorced and starts naked housecleaning."

Gover said she will either read an excerpt from her naked housecleaning story or one where she has the plot taking place during the Salem witch trials. In this story, a female witch is married to a man who is in charge of sentencing people in witch trials. She fears he will find her out and kill her.

"My mind starts going rapid with words [when I write]," Gover said. "Sometimes I'll see images of a character, something as stupid as a name that could turn into me writing 1,000 words."

Hensley said the event will be fast-paced.

"It will almost be like speed dating," Hensley said. "One person will go and then the next person, there will be a lot of energy."

The event is free, open to the public and refreshments will be available, Hensley said.

"This is an opportunity for graduating seniors of the creative writing program to engage in the public voice they might be assuming at large," she said. "The subject matter of their readings is very diverse, and I'm very proud of them."