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Ivory Tower

Updates

• I Have A Confession To Make...

  You know how with reality television on every show of every season there is at least one big confession that some cast member makes, and it's generally something that any normal person wouldn't admit on national television? Well, sorry, my confession is not as juicy, but I have one nonetheless. At the beginning of this school year I did not count myself among the ranks of non-fiction fans. As the semester has progressed though I have found myself more and more intrigued by the unwieldy beast. To be brief, I have developed an addiction to non-fiction--it could almost be a song name.

  I am not quite sure how the addiction started, but I definitely feel that it has something to do with being a part of the Ivory Tower staff and really making an effort to connect myself with all that Ivory Tower is, part of that being non-fiction.

  I have always been skeptical of non-fiction; I thought it was a dull collection of dust pressed into a page with no character or feeling, but that was a naïve assumption. It takes a lot of character and feeling for a writer or reader to delve into non-fiction. Though I have discovered it is a creature that's definition cannot be concretely decided upon, there is an overwhelming amount of honesty to be gained in reading non-fiction. Reading more non-fiction this year, like On Death and Dying by Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, has taught me a lot about myself, others, and society that I do not feel I could have learned as fully from fiction, poetry, or visual art.

  Reading more non-fiction has also motivated me to pick up my pen and write more. Write about me, my thoughts, the people I know. It sounds narcissistic, I know, but lets be honest, we are very egocentric beings, we should embrace it and use it to connect with others. I am not the only person at the University of Minnesota whose parents are divorced, my friend is not the only person on the brink of graduation wondering what's next?, my mom is not the only middle-aged woman going through a midlife crisis, that kid in my poli sci class is not the only person pushing their opinions, you are not the only person wondering how that sesame seed bun got in the middle of the road.

  My newly developed addiction has made me enthused for the workshop Thursday with Julie Schumacher (the free pizza helps too!). I plan on using the workshop to brainstorm some ideas for non-fiction pieces of my own, and also to connect with other peers interested in non-fiction. I hope to see you there. Write, workshop, submit, share. I promise you'll be all the better for it.

  Erin Flannery
  Managing Editor
  

  November 18th, 2009

• No time to snooze when there's free pizza to be had

  Dear Friends,

  So for all you procrastinators staring blankly at the computer screen, this is your verbal kick in the arse. What do I mean, starting off with an accusatory statement like that? I mean, what did you do wrong?

  Nothing. You've sat back, watched the deadline for submissions approach steadily, and you have not at all felt panicked or nudged into submitting your madly brilliant work. You have watched the Facebook invite for our super-awesome Fiction Workshop expire without attending, which is unforgivable when said event had TONS of free pizza. And candy. Come on, you must be a dedicated procrastinator if you pass up free eats.

  Well, this is your alarm clock, ringing incessantly, and I will not let you put me on snooze, my friend. NOW is the time to email that itching-to-be read poem or short story to us, press "print" to see that insightful nonfiction essay emerge from the depths of your printer, get off your stale chair and move your literary-fiending limbs over to our nonfiction workshop this Thursday. Even if you're not what you think of as a "nonfiction" writer, come, indulge us, make friends and schmooze. Any writing is good exercise, and especially the kind of writing you let sit, gathering dust, in your writing toolbox. All you nonfiction writers out there, you have even LESS of an excuse, so show your numbers - we want to see your genius!!

  Stop accumulating dust - become active in your literary community - whether that mean religiously following our Facebook group (join it, y'all, if only because it looks cool on your profile), coming to our events to share your work and get feedback from us, to submitting as much as early as possible, giving us tips on upcoming literary events in the Twin Cities community, or just talking about us to your friends - show support, be active in your community. We're not asking for money, we're just asking for permission to showcase your talent. We exist solely for the purpose of getting YOUR work out there. So please, submit, email us with suggestions, come to our events, let us represent you.

  Plus, how many times can I reiterate the free 'za?? For real. Let's do this. No day but today, right?

  Thanks for moving your arse,
  Melissa, Co-Editor-in-Chief

  November 18th, 2009

• A Word From Our Web Editor...

  Dear Custodians of Art and Literature,

  If you made it to Dislocate's book and poetry reading Wednesday, you are well aware that Professor Michael Dennis Brown is retiring. When he took the podium that night and declaimed his poems, they came like a sweeping wind, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. His upcoming collection is dedicated to his students, so thank him while he's here. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.

  We are hosting a Non-Fiction writing workshop November 19th at 5:30 in Nolte, and we would love to see you there! Bring your work, improve your writing, and keep the blood of literature pumping through campus. There will be pizza! Also, remember that the submission deadline is drawing near, so don't put off writing, drawing, or whatever you do that we love. You may get your professional start at the Ivory Tower. Yes, you could be the next Garrison Keillor!

  Hope to see you soon!

  Agnes Rzepecki
  Web-Editor
  

  November 17th, 2009

• Time Flies When You're an Ivory Staffer!

  Hello All,

  The Fiction Workshop behind us and pockets full of submissions must mean the end is near for this semester. But don't fret, at the Ivory Tower we are always sure to wear cargo pants (we look good!) making certain we've got room for your impressive submissions.
  Missed the fiction workshop? No fear! We're excited to announce our Non-Fiction Workshop on November 19th. Join us for free food and drinks alongside amazing guidance and inspiration in Nolte 140 at 5:30 pm. It's gunna be a great time! Bring your non-fiction works to discuss with our non-fiction editors and your questions for our staff. Once you've perfected your non-fiction piece submit it to the Ivory Tower!
  The staff has been working hard (for you!) on our Teaser - set to hit campus on December 1st. Look forward to procrastinating and not paying attention in class with our little 8 page mini-journal. We've included the best from Ivory Tower past issues, dating back to the 1960s. Not to mention the comedic attempts of the ever-so-talented Ivory Tower staff. We have had so much fun putting it together and I honestly can't wait to have it printed! Sooner then I know it the actual journal will be printed!

  With that I say goodbye for now Blog-World. Till our paths cross again!

  Rachelle Kuehne
  Co-Editor In Chief

  November 11th, 2009

• Motivation - A Gift For You From Our Special Content Editor...

  Hello Beautiful People Out There...

  I am an Ivory Tower staffer, working hard as the Special Content Editor for our Magazine, and having a great time.

  I would like to begin by thanking everybody in attendance of our first workshop event led by M.J. Fitzgerald. It was a complete success, and we are eagerly planning our next event, coming up on November 19th! Secondly, the deadline for submissions (Dec. 1st) is fast approaching. With this in mind, I would like to share with you some words of inspiration.

  I'll begin by revealing a small secret. As an English major and lover of literature, I don't write often enough. Procrastination may be a bad habit for some, but for me, it's almost a way of life. It takes me half an hour to motivate myself to think about motivating myself to write something. It's bad. But, like other chronic-postponers, I have my moments of brilliance, and can surprise even the most jaded of critics... myself! At any given moment, a deeply hidden supply of infinite and innate work ethic bursts forth and I'll work up a miracle. I say 'at any given moment', but it's usually at around 3 a.m. during one of my bi-monthly bouts of insomnia. Stress and sleep deprivation make a surprisingly potent cocktail of creativity. But unplanned situations like these have driven me to write some of the most creative pieces I ever have written in my life. I believe everything needs to be electrically charged with the 'spirit of the moment' and embellished with a certain feeling of spontaneity; mind and body be damned if little emotional and physical sacrifice produces a personal masterpiece!

  What it comes down to is, I work best under pressure. When it feels like something is on the line, it's like the big game. It almost turns into a competition, a sport. All great writers can think back and remember those marathon sessions. It's being honed in on the task with not a single break in concentration. It's the feeling of your fingers gracefully moving from key to key, performing a style of ballet all their own. Then the unmitigated rage of writer's block and the shattering of plastic when you've finally had enough of that damn keyboard. It's channeling that stream of consciousness from its initial raw, visceral state to a beautiful and refined piece of art. It's smelling the scent of paper when it just came out of the printer or just admiring the lines and lines of text, precariously hanging unsaved in the white oblivion of a Word document. That process, my friends, is the ultimate catharsis. Beat yourselves up a bit and write. Write with passion, write with intimacy, write from the heart and write with the mind. And share. Share with us your sacrifice. Submit. Be Immortal.

  Get to it.

  Eugene Lewis
  Special Content Editor

  November 11th, 2009