Extracurriculars
At the University of Rochester, we offer many ways for you to discover and participate in various aspects of the literary arts—from creative writing to volunteering, publishing to networking.
The Writers Lounge
The Writers Lounge is a weekly gathering for University of Rochester students who are studying the art of writing and literary translation. Students may use the time for enriching discussion, reading, writing, and idea development. The Writers Lounge fosters community among our creative writers and translators. We give students a chance to have drafts critiqued by peer mentors and to share their work in a public reading at the end of the semester. The meetings are held on Thursdays in the Humanities Center Lounge from 5-7 p.m. Snacks are provided. To check the meeting times for this semester, reach out to us through our contact page.
LOGOS
LOGOS is the University of Rochester's official student journal of art and literature. Since its founding in 1972, the purpose of the journal has been to publish the best art and literature offered by the University community. The journal also gives students interested in publishing an opportunity to develop, design, edit, and publish a high quality body of work. For more information about meetings and submissions, visit LOGOS's Facebook page.
The Inspiration Project
A collaborative effort between the University of Rochester and CP Rochester, the Inspiration Project is a volunteer program that connects University of Rochester students with consumers served by CP Rochester. During the spring semester, students who show strength in writing meet once a week with a group of adults from CP Rochester. Each student is paired with an adult from CP Rochester and together, the pairs work to produce a complete, purposeful, polished work, in the form of a story, a short memoir, or a selection of poems. The result of this Inspirational work is an anthology, published in print and shared at a capstone reading event.
The Plutzik Reading Series
Since 1962, the University has been celebrating the life and poetic achievements of Hyam Plutzik (1911-1962), critically-acclaimed poet and Rochester faculty member, by bringing the community readings by the finest contemporary literary artists. The Plutzik Series is one of the most prestigious and longest-running reading series in the country. Over the years, the Plutzik Series has featured a vast array of poets and fiction writers, the famous and not-yet famous. For more information and the schedule of this semester's visiting writers, visit their website.
Open Letter
Open Letter—the University of Rochester's nonprofit, literary translation press—is one of only a handful of publishing houses dedicated to increasing access to world literature for English readers. Publishing ten titles in translation each year and running an online literary website called Three Percent, Open Letter searches for works that are extraordinary and influential, works that we hope will become the classics of tomorrow. Visit the press's website.
Reading the World Conversation Series
The RTWCS launched in spring 2008 with readings by Salman Rushdie and Umberto Eco and the mission of bringing international authors and translators to Rochester. "Literature is one of the best ways to learn about cultures from around the world," said Open Letter publisher Chad W. Post, who also organizes the RTWCS. "And hearing an author read from his/her work is one of the best ways to get interested in a particular book."