Creative Writing Commons^™

Yellow, The Color, Connie Shen

The Anthology

A poem

Untitled, Rebecca Jacobs

The Anthology

A poem

Motet 10: Bordeneuve, Alex Muller

The Anthology

A poem

Untitled, Anthropos Apteros

The Anthology

A poem

Memories Like Muscadine Vines, Loren Mixon

The Anthology

A poem

Taxidermy, Heather Bechtler

The Anthology

A poem

This House Holds Seven, Colby Dockery

The Anthology

A poem

Knowledge, Renewed, Matt Higdon

The Anthology

A poem

That Which Goes Through A Child's Mind Upon Birth, Emily Handy

The Anthology

A poem

Mqndr, Loren Mixon

The Anthology

A poem

It Is Better To Forget, Lauren Miller

The Anthology

A poem

Untitled, Adam Matonic

The Anthology

A poem

As Light Runs From A Frozen Star, Lindsey Monroe

The Anthology

A poem

The Trail, Lauren Clark

The Anthology

A poem

Khalil, Aubrie Salzman

The Anthology

A poem

Reflections, Rachel Trueblood

The Anthology

A poem

Bonegrinder, Richard Mccarley

The Anthology

A poem

Bronze Soldier, Connor Renfroe

The Anthology

A poem

Letter From Editor, Alex Muller

The Anthology

This is the introductory letter from Editor-in-Chief Alex Muller.

Letter From Editor, Rebecca Jacobs

The Anthology

This is the introductory letter from Assistant Editor Rebecca Jacobs.

Full Issue, The Anthology

The Anthology

This is the entirety of the 2014 Winthrop Anthology issue.

Stellar Works: Searching For The Lives Of Women In Science, Jennifer Elizabeth Woodman

Dissertations and Theses

While women have had a profound impact in the world of science, they struggle to gain an equal foothold in many science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields today. This has led to considerable public and private sector efforts to recruit women into these arenas. In order to understand how schools and nonprofits engage today's young women in STEM studies, this account includes time spent both in high school science classrooms and with ChickTech -- a Portland-based organization that works to provide a pathway into tech careers for high school-aged girls.

A historical perspective reveals that modern women aren't treading …

Golden Fantasy: An Examination Of Generic & Literary Fantasy In Popular Writing, Zechariah James Morrison

Honors Projects

This essay attempts to analyze critical theory concerning the division between generic fantasy fiction and higher fantasy literature. In examining how these two different types of fantasy writing are identified by popular criticism, the space in-between is defined and labeled "golden fantasy". This kind of fantasy is identified by maintaining a balance between subversive originality, and derivative reproduction, and is generally popular among consumers and academics as a source of both entertainment and scholarly research. The essay is then followed by 3 original chapters by the essay writer, in an attempt to demonstrate some of the elements of golden fantasy …

A Trip Through Space And Time, Alvaro Gonzalez

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

Alvaro Gonzalez tells his personal narrative through an omniscient third person narrator. Gonzalez takes the audience on a journey through space and time to Mexico, the San Fernando Valley, and Downtown Los Angeles as he identifies important moments that shaped his life.

Running The System: From The 661 To The 310, Alexis Hall

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

The title, “Running the System: From the 661 to the 310” refers to former LMU Basketball Coach Paul Westhead’s run ‘n gun style of play, and the area codes of Palmdale and West Los Angeles. In her narrative, Alexis Hall finesses the connection between her preeminent past and promising present. The narrative tips off with Hall illustrating her upbringing and the lessons learned that come to symbolize her being. She then slams and jams through moments of time in her life that proved to be game changers. However, once the arena is empty and the fans are all gone, Hall …

Voices To Truth America! Exploring Hapa-Ish, Jonathan Ishii

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

In his narrative, author Jonathan Ishii delves into the experience of growing up as a hapa. This narrative reflects on some past building events and realizations, as well as his search for identity and drive for success. Ishii provides a glimpse into his life through various experiences and his discovery of identities in Los Angeles and abroad.

Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child, Shawn Jones

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

A daughter’s love, and a mother’s absence—that is the theme the author, Shawn Jones, shares in her bittersweet story. This narrative reflects on the challenges, conflicts, and feelings that a child goes through when coping with not having a mother physically present. Jones describes how as a child she saw things a lot differently compared to her thoughts now as a young woman. She struggles with the idea of accepting her situation and resenting the mother who brought her life. However, through the help of her family, she realizes that she is no different than those she grew up with. …

Stuck In The Middle, Loreto Lopez

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

After a trip to Mexico for her cousin’s wedding in February 2016, Loreto Lopez gets consumed by her thoughts and experiences of being a Mexican-American. Through her experiences in Guanajuato, memories of her adolescence are triggered as she contemplates what her life has been like as a first-generation student living in Los Angeles. She realizes that her circumstances have left her feeling not completely American nor Mexican. By writing her narrative, Lopez attempts to find out what to do when she feels she is stuck in the middle between two different worlds.

First To Everything, Sarah Poblano

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

Sarah Poblano is a first generation sophomore Sociology major from Glendale, California. As the eldest sister of three, she struggles to find her place at Loyola Marymount University as well as keep her place at home. With symptoms of culture shock and imposter syndrome, she realizes the realities of being a First To Go student. However, recognizing her privilege as a student at LMU, she is determined to honor the many sacrifices that were made that got her to where she is now.

There Is Beauty In Struggle, Brenda Quintanilla

First-Gen Voices: Creative and Critical Narratives on the First-Generation College Experience

“There is Beauty in Struggle” tells the story of a young woman trying to navigate the world while having certain circumstances pull her back from reaching her dreams. These stories show the development of growing up, learning to accept the struggles one goes through, and learning to use those struggles as a catalyst for change. The narrative begin with Brenda Quintanilla living in El Salvador, then immigrating to the United States at the age of eight, and having to adapt to American society when clearly she is not welcomed here. This narrative explores the way in which Quintanilla finally came …