EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Write on, Ypsilanti!

Eastern Michigan University is helping to establish a new community writing center that will support writers of all levels and backgrounds.

YpsiWrites, to be located at all locations of the Ypsilanti District Library, will have drop-in hours for one-to-one writing help along with workshops on different types of writing and other programs.

“We believe everyone is a writer, or has the potential to be a writer,” says Ann Blakeslee, a professor of English and director of the Office of Campus & Community Writing at Eastern. “We strive to support writers, both new and experienced, to experiment in new types of writing or refine their skills in familiar types of writing – from memoir writing, to song writing, resume writing, poetry and everything in between.”

The University is partnering with the district library and 826michigan, a writing support program for school-aged children; in addition to help from Washtenaw Literacy.

YpsiWrites will support teen and adult writers, while 826michigan will continue supporting young writers. Some programs will be offered at the same time so parents can attend a program while their children also attend one. Some programs will even bring young and adult writers together to share their writing across the age span.

Upcoming programs, all of which are free, will include memoir writing workshops (September), National Novel Writing Month (November) and a poetry writing workshop in December.

The writing coaches will include trained EMU writing tutors, Eastern professors, local teachers and trained community members who are passionate about writing and who volunteer their time to share that passion.

YpsiWrites will hold a launch and grand opening celebrating the theme "Everyone's a Writer" during the National Day on Writing, Saturday, October 19, 2019, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at all YDL locations.

For more information, contact Blakeslee and fellow EMU professor, Cathy Fleischer, who are co-leading the initiative, at ablakesle@emich.edu and cfleische@emich.edu. If you would like to volunteer for the program, please fill out the volunteer registration form. 

YpsiWrites is one of a variety of initiatives and programs overseen by the Office of Campus and Community Writing at Eastern Michigan.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 18,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.