What do we do? The Jiménez-Porter Writers'House, located in Dorchester Hall, creates a campus-wide literary center to study creative writing in its cross-cultural dimensions. Participants live in a close community of students who share an interest in creating stories, poems, and plays. Students attend a colloquia, interact with visitors to the Writers Here and Now series (see our Events listing for more info), share their writing with each other in a supportive workshop environment, and attend additional special events together. Writers' House students organize Litfest, our annual literary bash, every Spring. Some additional opportunities for involvement include joining the editorial staff of Stylus (Stylus the UMD campus-wide literary journal housed and supported by Writers' House staff), or reading at TerPoets http://terpoets.brinkster.net/401.html , the weekly student-run Open Mic series hosted here in Dorchester's Ground Floor Lounge. Literary study abroad (to Chile in January 2008!), teaching opportunities, and a service-learning option are also offered. Writers' House offers a one or two year program. Requirements for the first year in Writers' House are: + One-credit colloquium in both the Fall and Spring semesters. + One three-credit course in Spanish or English writing. + Completion of a writing portfolio. + Residency in Dorchester Hall. + Attendance at literary events, both on and off campus. + Participation in Dorchester Hall community activities. Students attend lectures and readings and read works from various authors and poets. Students also workshop and critique each other's writings. Courses Offered the Campus Community at Large: Chilean Literature, Democracy and Social Change, January 2-23, 2007 Applications are due October 2, 2007 to study abroad in Chile over winter break. The course (ARHU 319C) will include: an in-depth look at selected works by poet Pablo Neruda and other Chilean liteary texts in light of their impact on the reconstruction of democracy; visits to Neruda's houses; visits to representative sites of repression and to main museums; and attendance at seminars led by several renowned Chilean writers. The program fee is $2750.; scholarships are available through the Study Abroad office. For more information please contact Johnna Schmidt at jmschmid@umd.edu. Young Scholars Program: July 8-27, 2007 ARHU 298J (3 credits): Creative Writing Workshop - Cross Cultural Perspective in Poetry and Fiction. Immerse yourself in the writing of fiction and poetry. You'll hone your writing craft in a nurturing, interactive environment while developing skills that help uncover your own distinctive voice. Morning sessions emphasize assigned readings, writing, analysis and discussions of craft. Afternoons are devoted to studio time spent reading and writing. For more info go to: http://www.summer.umd.edu/s/admissions/courses/ysp/creative_writing