Former Kean University professor hosts writing retreat over the summer
By Craig Epstein | Published by September 19th, 2019
Over the summer, former Kean University professor and Kean alumni Nikki Dreste organized a writing retreat that was inspired by the online-based Camp NaNoWriMo. As one of the General Education professors who was not reappointed last spring which led to a mass protest, Dreste looks to continue to design and run writing workshops in the future whether it is for the public or within an institution.
“Inspired by Camp NaNoWriMo, Dreste organized a summer writing retreat for Kean.”
Photo courtesy of Kean University
“Camp NaNoWriMo is a virtual writing retreat, designed to provide the community, resources, and tools needed to complete any writing project, novel or not,” according to its website. “Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who had ever thought about writing a novel.”
With the goal in mind of finding new ways to promote faculty/student relationships within English Studies and connecting back to themes of writing and literature, this event was designed for students to work on any form of writing they chose and was open to anyone who registered.
“This is something I chose to do on my own, out of my own passion for the official event and wanting to share it with my students and colleagues,” Dreste said. “I’m in no way affiliated professionally with the official group, but I have been a passionate participant myself for years and decided to organize a summer writing event for Kean inspired by it after a number of my students and faculty expressed they would be interested in that kind of event.”
Taking place every Monday and Wednesday in CAS room 315 from 1-3 p.m., Dreste created optional writing prompts and posted them about the room and provided extra paper, pens/pencils, and use of her own books on writing craft during event times. And in the hopes of creating a fun, social, and goal-oriented environment, she drew up space on the room’s whiteboard for people to share their favorite writing quotes or inspiration/advice for other writers, including themselves.
“The whiteboard being used as a “motivation corner.”
Photo courtesy of Nikki Dreste
“It was a great experience that helped me develop a consistent habit of writing,” senior English literature major Asimakis Pagratis (nicknamed Maki) said. “It was good to work with other writers to create and develop a new writing project.”
Although the group was small, the time that they spent together was designed to be both fun and voluntary.
“We had a small but prolific group consisting of about four faculty members, one staff member, and five to six students in total, including a few guests,” Dreste said. “Not everyone came every day or stayed the entire event, which was fine because I wanted it to be voluntary at every step.”
“Maki having some fun and getting writing done.”
Photo courtesy of Nikki Dreste
The event also contained a private online “cabin” for those that wanted to participate but couldn’t make it to campus during the summer.
With her passion being writing and literature, Dreste’s favorite moments would be working alongside her peers and helping them through the entire process.
“I think some of my fondest memories were when the room would be quiet, save for the sound of typing and scratching on paper, and then someone would feel comfortable enough to speak up about something going on in their current writing process,” Dreste said. “Whether it was an observation about something they were doing that was or wasn’t working or if it was a question to help them get unblocked so they could keep going, it would create this connective human spirit in the room.”
“Correction: Professor Dreste was in the English department not General Education.”
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