I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Emily Chapman, a junior creative writing and graphic design double major here at Union, and talk about some of the creative efforts she’s undertaken during her time here.
Chapman, originally from Gallatin, Tenn., spent a gap year between high school and Union as a part of a theater program while she concentrated on what she would do next. It was during this time that she discovered Union.
She knew a few Union alumni and had a friend from high school that attended. After visiting, Chapman knew she wanted to come to Union too.
Chapman, who has a love for all forms of creativity, had trouble deciding between English or graphic design as a major.
“I flip-flopped around a lot on which one would be my major, and now it’s landed on them both being my major,” said Chapman.
Union has provided different opportunities to try new and different styles and forms of writing. Chapman has always loved reading and began writing fiction at thirteen, but it wasn’t until she was at Union that she began to branch out to a new form of writing, poetry.
In high school, she was initially indifferent to poetry; however, reading the poems of her friends at Union broadened her appreciation for the art. However, as with any new creative endeavor, writing poetry didn’t immediately come easy.
“I didn’t start off super well. I tried one semester and it didn’t come out well at all,” said Chapman. “The next semester, when I tried writing again, it was more for me, from my perspective. That’s when it started flowing.”
Chapman’s love for writing is evident in her determination to find what works for both her and her audience.
As inspiration for her fiction, Chapman cites writers she enjoyed during childhood and continues to enjoy now, such as Louisa May Alcott, C.S. Lewis and Lemony Snicket. She hopes to capture a similar spirit of honesty that she finds in these writers’ works.
“It’s really fiction that I want to write,” said Chapman. “That’s the stuff that I get really passionate about.”
Another characteristic that she strives for in her work is the accurate portrayal of childhood innocence that can still appeal to adults. She hopes to express both the harshness of reality and the joy that comes with the perspective of a child.
It is perhaps this desire to appeal to both children and adults that inspired Chapman to start a writers group for high school students in the Jackson community. The group meets weekly and works to build an environment where everyone involved can create and encourage others to grow.
“We meet every Friday, and we write for 45 minutes,” said Chapman. “We critique and encourage each other. It’s so fun.”
It’s obvious that Chapman has a love not just for writing and creativity, but for the creation around her. It’s clear she hopes to reflect this love both in the art she works to create and in the relationships she seeks to build.
Photo courtesy of Neil Cole