AN INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME 10

When I first arrived at the University of Denver in August 2016 and set about settling into my new workspace, I happened to pass by a shelf of magazines outside my new office. At least, I thought they were just magazines. But upon closer inspection, I discovered to my delight that they were so much more. Each issue, featuring the title WRIT Large on a vibrant cover, introduced me to exceptional writing by DU undergraduates in a wide range of genres: memoirs, ethnographies, research arguments, and even contemplative essays (to name just a few).

I quickly collected a copy of every issue I could find, starting with the inaugural one from 2012. I spent several hours at home that night reading about topics that reflect the interests and investments of our community, spanning from the ANWR controversy to the Calvin and Hobbes comic series to the political meanings of hair.

Since that time, WRIT Large has changed me. Not only have I joined the editorial board, but I have also incorporated these exceptional pieces of undergraduate writing into my teaching. Whether we are discussing an essay about drag culture or Walsenburg, Colorado, I now encourage my students to see themselves in the texts that they are reading. To see themselves as writers whose work will resonate with their peers, their professors, their families, and their communities.

If this is your first time reading WRIT Large, I implore you to spend some time with this writing. To spend some time with these writers. You will not be disappointed. You may even inspired to write something incredible. And if you do, don’t be afraid to share it.

—Dr. David Riche

Teaching Assistant Professor University Writing Program