This Northwestern Life
A Storytelling initiative
In partnership with the Office of Residential Academic Initiatives, the Kaplan Humanities Institute presents This Northwestern Life, a new initiative that introduces Northwestern undergrads to storytelling as a tool for scholarship, brings together storytellers from around campus, and builds to a final storytelling competition with cash prizes! The program will bring established storytellers from around Chicago and Evanston to share, collaborate, and teach, introducing students to the concepts and techniques of live nonfiction storytelling through performances, workshops, panels, and other events. This Northwestern Life will culminate in a campus-wide storytelling competition in early May 2019, with the winners performing at at a live arts event. Details are below!
Campus-wide Storytelling Competition
Submit your original writing!
All Northwestern undergraduates—from any school, any year—are invited to submit an original piece of non-fiction prose addressing the theme of SECURITY. Consider interpretations of “security” in different domains—as an ethical goal, a rationale for injustice, surveillance, stability, or something else altogether. It can be a reason we feel safe or an excuse for discrimination. We can feel secure financially or physically, in relationships, or in ourselves. How has "security" shaped your life?
For more inspiration, the Kaplan Institute's year-long Dialogue theme is Security; check out the range of topics here.
Note: The piece must be no longer than five minutes.
Prizes
The top ten winners will read their work at the This Northwestern Life: LIVE event. Cash prizes will also be awarded:
- First: $300
- Second: $200
- Third: $100
Deadline and notification
Deadline to submit is Wednesday, May 1, 2019. Winners will be notified by May 10th and will perform their winning piece on May 16 at This Northwestern Life: LIVE!
Submission instructions
Email your submission as an attachment to ThisNULife@northwestern.edu. Submissions can be in the form of a document (750 word limit) or an .mp4 file (5 minute limit).
Events
Storytelling Perspectives: Performance followed by Q&A
Monday, February 25, 2019
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Willard B72
Come see what storytelling is all about! Performances and conversation with Northwestern artist in residence and author Megan Stielstra and local storytelling professional Aimy Tien (2nd Story). Pizza will be served.
Tell Your Story: A Workshop with Megan Stielstra
Friday, April 12, 2019
1:00 - 3:00 pm
Shepard B25
A two-hour introduction to storytelling for everyone. Cookies and snacks will be served. Space is limited — sign up for a spot at ThisNULife@northwestern.edu.
This Northwestern Life: LIVE!
Thursday, May 16, 2019
7:00 pm
Willard B72
A celebration with food and live readings by the ten winners of the campus-wide storytelling competition.
Related Events
More opportunities to participate, learn, and connect to the Northwestern storytelling community.
- ArtFest
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 • 7:00-8:00pm
Shepard Hall Engagement Center, Room B25
Event will feature student visual art as well as live performances. Food will be provided.
Presented by Helicon Literary and Arts Magazine and the Residential College Board. - The Blank Page: A Generative Writing Workshop with Tom Burke, Author and Chapin Fellow
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Presented by Chapin Residential College.
6:00pm - Bookends and Beginnings (Meet at Chapin at 5:45pm)
We'll attend a reading by Jeremy Smith, author of Breaking and Entering: The Extraordinary Story of a Hacker Called "Alien."
7:00pm - Return to Chapin War Room for a writing workshop:
Sometimes writers just need the tiniest of nudges to get them off and running on a story. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the generative process, as well as writing practices, but more than anything, we will power through many different writing prompts. Participants will leave this workshop with a number of scenes, characters, and scenarios which can serve as building blocks to new work, and in particular, we will explore the many different possibilities for writing about “Security,” the Kaplan Institute theme for the year. - Pop-Up Zine
Thursday, May 23, 2019 • 7:00pm
McCormick Auditorium, Norris University Center
Presented by Pop-Up Zine Northwestern
Get involved
Are you part of a club or organization that tells stories in a uniquely interesting way? We have funds to help you share that knowledge and skill with the rest of the Northwestern community! Contact Emily at the Kaplan Humanities Institute (ThisNULife@northwestern.edu) to participate.
Get connected
Facebook: fb.me/ThisNULife
Twitter: @ThisNULife
Instagram: @ThisNorthwesternLife