The seasonal transition from fall to winter can challenge an aspiring writer’s inspiration, but that hasn’t stopped the literary artists at the Lehigh Valley Charter HS for the Arts (Charter Arts) from prospering. The school added the literary arts major in 2015. The diverse curriculum that includes such courses as media studies, character development, screenwriting, and children’s literature, provides ambitious writers with opportunities to hone in on their writing skills and develop their authorial voices. When Artistic Director of Literary Arts Paul Walsh was asked what he hoped to accomplish with the Literary Arts program, he replied, stating:

“The overarching goal for me as head of the Literary Arts Department is to help students do two things. First, I want to help them find and develop a confident voice as an artist and as a human being. Secondly, I want to help students learn how to use that voice. In the Literary Arts Department, we believe students have a story within them and it is one worth telling.”

Apart from sharing their work in class, literary arts students also have the opportunity to showcase their written compositions through different outlets located within Charter Arts and the city of Bethlehem. An example of one of these outlets is “Ruckus,” which is a student literary arts magazine publication produced by senior literary arts students. Every quarter, the senior publication team works together to create a new edition of the magazine. With support from their teachers, seniors learn how to lead a project from start to finish. To start the process, the seniors divide themselves up into four different groups: submissions, editing, marketing, and designing.

For the first half of the process, the submission team looks through almost 50 pieces turned in by students within the major. Out of those 50 submissions, only 26 get chosen, and in some editions, that number is less. These submissions are anonymous, so the critics cannot judge pieces based on their own personal encounters with students. That makes the decision process challenging but fair. Once this part is over, they can then move on to editing the pieces and putting the layout of the magazine together.

From there on out, the marketing and design teams carry out the rest of the process. The marketing group promotes “Ruckus” around Charter Arts using posters, and they also run an Instagram account, which allows outside communities to experience “Ruckus.” The design group finishes the production by inventing a cover that showcases the overall mood of the edition.

When Heath Mensher, senior publication team mentor, was asked what he wanted to accomplish with “Ruckus” he expressed that he wants the experience of his class to teach the seniors the responsibility it takes to put together a “high quality commodity.” He then went on to say that writing is a skill that is built over time, and that he hopes the sincerity in “Ruckus” moves readers.

The hard work that the senior class put into this year’s winter edition of “Ruckus” showcases the program’s dedication to creating a community of strong writers. If you would like to see more of what they can do, feel free to attend the junior class poetry reading, which is being held at the school Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. To learn more about Charter Arts or to learn more about the school’s auditions for the 2020-2021 school year, visit www.CharterArts.org.