The Shinnery Review, a student run publication, hosted a writing and photography workshop on Saturday.

The Shinnery Review is a literary and arts magazine that publishes every spring. Students submit their work to the magazine and the editors choose which pieces will make it to publication.

Erik Ringle, senior English major from Springdale, Ark., is a co-editor of The Shinnery Review.

“The Shinnery Review is a good way to both publicly exhibit a work of art, photograph, short story, poem, etc. and to get some publication experience to show to graduate schools,” Ringle said. “Moreover, we want to exhibit the amazing artistic talent that is often overlooked on campus.”

Ringle said the goal of the workshop, which was open to all students, was to equip students with skills to improve upon their art and also to spread word about The Shinnery Review.

“Largely, we wanted to get our name out to the student body by providing them with some writing and photography tips to help with their submissions to the magazine this spring,” Ringle said. “I know that I have always benefited from what the speakers have had to say.”

Among the speakers were the Writer in Residence of the English department, professor Albert Haley, assistant professor of English, Dr. Stephen Moore and instructor of Art and Design, professor Nil Santana.

“The speakers did a fantastic job explaining aspects of writing, being creative and taking a photograph,” Ringle said.

Lexi French, assistant director of The Shinnery Review and junior English major from Palestine, said the information the speakers gave was very beneficial.

“Dr. Moore had the students do writing exercises and some games,” French said. “Then Al Haley spoke on creativity in general and how creativity in America is on the decline.”

Ringle said he counted 53 students at the second session on Saturday, which he felt was a very good turnout.

“The turnout was fantastic, even though it was a Saturday afternoon, and I heard a lot of positive feedback by some of the students who showed up,” Ringle said.

Ringle said he felt that the workshop really helped spread the word about the publication.

“If you asked the average student on campus if they have heard of the Shinnery Review, I think you would find that most people have no idea what you are talking about,” Ringle said. “Events like the workshop help to remedy this.”

You can view online additions of previous Shinnery publications at blogs.acu.edu/shinnery/. Students can also submit their entries by emailing them to shinnery@acu.edu.