By KATHLEEN SYLVESTRI
Guest Reporter
Although writing is a daunting task for some, for Arts & Sciences junior Rachel Mans, writing comes naturally.
Mans, an English and creative writing major, has been excited by the written form since high school when Mans founded “Scratch Paper,” a literary magazine. The next logical step at Creighton for Mans was joining the staff of “Shadows” literary magazine.
Mans said she saw a sign her freshman year asking students to submit work to “Shadows.” She did, and the next thing she knew, she became part of the staff.
This year, Mans is the magazine’s editor-in-chief.
“Shadows” has been at Creighton for 30 years. The staff has weekly meetings where they discuss each submission and vote on whether to publish each piece.
Mans said the staff looks at the variety of pieces and their degree of completion. Some pieces are submitted and are not finished yet.
“Sometimes you get a lot of art, sometimes poetry – you work with what you have,” Mans said.
Jordan Hanson, an Arts & Sciences junior, is the art director for “Shadows.” Hanson said that she enjoys weekly meetings when the staffers review submissions. Hanson said she believes much can be appreciated by reading other students’ work.
“I like to look at other people’s work and learn from it,” Hanson said.
Susan Aizenberg is the faculty adviser for “Shadows.” As adviser she said her role is to be a resource for advice and support.
“Rachel is an excellent editor,” Aizenberg said. “A good way to grow as a writer is to be an editor.”
Hanson said Mans is very responsive to the people who submit their work.
“She is very good about giving the student feedback, whether or not their piece gets accepted,” Hanson said.
Mans not only loves writing as an art but also loves the art of acting. She said she also considers herself an actress. She appeared in Creighton’s production of “House of Blue Leaves,” which opened in late February.
Mans said her favorite part of being the editor-in-chief of Shadows is watching the writers grow.
“I like giving feedback to the writers. It’s nice to see them improve and change,” Mans said. “Through their work, I am getting to know them.”