Getting the creative juices flowing with a Chautauqua internship

The phrase “literary arts” conjures up images of thick books and the perfectly chosen words. This summer, Posse Scholar Claudia Collazo-Ramos ’27 learned that it can also mean creativity and community beyond the written word.

As an English-creative writing major and theatre minor, Collazo-Ramos knew that an internship was the perfect opportunity to make connections in her chosen field. With this in mind, Collazo-Ramos went through a competitive application process–including a portfolio review of her personal writing–to intern at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York. 

“I decided to do this internship after reading that it was advertised as an opportunity to study and network with some of the most exciting writers on the American literary scene,” Collazo-Ramos said.

To ensure this happened, interns were required to interview two authors during their time at Chautauqua. One of her choices was Kwame Alexander—the Artistic Director of Literary Arts for Chautauqua.

“While interviewing him, I realized that he is the type of writer that I aspire to be in the future: full of love for what I do and committed to sharing it with others so that they, too, can know the magic of writing,” Collazo-Ramos said. “Meeting people like him has reminded me of why I love being a writer.”

Her second interview was with children’s book author Mark Tyler Nobleman.

Over the course of her internship, Collazo-Ramos worked on community poems and erasure poems, and took a class on poetry, as well as one on speculation and folklore. She also worked as a guide for the Poetry Maker Space, provided administrative support for events such as book signings, assisted with the organization’s publications and social media, and attended four week-long writing skills workshops.

Each day, Collazo-Ramos would have breakfast and then go to her morning workshop, before working a shift at the Poetry Maker Space and taking a second class. 

“My afternoons would typically allow me more flexibility to do different kinds of things. I would participate in meetings, work on some assignments, or watch one of the shows by a guest artist,” Collazo-Ramos said. “I had a lot of fun in general, but my favorite was a song-writing class. It felt like getting a private concert. Also, it was my first time writing a song and, even though I didn’t sing, everybody was supportive of me when I presented it.”

Collazo-Ramos and other interns were also given a free pass to local events. They got to attend plays, lectures, the ballet, and even a Counting Crows concert. Although it wasn’t all directly related to writing, it all had an impact.

“Being surrounded by creatives has motivated me to give the best of myself when it comes to not only my personal writing but also the writing that I have done for my job,” Collazo-Ramos said.

Now that the four-week internship is over, Collazo-Ramos is firm in her belief that all students should complete a similar experience because it would help them get the most out of what they are studying. For her, it provided that vital element of both improving writing skills and making connections in the industry.

“Being in Chautauqua in general has helped me start writing a story that I had been thinking of creating for quite some time,” Collazo-Ramos said. “I am excited to go back home and put into practice everything that I have learned.”