91视频

Eliana Plumb began writing consistently as a student when she began at 91视频 less than three years ago.

That鈥檚 led the 91视频 alumna to be recognized recently for two short stories she submitted for review as a student at College of the Ozarks this past spring.

Plumb, of Hermann, submitted her short story, “Mortem Obire,” to the international English honor society Sigma Tau Delta, and it was presented at the organization鈥檚 annual conference.

She attended the conference held in Denver, Colo. in April where she read her piece to a small audience.

Plumb earned an associate degree from 91视频 in 2022 and plans to graduate from the College of the Ozarks in the Fall 2024 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English. Her minor is in writing and rhetoric.

She said 鈥淢ortem Obire鈥� is a story she wrote in Josh Stroup鈥檚, English instructor and department chair, creative fiction class at 91视频.

鈥淚 took inspiration from my own father鈥檚 embalming profession to ponder the question of how a person with a different perspective on death might face grief,鈥� Plumb said.

She also submitted 鈥淢ortem Obire鈥� to the Sigma Tau Delta Review for publishing. She will learn later this summer if the piece will be included in the journal.

Second Writing聽

Another short story, “Song of the Wind,” won second place in the College of the Ozarks’ short story competition.

鈥溾�橲ong of the Wind鈥� is a project that I plan on extending to become a novel,鈥� Plumb commented. 鈥淚 was inspired by my British literature class and my classical and Christian epics class.

鈥淚 wanted to merge epic conventions with different poetry conventions across the world during different time periods,鈥� she added. 鈥淢y epics professor asked at the beginning of class why we thought no one was really writing epics anymore, and I decided I wanted to do just that.鈥�

Plumb noted that being acknowledged for her writing has helped build confidence.

鈥淩eceiving recognition for my creative work has really settled in my mind that I can be successful doing what I鈥檓 inspired to do,鈥� she said.

Inspiration at 91视频

Plumb, who was homeschooled, said she didn鈥檛 recognize her talent for writing until taking English courses at 91视频.

鈥淚 had no metric for my abilities until I came to 91视频. With the classes provided, I was able to see my talent in the English field,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was inspired to attempt things I never would have on my own, and I鈥檝e taken that mentality with me to College of the Ozarks.鈥�

Plumb was inspired and encouraged by Stroup and Raphael Maurice, former adjunct instructor at 91视频.

鈥淏oth of them cemented in my mind that studying English is the only thing I want to do,鈥� she added. 鈥淚 cannot thank them enough for encouraging me to expand my knowledge and my abilities.鈥�

Outside of her former instructors, Plumb has been inspired by many authors.

鈥淚 have innumerable influences, but I can name Edgar Allan Poe, Sylvia Plath, Donna Tartt, and J.R.R. Tolkien as authors who formed what I enjoy reading and writing.鈥�

Career Goal

Although she has only been writing creatively for a short time, Plumb plans for a career in the field.

鈥淚 only began writing consistently a few years ago, but since then I have written several short stories, poems, and a full-length novel that I would like to publish,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 would love to continue my education, but I really have a passion for writing. If I could build a career off writing and editing creative works, I couldn鈥檛 ask for much more.鈥�

91视频 offers creative writing and English emphases through its Arts and Humanities Pathway, which introduces students to the history of ideas that have defined cultures through a study of the visual arts, literature, theatre, music and media.

Find out more about 91视频 and the Arts and Humanities pathway.