Washington Square On Air

Lansing area local Chuck Parker sits down with creative writing professor Melissa Ford Lucken. A software architect with a background in genomics and molecular genetics, Parker reveals how the restlessness of the Covid lockdown and desire to write a novel led him to enroll  in Lansing Community College’s creative writing courses. Parker discusses how the coursework he completed over several s...

Middle school English teacher Alyssa Troy chats with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. Troy describes how the unexpected rescue of her classroom plants led to a poem. As she talks about teaching, she reveals why her students love Flowers for Algernon and one of SE Hinton’s lesser known novels as well as how to encourage young writers. A prolific poet, she imparts wisdom for othe...

Artist and writer Taylor Rae meets up with creative writing professor Melissa Ford Lucken. Rae, who wrote the majority of her novel’s first draft prior to enrolling in LCC’s creative writing courses, takes listeners through the drafting and revising process and shares the extra boost she received by watching Shrek in our Writing the Novel class. Pinterest page Spotify playlist for Taylor’s novel,...

Lifelong creative and seeker Harry Edgar Palacio chats with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. Palacio takes us on a spiritual journey shaped by a study of religions, mythology, and perspective. A musician, visual artist, and yoga teacher, this writer strives to bring meaning to his life’s creative path and inspire others to do the same.  Harry Edgar Palacio’s poem, Midst of...

Former competitive figure-skater Shachi Kulkarni chats with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. Kulkarni describes a personal journey from the ice rink, through a political science undergraduate degree to the American University’s MFA program. An author who writes of heartache and once got a new perspective on creativity from a single episode of The Beverly Hillbillies inspires wr...

Poet and public relations coordinator Andy Brent talks with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. Brent details his poem’s connection to comedian Rodney Dangerfield and explains how he blends his perspectives on human communication with his creative skills to craft appealing and meaningful advertorials that do more than simply provide information.  Andy Brent’s poem, The Heavin...

Midwestern writer and advocate for veterans Rudy Verbos sits down with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. Verbos, who took creative writing courses at Lansing Community College while completing his Master’s of Social Work at Michigan State University, examines the strength of stories both real and imagined. A veteran himself, Verbos understands both the unique characteristics of...

Award-winning author, scholar, and professor Jeffrey MacLachlan explores his writerly world with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. MacLachlan reads an excerpt of his poem inspired by Soviet advertisements, describes the series of politically charged posters that motivated him to create the poem, and laughs about bad art, bad books, and good times to drink alcohol. Jeffrey MacLac...

Fighter and feminist Sarah Boland talks with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. A University of Melbourne student with a passion for the power of the written word, Boland breaks down the female experience, why women’s literature resides on secret bookshelves in bookstores, and how to be brave without a sword.   Sarah Boland’s poem, Joan of Arc , appears in the Summer 20...

Engineering student Brandon Yu chats with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. A cybersecurity major at the University of South Florida, Yu fills us in on his wild day at the gym, his thoughts about AI, and how he uses creative writing to fill a niche in his life. Brandon Yu’s essay, A Day at the Gym , appears in the Summer 2024 issue of the Washington Square Review . _____________...

Lansing Community College Honors Composition students Zoe Jones and Lauren Lamb sit down with Professor Melissa Ford Lucken to chat about how they learned from each other despite very different upbringings. One grew up on an isolated Australian island, the other in mid-Michigan. They also reflect on what they expected from college compared to their actual experiences. _________________________ Web...

Lansing Community College students Kelon and Zied sit down with Professor Melissa Ford Lucken to explore their transition from high school to college. They discuss navigating the differences between the two and reflect on what they liked and didn't like about composition class. _________________________ Website: Washington Square Review

Veteran, author and student Rick Bilodeau talks about the journey of going back to school using the Reconnect Program and how he rediscovered his love of writing. _________________________ Website: Washington Square Review 

Three Lansing Community College students, Layla Mengelson, Yaretzi Sanchez, and Caylee Kerber-Anderson offer a candid conversation with Melissa Ford-Lucken about their experiences in high school, learning hurdles through the pandemic, and their transition to higher education. _________________________ Website: Washington Square Review 

Lansing Community College students Stephen Luea and Annabelle Ludwig talk with Melissa Ford-Lucken about relearning the concept of creative writing and utilizing the "I perspective". They also chat about their overall experiences at LCC and their expectations moving forward. _________________________ Website: Washington Square Review 

LCC students Gabe DeGram, Lucas Molenda, & Jenifer Ugwoagonwu sit down with English Professor Melissa Ford Lucken in this episode of Washington Square On Air. The three talk candidly about their experiences at Lansing Community College and what creative writing means to them. _________________________ Website: Washington Square Review 

Teacher and poet, Carole Greenfield describes how she uses geological terms and concepts to inspire her poetry. Her honest and surprising motivations for crafting and creating images from words come from her work with young children, writing workshops run in homeless shelters, and the experiences of her own life. Carole Greenfield’s poems, Equilibrium Line & Settling , appear in the Summer 202...

LCC student Tae Ngalande chats with English Professor Melissa Ford Lucken in this episode of Washington Square On Air. Ngalande describes a journey that took her from a Catholic boarding school in Zambia, through a couple high schools in the United States, before ultimately landing her at LCC. She reveals her connection to Disney movies and shares and her love of computer science. ________________...

Medieval scholar, English and Gender Studies professor, and multi-genre creative writer, Melissa Ridley Elmes chats with editor Melissa Ford Lucken in this episode of Washington Square On-Air . A writer inspired by both sea monsters and scholarship, Melissa describes how her creative quest took her from formal academic research to fiction, poetry, other generative forms and back into scholarship a...

Ohio native who now calls Brooklyn home, Kyle Rea chats with editor Melissa Ford Lucken in this episode of Washington Square On Air. A graduate of The New School's MFA program, Rea shares his love of folklore, his experience arriving in New York during “Covid Times,” and struggling through several not so great jobs until finding his way to his current position at the Brooklyn’s awesome Greenlight...

Scotland native, Chris Arthur talks with editor Melissa Ford Lucken in this episode of Washington Square On Air. A multi-published essayist and fellow with the Royal Literary Fund, Arthur explores the magic and mystery of the ordinary objects—things such as luggage and letters—that often inspire his work.  Chris Arthur’s piece, Letters from the Dead , appears in the Summer 2023 issue of the W...

Life-long creator, Joshua Sinel explores the writerly world with editor Melissa Ford Lucken in this episode of Washington Square On Air. Co-founder of Storybooth, a digital platform that animates stories written by teens, Sinel describes the quick success he experienced at the start of his writing journey. That exciting beginning was followed by a 20 year gap, during which he poured his creative e...

Ohio State University student, Caily Burr chats with editor Melissa Ford Lucken in this episode of Washington Square On Air. A dedicated writer and volunteer, Burr offers thoughts on how to navigate the sometimes difficult writer workshop, what she gained by writing creative nonfiction essays after focusing on fiction, and how her time volunteering enriches her life. Caily Burr’s piece, Seeking As...

High school English teacher turned college English professor, Kayla M. Branstetter talks with editor Melissa Ford Lucken in this episode of Washington Square On Air. A recent TEDx presenter, Branstetter details her classroom experiences, both hard and humorous, gives us an overview of Medusa’s personal plight, and does the unlikely by using that mythological story to offer insight on the importanc...

Writer, journalist, and editor, Matt A. Hanson, shares insights with editor Melissa Ford Lucken in this episode of Washington Square On Air. A Massachusetts native who now makes his home in Istanbul, Hanson inspires by revealing his enlightened ambition of making meaning of life through art while honoring the humanity found in thought and creation. Matt Hanson’s piece, Mrs. Grammar , appears in th...