With the absence of Sketch on campus this year due to accumulating financial problems, there is a void of creativity that some students say needs to be filled.

Fortunately, the Writer’s Bloc has stepped up to fill that void by providing a comfortable atmosphere for writers and poets to express their ideas.

The mission the Bloc has accepted is to “provide people on campus with entertaining and innovative outlets of creative expression beyond the academic classroom.”

According to Julie Comine, a graduate student in the creative writing program and chairperson of the Bloc, there are two activities going on right now that will help the Bloc fulfill its mission.

The first is Knotgrass, an online literary journal that should be completed by the end of the semester. Knotgrass will be accepting submissions from interested writers early next semester.

The second is the return of Word Up! to Ames.

“Word Up! is one of the few events in Ames where people can go to see writers read their material,” Comine said. “It’s a good opportunity for writers to make a connection with an audience that you can’t do in the same fashion through a written medium.”

Comine said the group is trying to offer a place for writers to get together and share ideas. “It’s also a good way to conquer stage fright,” she said.

“I don’t think that this campus could ever have too many creative writing events,”Comine added. “I want to see as many people involved as possible because I think that poetry and fiction really are windows into the soul.”

Cornine said Word Up! and Knotgrass are important because they provide two venues for creative expression that are open to all students, not just those in the creative writing program.

The next Word Up! program is scheduled to convene at Taraccino Coffee (539 Lincoln Way) Friday at 7:30 p.m. The readings are free and open to the public.

Sign-up for the open microphone will begin at 7 p.m. and readers are asked to limit their presentations to 10 minutes.

Students interested in Knotgrass can contact Ander Monson at 294-2180.