For the past ten years, it has been an honor for us to lead a great team of folks who made our student publication program, Writers’ Camp @ ZSR, such a unique initiative that empowered undergraduate authors to move from manuscript to printed book, culminating in the extraordinary achievement of becoming published authors. This program has fostered creativity, amplified student voices, and provided an invaluable platform for academic and personal expression. The work of these students has enriched our campus community and demonstrated the potential of library-supported publishing.

However, after thoughtful reflection and consideration, we have decided to sunset the program. This decision is not made lightly, but it reflects the evolving publishing landscape and the increasing accessibility of independent publishing tools. Platforms such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, and others now offer students streamlined and affordable pathways to publish their work independently, with full creative control and access to global distribution networks.

At the same time, the library must carefully steward its resources to ensure we are meeting the broad and changing needs of the campus. This biennial program requires significant investment in both staff time and financial resources, both commitments that are increasingly difficult to sustain given the growing demands on our services and the expanding range of student support initiatives.

While Writers’ Camp is concluding, we remain committed to supporting student authorship in new and sustainable ways. We will do our best to connect aspiring authors with the tools they need to share their voices widely and meaningfully. Additionally, the ZSR Library recently announced the annual Edwin Hallman, Jr. Creative Writing Scholarship, where WFU undergraduate student writers may submit creative fiction (including drama, personal essays, and poetry) of up to 3000 words for the opportunity to win a $1000 scholarship.

Applications open on September 5-26, 2025 for the Edwin Hallman, Jr. Creative Writing Scholarship inviting student authors to submit creative fiction (including drama, personal essays, poetry) on the theme “Curating the World I Want to Live In.”

• Submissions: Up to three submissions may be sent to archives@wfu.edu
• Award: $1,000 (May be applied toward tuition or book purchases only)
• Publication: The winning work will be preserved and published online, and broadly shared with the Wake Forest and Winston-Salem communities.

This scholarship celebrates the power of student voices in imagining and shaping a better future.

We are deeply proud of what Writers’ Camp has accomplished, including our most recent event in 2024, and grateful to every student who participated and every staff member who made it possible. These four books, archived in WakeSpace, with hard copies in Special Collections & Archives, and the spirit of the program, will remain part of our library’s legacy.