After a rocky year of rebuilding in 2022, Grapevine enters 2023 with changes to the club. In previous years, Grapevine has solely been West High’s literary magazine, publishing Trojan’s writing, photography, and artwork. While Grapevine remains a literary magazine, it now also serves as a writing club.
Rebuilding community within West clubs due to COVID-19 proved to be difficult, causing many club leaders to be creative. With Grapevine also being a writing club, the members now include a wide variety of people. Club members consist of both those who are passionate about crafting their work as well as students who want to produce the literary magazine.
Every Monday after school students meet in room 108, welcomed by the club advisory, Darien Robins, to work on their writing. This year, plans for the club consist of writers workshops, professional speakers, and presentations for contest opportunities. Beginning trimester 2, Grapevine will also start holding club meetings on Tuesdays after school. These meetings will consist of an editorial board specifically focussed on creating the Grapevine magazine.
Through transforming Grapevine and broadening its purpose to both writing and sharing writing, both the magazine and club members benefit. Many who write during the Monday club meetings may consider submitting their work to the Grapevine magazine as it is an easily accessible way to get their work published and seen.
This is Robins’ first year as Grapevine advisor after taking over for Tom Lindsey. He hopes to give students a structured time to write in their busy lives in this new era of Grapevine.
“Grapevine, the magazine, seeks to foster and elevate students’ artistry. Adding a day that is dedicated simply to giving students time and space to write feels like a necessary part of that goal,” Robins said. “So many students want to write, but they feel like they just don’t have the time. Grapevine is that time.”
