Come Write for the ESA’s Blog!

Have you ever wanted to talk about a book, but your friends have never heard of it? Or maybe, you watched a critically underrated film that boggled your mind so much that you pulled an all-nighter to write an essay. Whatever your reason may be, chances are that as an English student, you do a lot of writing. So, why not share it with the world?

First off, let me introduce myself. My name is Atticus- yes, like the lawyer from To Kill a Mockingbird. I originally started off at UBC with plans to be a physics major, but after falling in love with English literature through the masterpiece of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre in my ENGL 110 class, I quickly realized that I was not ready to let go of the humanities. Now, I am a fourth-year dual degree student doing my BSc in geographical sciences and BA in English literature.

During my third year, I sent an email to the blog’s former admin asking if I could become a blogger. At that point, I was desperate to get involved in UBC’s English community. The world had shut down before I ever even became an English major and I knew nobody in the department. To my delight, the admin approved of my writing sample and on I went to write my first article!

I like to write on just about anything, though I gravitate towards queer theory and topics that are typically censored in literature, whether that be throughout history or in the current day. Like the blog has done for me, I hope to foster an inclusive environment where you can write on whatever your heart desires, as long as it relates to English studies!

What to expect as a blogger, and why become one?

There are no commitments as an ESA blogger.

I will never chase you down to make sure you write an article each month or fire you because you were three days past your submission deadline. Writing for the blog should never impact your academics.

In past years, most bloggers submitted an article every 4-6 weeks. If that schedule works for you, then great! However, if you can manage just one article per semester, then that is also perfectly acceptable. There is no contract. If you want to write just one article then never submit anything else again, then I promise you will not get in any trouble. The only enforced rules are that you cannot have more than two articles posted per month, you must abide to UBC’s policies and guidelines, and you have to be a member of the ESA.

Besides the relaxed atmosphere, there are tons of reasons why someone would want to be a blogger. Here are just a few:

• To have a reason to write outside of school.
• Keep your academic-mind active while on co-op.
• Get your name out there.
• An interest to get involved with the ESA and make friends!

How to Apply

If you want to get involved, please send an email to blog@ubcenglish.com. From there, I will send ask you a few questions and ask for a writing sample. If you are approved, you will then be provided with instructions for your position.

To those who were bloggers in previous years, please note that submissions and pitches will both be done over email this year. You will not have to reapply, just let me know when you have purchased your 2021-22 ESA membership pass and send me a pitch whenever you want. Furthermore, for those who sent an email between the months of March to early September 2021, please resend! I do my best to respond within a 48-hour window.

Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Here are a few ways to contact me, as well as the rest of the ESA team.

• Email me directly at blog@ubcenglish.com
• Email the ESA team at English.ubc@gmail.com (if you have something urgent, email here)
• Reach out on our Instagram @ubc_esa

On an Aside

Maybe you do not want to be a blogger but are curious to learn more about the ESA. If that is the case, then I do suggest you look into our Instagram, as tagged above.

I understand that after a year online, many students are eager to make friends and find a community- I feel the same way! So, if there is anything that I can do to make your experience as an English student better, please tell me. The ESA is working closely with the department’s faculty and staff this year to plan out some fun events that focus on both community-building and academics. If you have any ideas of what you want to see this year, you are more than welcome to send us an email.

The English department is a big one, but that does not mean it cannot sustain a tight-knit community. I believe this will be an incredible year and I am so excited to see what the future holds!