Minor revisions made 10/09/09

Have you noticed the Talisman magazine circulating the school? The Talisman is a publication that has been around as long as the school’s history.

Every year Skyline students submit their work for the chance to express themselves and to show off their hidden talents.

“The Talisman is a showcase for what students have inside of them – enormous boundless creativity, both in the written word and the visual art,” said Katharine Harer, creative writing instructor.

Harer has been teaching at Skyline for 30 years, and took over the magazine about 15 years ago. Every year during the spring semester she puts together an editorial committee of students, whom she’s worked with from her creative writing class, and collectively work together to bring the college a compilation of short stories, poetry and artwork.

“I have seen students grow in their own self esteem and their identity as someone who wants to make art and be creative in their life,” said Harer.

Many of the students who have had their work published in Talisman have taken a creative writing class with Harer, either at the time of submission or in the past.

“Katherine is brilliant, she is exceptional,” said Kellyann Conway. “[She] is gentle and never puts anyone down; the critique is on the structure and never on the content.”

Conway is a Skyline student who won 1st prize for her short story and 2nd prize for a poetry entry. Her work was featured in this year’s magazine.

Many students may be afraid or intimidated to share their personal stories with a group of strangers, or think that nobody cares about their writing.

“Publishing made me feel hopeful, because maybe people wanted to hear what I had to say – it was validating,” Conway said.

Harer uses the Talisman during her creative writing course, passing around the magazine for her students to read. Harer feels that students find a connectedness with the poetry and artwork.

“The class has you look inside of you. You learn more about yourself as you look at yourself as an artist,” Conway said.

As creative writing students, you are allowed to write about anything. There are no judgments placed on what you express.

Steve Perotti, a three-semester student of Harer and a former editor of the Talisman, was also published in last semester’s Talisman.

“I write because it keeps me sane,” Perotti says. “Poetry can always give you escape.”

Perotti, who is a creative writing and English major, submitted a poem to the Talisman which was featured as an honorable mention.

“You learn to write for yourself and not others,” Perotti said.

The magazine will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Don’t miss the opportunity to have people recognize what you have to say or show.

“The benefit of creative writing here is that it unites a whole different life of people in one class, it’s a tremendous melting pot of creativity,” Perotti said.

Harer enjoys being able to help students develop in a creative and liberating way, seeing how students can find writing and how writing can find students.

“I have seen students grow in their own self esteem and their identity as someone who wants to make art and be creative in their life, whether they become a nurse or electrician” said Harer. “There will always be a part of them that will always want to be a creative person.”