Spoon Fed

Posted by Nick Martinez in Creative Writing

There was no order. Invitations—spoons—were left in Susanne Miller’s office for any curious party. The menu consisted of Quiche, Chicken Wings and Peeps. The more than 20 students who showed up weren’t sure what was in store for the night—sometimes even the event organizers weren’t sure. In other words, the March 31 celebration of Coffee Spoons in O’Shaughnessy Performance Space was quintessential Creative Writing Department.

Coffee Spoons, the little loved online literary magazine, was started as a direct response to Glyph. One of its founders, Brandon Brown, views it as a place where all students, regardless of majors, can get their work out there for the world to see. But, in the magazine’s short existence, very few have paid attention.

“It’s been hard this semester,” he said, citing the hectic schedule of the typical SFUAD student and a lack of a solid marketing plan.

Regardless, Brown, Melinda Freudenberger, Marina Woollven, Amaya Garza and Serafima Fedorova, the Coffee Spoons staff, continue working. Each staff member wears many hats; between proofing, publishing, web design, event planning and peer editing, everyone does everything.

“A lot of frazzled meetings,” Freudenberger admits.

The Coffee Spoons event was meant to get more people talking about the magazine, but for Brown, it was mostly about bringing people together.

“The whole deal is to get people in a room talking,” he said. “Maybe I’m a sap, but that’s how I feel.”

Freudenberger agreed. “There is a sense of secrecy in the writing department,” she said. “Which is unnecessary. Other majors don’t have that fear.”

No one at the event had that fear. Attendees were given a physical handmade copy of The Coffee Spoon, a collection of the first two issues from the website, and many gave readings. Writing majors Andrew Koss and Charles Simon, with Contemporary Music Program major John Church, played songs throughout the evening. Brown, with a showmanship recalling his days in theater, read a selection from William Carlos William’s Spring and All. Periodically, students wrote their own phrases on special sheets in the back.

There was no plan, but no one cared. People came together, had fun.

“I think we could disappear,” said Woollven. “Or this party could be really big and turn things around. Regardless of the number of submissions we get, we’ll still be here for the students.”

Coffee Spoons returns next year with new issues.