Sometimes when I close my eyes, I find myself in Ireland. Inchydoney Island, to be specific, a remote beach on the west coast of the country. When I studied abroad in Dublin last semester (which, funnily enough, proved to be not the best time to go – thanks Covid), the writers program I was part […]
Category Archives: Blog
How to ‘hack’ the Opus submissions process
Hello everyone! I’m writing this today to tell you all how to make my job a lot harder. I want all of you to get work into Opus, but the sad truth of it is, not everyone’s work makes it into the magazine. But I want you to have the best shot possible of getting […]
Common poetry critiques from Opus staff and how to avoid them
Have you ever felt like the criteria for getting a piece into Opus is elusive and mysterious? Maybe you’ve been frustrated with a poem you thought deserved publication, or you just didn’t understand the notes you got on it. Well, I’m here to help! In this post, I’ll share with you a behind-the-scenes look into […]
List of Tiny Desk Concerts to Set the Vibe of Your Creative Space
One of my favorite stages in the creative process is creating the right environment to work. To me, there is nothing better than making sure the lighting is right, creating my playlists, and getting my favorite mug for tea. I know that each person has a different vibe and workspace that suits them best. Whether […]
A blast from Opus past to inspire your future submissions
Here at Opus, our purpose is to show you off. You, the students of Hope College, make this journal what it is. For those who have submitted this semester: thank you. We love going over your work. You impress us, and it is my solemn wish that we could publish every single piece that we […]
Why won’t my comfort and creativity get along?
In early April I drove home to Indiana after a two-week quarantine, during which I readjusted to not waking up in my little apartment in Dublin’s Liberties. It was a little rough, I’ll be honest, but after many tea-fueled ruminations and long walks on the beach I felt ready to move on to the next […]
Six Books You Never Knew You Needed to Know…You Know?
While helping a professor organize the floor-to-ceiling bookcases in his office, I stumbled across some titles that fascinated me and authors I never knew existed, silly me. I have built up a large collection of photos in my phone of these books. The other day I found myself thinking, “You know who might enjoy these? […]
Garrett’s Favorites List
As an English major, I have been blessed by professors and friends with a variety of acclaimed books and authors to investigate. I’m often asked by good intentioned friends or family, “What is your favorite book?” While I understand this question may often have little more intention than small talk, it is a question which […]
OPUS Movie Night
Hello everyone! We understand that midterms are upon us and they are going to be a bit more stressful this year (thanks polar vortex). So, our editors have thought to have a bit of time to de-stress over the weekend. So, we proudly present Opus’s First movie night! We will be playing Lady Bird in […]
An Obligation to Share
The craft of writing is often a deeply personal one. In most cases, writing is practiced alone until the editing process begins. Writers pour their souls onto pages, and then what? The obvious answer is to share. But, should that always be the case? After finishing a semester of a nonfiction creative writing class focused […]