Wordsmithing is the backbone of Tamryn Herring’s '24 college experience. For a student who aspires to become an author, words are not just words. Every sentence penned and each character crafted are not just academic exercises but the building blocks of her literary journey at Guilford. From the moment she set foot on campus, she knew she was in the right place to nurture her creative spirit and transform her dreams into not just stories but reality.

Tamryn’s Guilford journey began in 2021 when she came to tour the college. Guilford was one of few colleges that still offered the chance to tour its campus. However, Tamryn’s decision was more based on what the college offered academics-wise. “I was just looking for a really good writing program like Guilford's because I knew that it was what I wanted to do even though I didn’t know what career path it would lead into.”

While Tamryn spends some of her time perfecting her craft and reading, she is active on campus as well. In addition to her creative writing major and sociology minor, she serves as a residential advisor and is an esteemed member of the honors program.

The classes at Guilford have been very helpful for Tamryn to hone her writing skills. Many of the classes have helped her realize habits she does in her writing. “It has made me more aware of how I use certain characters and what their purpose is,” says Tamryn. “I think a lot of the time I get lost in trying to get a point across too quickly whereas there could be some more buildup or giving a side character more characterization.”

Tamryn is currently working on a contemporary fantasy young adult novel. She states that the class has been the most helpful is the fiction workshop. Students would present two of their own work, and the class would focus on constructive criticism and feedback.

“Writers, we get so focused on like maybe one aspect of the book we really want to put all our energy into and we sort of lose sight of the surrounding things that are going on in the book,” says Tamryn. She states that her favorite aspect of the class was the feedback. “The outside view is very helpful because where I think I’ve covered all my bases, I really haven’t because I’m the writer. I like being able to listen to other people’s opinions on my work and then deciding and going from there.”

Tamryn’s journey at Guilford is only the beginning toward her path of becoming an author. 

About the Author

Renata Diaz ‘24 is pursuing a degree in English and Media Studies with minors in creative writing and communications. She lives in North Carolina and enjoys reading, writing, and listening to music. She loves Guilford’s tight-knit community and wants to one day become an editor at a publishing house.