November 14, 2026
Creative works of Mayville State University students Alex Grotte and Colt Garrett have been selected for publication in the 2026 edition of Northern Narratives, the Fargo Public Library’s annual regional literary publication. Garrett’s poem, “Hand of Damocleia,” was included in this year’s collection. Grotte earned publication of two works, the poem “8 Areas of Birds and Loneliness” and the short story “The Rising Sun.” Both students developed their published pieces in creative writing and poetry courses at Mayville State.
Northern Narratives features poetry, fiction, and creative works from writers across the region, providing an opportunity for emerging and established authors alike to share their voices with a broader audience.
“We are proud of Alex and Colt for this accomplishment,” said their instructor Erik Kornkven, Mayville State Assistant Professor of English. “Having work selected for publication is a meaningful achievement and a testament to the students’ creativity and commitment to the craft of writing which is fostered through the university’s English department.”
Grotte is a sophomore from Finley, N.D. He is pursuing an English major and psychology minor. Garrett is a senior English major from Portland. N.D. He’s pursuing a minor in history.
The 2026 edition of Northern Narratives can be viewed online at https://download.fargond.gov/0/northern_narratives_2026_with_cover.pdf
Recent additions to the English curriculum at Mayville State University have prompted a rise in student creative writing on campus and online. Classes like Creative Writing, which focuses on short stories, and Introduction to Poetry are now offered on a rotating schedule every spring semester. These classes come as part of an effort to provide a more varied selection of learning experiences for Mayville State students.
“We feel like it’s important to offer students from all disciplines a chance to exercise their creativity,” said Kornkven, who teaches both classes. Poetry and fiction writing are great opportunities for learning how to express yourself and organize your ideas for external audiences.”
To emphasize that these courses are designed for all students, regardless of their chosen major or minor, both Creative Writing and Introduction to Poetry are included in the approved Essential Studies courses, as the skills taught in the creative writing courses transfer to other disciplines as well.
“So much of professional and academic work is concerned with the ability to make connections, draw conclusions, and convey not only information, but emotion through writing, and creative writing helps you practice all of those skills,” said Kornkven.
Both classes are workshop-based and they result in students creating their own collection of writing by the end of the semester.
“I really want everyone who finishes these classes to leave with their own book, whether it’s a collection of short stories, or a book of poetry,” said Kornkven, “something they can put on their shelf and appreciate years later.”
Students in the poetry course, for example, design and hand-stitch their own poetry books at the end of the semester.
In an age of generative AI, creative writing classes are important places where the human creative process is preserved and practiced.
“AI can write pretty things, but it can’t tell your story, it can’t express the emotions you feel,” according to Kornkven. “There’s a certain human connection between reader and author that is lost with generative AI.”
Kornkven feels that publication is a great goal for the students who enroll in the classes.
“There are some really great stories and poems coming out of these classes, and we’re always looking for ways for students to get their work published regionally and nationally,” said Kornkven, expressing his pride in the work of Grotte and Garrett.
The creative writing offerings are just one way that the English Department at Mayville State is working on updating its offerings to match the changing academic and professional landscapes.
“We’re looking very closely at our curriculum as we think about what it means to be an English major in today’s world of social media and generative AI. We believe that the liberal arts are only going to be more important as the public and professional audiences expect human connection and nuance in the things they read, write, and create,” Kornkven concluded.