Hey there! My name is Alice and I’m joining The Cabin this summer as one of the interns. Though I’m back in Idahome for the summer, I’m actually going to school at Knox College in Illinois, where I’m studying Creative Writing and Linguistics. Writing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember, much encouraged by my grandma (a teacher) and her sister (a book-lover working at Powell’s city of books).

My first introduction to The Cabin was by taking one of their writing camps myself when I was younger, which made me fall in love with the place right away. I came back last summer as a teaching assistant for the writing camps, then again this summer as an intern. In the past few years I’ve attended a few events at The Cabin as well as several poetry slams and open mics around the city, but I’ve always just watched and listened. This summer, I vowed to really get involved with the arts, and becoming an intern at The Cabin seemed like a great way to do it. Between the cozy log cabin feel and the energy of various writers buzzing about, I am so excited to see more of what goes on behind the scenes at this small literary arts nonprofit. There’s nothing better than being surrounded by people who share the same love of writing as you.

From all my different experiences at The Cabin, my days here have ranged from writing poems in the rose gardens, to lying on the front lawn listening to a third grader tell me a story, to (anxiously) answering phones and filling out spreadsheets. It’s exciting to be a part of something like this, and it’s always amusing to see how people react when I tell them where I’m working. We have something like that? They ask me. In Boise? It’s so nice to have such a vibrant and growing arts community in the Boise area, and I’m so glad to be involved. Yet, I know this is barely the beginning: it’s only my second day here as an intern, and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for me.

Tucked away in the forest, under the canopy of trees, a shelter from the heat of the summer sun welcomes you. Inside, surrounded by the knotted pine and smell of wood, the hustle and bustle of the imagination comes to life. Ideas scurry around your mind like a squirrel gathering inspiration and planting the seeds in your brain, soon to grow into an elaborate story in full bloom. Its fruit tastes of fantastic and magical characters, its leaves the worlds in which they roam, and the roots stretch deep down to your heart. This fun is shared by many and has been making the forest burst with new and exciting tales of heroes and friendship.

Although, the fun has not been shared by everyone, at least not yet. Boredom and laziness like weeds choke out and try to destroy the trees and flowers. Their thorns poke and grab at the mind distracting from the fun with monotonous and repetitious routine. The only way to eradicate this invasion is the power of creativity. This is our call to arms, come help us fight against the dull and mundane. Come and create, bring new life to our world by creating new worlds and characters who can teach and inspire others.

This is what it is like to be a part of the Cabin. It truly is an amazing place for creating and inspiring writers of all ages and bringing them together. My name is Alison Cole and I am a Creative Writing English major at Boise State University on my way out of my senior year and into a future full of hope. With this opportunity to intern at the Cabin I will be able to put my degree, and my passion, to good use and help young writers learn about reading and writing as well as work on my own illustrated children’s book.

I look forward to seeing all of you in the fight against the dull routine of everyday life and creating an alliance with the adventurous and thrilling journey that is writing.

Hello, all. My name is Tyler. I’m the latest intern here at The Cabin. I’m a student at Boise State University majoring in English with an emphasis on creative writing. Writing has become a fairly recent endeavor for me but it’s become an all-consuming hobby just the same.

My initial experience with The Cabin was in the form of a reading by one of my former writing instructors and The Cabin’s own teaching-writer Christian Winn. I was impressed with what The Cabin offered to Boise’s robust literary community and vowed, some day, to be a part of it. Lo and behold, two years later and here I am.

The internship began not with a bang but with a ring. One of the more potent thing I’ve learned about myself throughout these twenty-something years is my seemingly inexhaustible loathing of telephone correspondence. A solid five seconds before the phone actually rings, a red light signals the incoming call. Before I can make amends to the calling patron’s membership status or enroll his or her child in a summer writing camp, I must engage in a fruitless staring contest with my own HAL 9000.

When not speaking on the phone, I can be found fastidiously working on other tasks at the front desk. I am the self-styled first line of defense for those patrons who step through The Cabin’s front door. I often make adjustments or entries into spreadsheets in anticipation for the upcoming summer writing camps for kids.

My expectations for the internship were probably a little too ideal in hindsight. I’m not sure why but I put quite a bit of stock in my own writing ability, as though the internship would require spontaneous poetry workshops. I am learning about a major component of interning for a literary center: the non-profit business aspect.

The amazing programs that The Cabin offers are not products of whimsical musings or happenstance. No, these services come to fruition due to a dedicated and passionate staff who willingly subject themselves to the darkest depths of Microsoft Excel. Though some of the work involved here may feel a bit tedious at times, I can’t help but find myself entering and exiting the building with a smile on my face.

I do truly feel like I’m cultivating a lovely set of business skills that will help me in my professional escapades. I’m also more than happy to do this work when I consider the end result: helping the next generation of Boise writers find their niche. I’m all the more excited for the work I’ll be doing for The Cabin once the writing camps begin.