The decision to write for Varsity can stem from many sources – a desire to reconnect with writing as a hobby, the pursuit of an outlet for opinionated rants, or the search for a distraction from the routine of our degrees. Varsity consists of 12 separate sections, from Features, to Art to News. Almost 100 staff writers, and over 40 editors contribute to its ever-growing body of work. As writers prepare for the upcoming term, a love letter to the creative process and a peek behind the scenes of Varsity seems to be in order.

Inspiration forms the scaffolding of a Varsity article. For some, discipline and force of habit are the preferred approach to coming up with ideas. “I began with dedicated, sit-down brainstorming sessions in my first term as a writer. I felt I needed a schedule and long term plan for the term I knew was going to be busiest,” shares Francis, a writer for the Music section. “This fundamentally changed, however, with the the long vacation. I grew to view my role at Varsity as an opportunity of output rather than a tick-box to-do list of articles. Maybe it was the openness of the holidays, or just maturing and learning as a newer writer, or both, but now ideas just float in, from the odd songs I’m listening to, posters I see, conversations I have, or overhear, or force myself into.”

“I grew to view my role at Varsity as an opportunity of output rather than a tick-box to-do list of article”

In my experience, the best pitches are the ones that materialise on a whim. The notes app gets first dibs, and these fragments are then transferred to a Google doc, where they complete their life cycle as fully fledged articles.

“I write about things that happen to me during my day to day life,” concurs Liv, a writer for the Lifestyle section as she reflects on the first article that she wrote for Varsity – a heartfelt appreciation of intercollegiate friendships. “One of my friends actually told me that my articles feel like blog posts, which I think is pretty accurate.”

The common thread between these approaches is a commitment to refining that initial rough draft into a polished piece. Time management plays a major role in how writers fulfill this commitment. For Liv, Varsity articles are a welcome distraction from the demands of her degree. “Honestly, it’s something that I do to procrastinate […] when I’m in the library but I have no interest in doing my reading, it’s easier to write an article because I’m still in the ‘I’m doing work’ productive headspace but I’m also not doing something that feels as mentally arduous as my degree.”

Irina, a writer for the Fashion section comments that “while I would love to say that writing for Varsity always comes as a pleasant respite from course work, this is not always the case. To fit writing into my schedule, I make it a rule to write articles at the beginning of the week, when the course workload seems manageable.”

“A lot of my own voice makes up the article, and without it, it wouldn’t be as fun a read”

No two Varsity writers have the same writing routine. “I prefer writing in the morning because my concentration levels are higher,” shares Irina. Others prefer to burn the midnight oil, polishing paragraphs long after the library has emptied. “I love writing at night,” says Francis. “When I’ve got all the information from the day stored up in my head and the pressure to get enough sleep, I feel the most creative. At the cost of a few loose-fingered spelling mistakes, I feel I can write with a lot more focus, sensitivity and excitement.”

Writing for Varsity can pose unique challenges. “A google search can bring up my articles. When I write, I tend to be overly aware of the fact that recruiters, supervisors, or friends may end up reading the text,” says Irina. “I try to keep my pieces clean of any ‘risky’ content, by keeping my jokes PG-friendly and trying my best to appear politically-ambiguous.” The pressure to self-censor is by no means universal, however. “I’ve never felt the urge to censor myself. With music, it’s largely subjective,” says Francis. “A lot of my own voice makes up the article, and without it, it wouldn’t be as fun a read.”

Editing forms the other side of the journalistic coin. After a draft is complete, section editors provide feedback and suggest refinements, even if that means killing your darlings for the sake of brevity. “I had to cut out about 100 words, which was sad since I really liked what I had written,” shares Liv. “But apart from that I have had no issues with the editing process.”

Occasionally, editors have to step in to alter the tone and angle of an article. Francis reflects that, “I’m writing for a student paper, representing a body of writers, not just myself.” Generally, writers do not shy away from controversial topics; sections have articles analysing everything from national politics to the internal functioning of the University itself.

While experiences of writing for Varsity differ, most writers agree that it changes your relationship with the art of writing for the better. As Francis puts it: “It became a vehicle for my own interest: I’d be thinking, listening or reading something and be motivated to condense my research into an article, creating something physical to show for it.”