Cal State Long Beach student Cameryn Harvey created a free website, penpango.com, to provide budding and undiscovered writers the opportunity to showcase their skills, and possibly catapult a career.
Harvey, a business management major, said he came up with the idea after noticing a multitude of websites like Youtube and Vimeo, which showcase musical artists and cinematographers, and the lack of such a medium for aspiring writers.
“I couldn’t find a site that was like those for writers, so I figured why not make a site that would allow writers to showcase their work and their ability the same way these other sites do?” Harvey said.
Harvey’s idea evolved over two weeks, leading up to the launch of the website on Feb. 17.
According to the website, “Penpango.com is a community where writers, readers and employers have a place to let the writing do the talking.”
Harvey said the website is significant because it gives writers confidence and connections to prosper while allowing peers and experienced professionals the chance to comment and rate articles as well as provide others with personalized guidance.
“I want this site to be able to provide a relaxed outlet for writers to showcase their talents, to get feedback on their writing from other known and skilled writers, to help them grow in their craft and also get employers to look at their work and potentially hire them,” Harvey said.
Harvey’s business partner, 23-year-old Asa Bernstine, also said the website can help build an audience.
“We felt like it was important for students with their hearts set on writing or literary careers to meet other young people who have creative interests, while taking advantage of the chance to meet professional writers and college professors who are specialists in writing,” Bernstine said.
Harvey credits his mother, a writer, as his biggest influence in this entrepreneurial venture. Syrone Harvey said she spent part of her career as a freelance writer and made connections with publishers, illustrators, editors and proofreaders via the Internet.
On Penpango, Cameryn Harvey has incorporated features from certain social media networks, such as Facebook and Linkedin.
CSULB English associate professor Sarah Arroyo, whose studies include how technology is changing the ways we use and value writing, said she believes Penpango integrates all of the best features of the latest social sites, such as displaying popular content and members, encouraging interacting by commenting and rating, and highlighting the productive potential for posting.
“I hope people start sharing the site so it attracts a lot of members,” Arroyo said. “The key to a successful media site lies in the contributions of its members: The dynamics of contributing include both producing content and staying active on the site by commenting, rating, tagging, linking feeds and embedding material on other sites.”
Users need to set up an account with an e-mail address and password at penpango.com, but there are no subscription fees. Members can then post articles on any topic and comment on each other’s work.
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