Silas Hansen

Silas Hansen serves as an Assistant Professor of English and Director of the Creative Writing Program at Ball State University, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in creative writing and literary publishing since 2014. He also holds the position of nonfiction editor for the literary journal Waxwing.

Education

• Bachelor's in English, Women and Gender Studies, and Political Science, SUNY College at Brockport (2010)
• MFA, The Ohio State University (2013)

Research Focus

Hansen specializes in literary nonfiction and essay writing, with publications appearing in The Normal School, Colorado Review, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Redivider, and Hobart, alongside features on Slate and Catapult. His current project involves compiling a collection of essays that emphasize reflective narrative techniques connecting personal experiences to broader societal themes. As an editor, he prioritizes works that transcend conventional memoir through analytical depth and contextual awareness.

Professional Philosophy

Hansen champions diversity in publishing by actively soliciting submissions from writers of color and ensuring balanced representation in Waxwing's issues. His editorial approach centers on collaborative refinement—posing open-ended questions to help writers realize their vision rather than imposing his own. He advocates poetry reading as essential training for line editing precision and stresses the importance of distinguishing grammatical rules from stylistic choices in editorial practice.