Creative writing student Max Loew talks about giving time to their creative outlets while working towards their aspiration of becoming an author
Max Loew
By Ellie Webb-Bowen, CLA Student Writer - December 23, 2025
Growing up, Max Loew was used to moving a lot. Their father, a pastor, was frequently transferred to different congregations around the country, including stops in Michigan, Washington, and Wisconsin. After moving to Oregon, he found work with the Klamath Tribes, which allowed Loew's family to settle down in Southern Oregon. During their earlier years picking up and moving, Loew would stay busy reading and writing their own stories, mostly fantasy-adjacent tales.
Loew always knew they wanted to pursue higher education and OSU was a good fit. As a writer, Loew took an interest in the writing program offered through the School of Writing, Literature, and Film, but initially enrolled as a psychology major. Loew loved writing, yet like many young adults coming into college, they were also unsure about if writing could lead to a viable career.
“I went in with all of the external pressures a college student has about majoring in an artistic degree,” Loew explains. But then they discovered that maybe it would be best to follow their aspirations. “I found psychology, and I still do, very interesting. I use a lot of psychology concepts in my writing, so the initial dip into the program paid off if anything.”
After a start in the School of Psychological Science, and with help from therapy, Loew determined that finding happiness through switching majors was going to be the most fulfilling long term. “I’ve been writing since I was a kid, I just love it,” they said. “At that moment, I felt like if I didn’t switch, I would regret it for the rest of my life.”
Since beginning in the School of Writing, Literature, and Film as a creative writing major, Loew has worked under the guidance of notable faculty, including Instructor Brandy St. John and Associate Professor Jennifer Richter, both of whom have encouraged Loew to be creative without hesitation. "Regardless if they know or not, both really helped me broaden my understanding of my own writing," Loew said. "I just really loved and appreciated their courses."
Complementing their coursework in writing and journalism, Loew wrote prolifically for The Daily Barometer, OSU’s student-run newspaper, eventually achieving the role of campus editor. Their position at the paper taught them news discipline and management and leadership skills, as well as increased their confidence in publishing pieces of their writing.
In addition to writing for the school newspaper, Loew participates in the Orange & Black Film Club. They wrote and directed one short film, titled The Hallway, a horror movie based on the never ending hallways of the Finley Hall dorm, before serving as the director of photography for the second, titled Body in the Forest. Loew appeared in two films produced by the collective, offering them a creative outlet other than writing. "I did a lot of theater when I was a kid. Right now, I have not written any new scripts, but I am helping a friend with a passion project of his outside of the club."
Loew is also close to finishing their first novel, titled To Eternal Bliss. Described as “tragic queer fiction,” they began working on the passion project roughly three years ago. Influenced by the video game "The Last of Us" and their experience as a queer woman. A big motivation to write about queer love is connected to the exploration of love in general; diving into the reasons as to why people love and how they show it.
"I just want this love story to be about love," they stated. “I want to write books for readers who want to feel things, as an art of expression, rather than make money.”
Queerness in literature, as Loew explained, is often viewed through very critical lenses, but through their writings they are exploring what will happen if readers simply embrace queer love as something that has the right to exist as it is.
"Love can be anything, it doesn't have to be linear or labeled for people to understand that it is out there in the open," said Loew. “I just really like exploring the human psyche and what certain things push humans to make certain decisions.”