NORFOLK, Neb. -- Northeast Community College in Norfolk closed out its Visiting Writers Series for the Spring semester on Wednesday.

The series welcomes three writers, poets, etc. each semester to read their published work to students while also sharing advice to the future writers.

The coordinator for the event, Bonnie Johnson-Bartee said it's one thing for the young writers to collaborate with each other on their work, but it's a great opportunity for them to be in the room with a published writer who is doing what the students aspire to do.

"You can see their eyes light up like 'oh I do that too' or 'that's a good suggestion, I'm going to try that,'" Johnson-Bartee said. "You know, talking about how the editing and the publishing process goes, I had students asking about that, because they're very interested. We have some students in the program right now who are going to be writers."

Johnson-Bartee said she 'keeps her finger on the pulse' of the writing community in finding the guest speakers for Northeast's campus, but also coordinates with Wayne State College to have the writers speak there as well.

The series has been going on for decades, inspiring the next generation of writers to keep going.

"Having this collaboration with an actual published poet or published writer gives them faith, gives them hope, gives them great writing tidbits and gives them a realistic view," Johnson-Bartee said.

The Visiting Writers Series was free to the public and sponsored by the Northeast Community College's English department.