By Josh Lanier (English Major)
Kylin Hunter (English ’16, cum laude) is a true artist—he pours every ounce of heart and soul into his creative pursuits. He is also a man who utilizes his talents to help others in his community realize their full potential.
Hunter graduated from USC Upstate with a major in English and a minor in creative writing. Today, Hunter works as a freelance writer. He does copywriting and editing, as well as webpage building and SEO work for clients who call on him whenever they need help with anything that deals with words. He is also an accomplished creative writer and scriptwriter. His graphic novel, Carthage, was published in 2022.
A native of Whitmire, South Carolina, Hunter discovered his love for reading and creative writing at an early age: “I grew up very much interacting with nature as a kid, and that actually influenced my creativity.” Poetry was his first love, and as a fifth-grader, he won a District Award for one of his poems. These early poems fueled his passion for creative writing.
USC Upstate was one of the first colleges to reach out to Hunter, and he was awarded a scholarship through the Upstate Junior Scholar program. “I ended up going with Upstate because I liked how engaged they were with me and wanted to make my future bright.”
“None of us will be around here forever, but we can make our mark while we’re here.”
–Kylin Hunter
Hunter got heavily involved with the literary arts magazine, Writers Inc., during his time at USC Upstate. Hunter says that one of his favorite memories of his time at the university was helping to make Dr. Knight the Best Advisor of the Year, which she ended up winning three years in a row. “Dr. Knight helped me to experience creativity on a different level, and helped me navigate Upstate as my advisor, as well. So I wanted to pay it forward to her.”
Hunter says that some of his other mentors were Dr. Kusch, Dr. O’Brien, Dr. Thomas McConnell, and Dr. Godfrey. “They were all willing to help me succeed, and it helped to push me forward.”
One of the most useful lessons Hunter learned at Upstate was networking skills. As a freelance writer and editor, the ability to network has enabled him to build his career and have clients coming to him. One of the things he enjoys most about his job is that he can pick and choose which work he wants to take on, tailoring it to his own interests. He says that one of the metrics he uses to gauge his success as a freelancer is how much he learns from the writing projects he takes on. Hunter’s writing covers a wide range of topics, and each one is an opportunity to learn something new.
Hunter is always looking for a way to use his platform as a way of giving back. In his script writing, he has included many BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) characters. Most of his main characters are minorities. The main character in his graphic novel Carthage is a young, strong, black hero that will eventually save his nation. Hunter would like for the young people to understand that someone just like them can play the role of hero, and not just some stereotypical role typically played by BIPOC characters in books or films. Even when he writes scripts that would be considered comedic, he wants to make sure his work has substance.
As a creative writer, Hunter wants his endeavors to be an inspiration to others in his community and beyond, and to really make a difference in the way young people see themselves and the world around them. “None of us will be around here forever, but we can make our mark while we’re here.”
It is his dedication to his work and a big heart for people that makes Kylin Hunter an excellent example of a USC Upstate alumni that has truly made their mark.