Now that the fabulous 2010 Get Lit! Festival is over, the team at Get Lit! thought we'd take some time to reflect on a few of the amazing events held this year.
One of the first events of the festival this faithful intern attended was the "Crafting a Great Story" panel, which featured Janet Fitch, Kevin Canty, Lore Segal and Lisa Norris, and was moderated by Laura Read, instructor at SFCC.
The four panelists each read a sample of their work and then opened things up for questions to the audience at large. Many community members were in attendance as well as SFCC, EWU and other college students, and the questions ranged from "Where do you get your ideas for novels?" to specific questions about plot, character and getting published.
Both Kevin Canty and Janet Fitch agreed that the process of writing a piece can stretch over a very long time period. Canty informed the audience that he is currently working on four novels (!?!) at the same time, and informed everyone that he didn't publish his first story until age 40. Fitch expressed a similar journey, describing how she decided to be a writer at age 21 "before she'd written anything," she joked, and from that point it took her ten years to get her first story published.
The panelists also agreed that much of their best work had come out of pieces they'd originally envisioned being much shorter. Fitch's novels Paint it Black and White Oleander, she told the audience, both grew out of short stories, and Lore Segal explained how sometimes you have to let the piece determine its own length.
Each author expressed a different way of approaching their work, but they all agreed on the importance of having someone you can trust to read your work and provide honest feedback. Fitch and Canty both cautioned against using a family member, while Norris countered that she has successfully relied on her spouse to be her first reader throughout her career.
Throughout, all the panelists were friendly, kind, funny and open. They joked with each other and with the audience, but answered each question earnestly and thoroughly. During a break halfway through as well as after the panel, each author was approached by audience members who had another question or just wanted to shake hands. One SFCC student took a self-portrait of himself and Lore Segal using his IPhone while a local writer chatted with Lisa Norris. A few students eagerly held out books for Janet Fitch to sign while Kevin Canty thanked a student for their praise of the short story he'd just read.
Overall the panel was a resounding success! The auditorium was full of eager listeners, the audience asked well-meaning questions and hearing each author read a snippet of their work before beginning the discussion was so interesting. I left the panel feeling inspired by each writer's commitment to their work and relieved that these confident, successful authors had struggled as young writers. Gives the rest of us a little hope!
Showing posts with label 2010 Festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010 Festival. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Festival Wrap-Up
What a fantastic lineup we had for the festival this year! Thank you to all of our authors, organizers, volunteers, supporters and attendees.
Just a few thoughts on the slew of amazing events this intern was able to attend:
Selected Shorts: Hearing Isaiah Sheffer in person was incredible. James Noughton and Susanna Thompson, both accomplished performers, were the other readers and the audience was entirely enamored with all of them. The stories, revolving around the theme of "Fatherhood" included selections by John Updike, Roald Dahl and Maxine Swann.
Richard Russo/Jess Walter: If you didn't make it to this event, you've probably already been told, but you missed out. Big time. Russo and Walter, longtime friends, had a packed house at the Bing Crosby Theater rolling in the aisles. Walter read a hilarious short story, as yet unpublished, which he explained came out of a writing exercise between he and Sherman Alexie, while Russo read from his latest novel, That Old Cape Magic. The two bantered back and forth, discussed screenwriting as well as novel writing and answered extensive questions from the audience. When the evening finally ended, everyone exiting the building was still smiling and laughing.
In Conversation with Janet Fitch: This headlining event at the Bing Crosby Theater was also a tremendous success. Fitch read from Paint it Black and then settled into an onstage question & answer period with a moderator. The setup seemed perfect for Fitch, whose conversational style drew the audience in and made the event feel very intimate. Her honest opinions and self-deprecating humor made for an engaging event, and she also took various questions from the audience after the onstage Q&A. There was quite the line for book signings afterward, that's for sure. You can check out her blog here.
Those are just some initial thoughts on the fantastic events attended by this intern! Keep checking back for more information on next year's equally amazing lineup!
Check out what authors Janet Fitch, Ana Maria Spagna and Susan Rich thought by visiting their blogs!
Just a few thoughts on the slew of amazing events this intern was able to attend:
Selected Shorts: Hearing Isaiah Sheffer in person was incredible. James Noughton and Susanna Thompson, both accomplished performers, were the other readers and the audience was entirely enamored with all of them. The stories, revolving around the theme of "Fatherhood" included selections by John Updike, Roald Dahl and Maxine Swann.
Richard Russo/Jess Walter: If you didn't make it to this event, you've probably already been told, but you missed out. Big time. Russo and Walter, longtime friends, had a packed house at the Bing Crosby Theater rolling in the aisles. Walter read a hilarious short story, as yet unpublished, which he explained came out of a writing exercise between he and Sherman Alexie, while Russo read from his latest novel, That Old Cape Magic. The two bantered back and forth, discussed screenwriting as well as novel writing and answered extensive questions from the audience. When the evening finally ended, everyone exiting the building was still smiling and laughing.
In Conversation with Janet Fitch: This headlining event at the Bing Crosby Theater was also a tremendous success. Fitch read from Paint it Black and then settled into an onstage question & answer period with a moderator. The setup seemed perfect for Fitch, whose conversational style drew the audience in and made the event feel very intimate. Her honest opinions and self-deprecating humor made for an engaging event, and she also took various questions from the audience after the onstage Q&A. There was quite the line for book signings afterward, that's for sure. You can check out her blog here.
Those are just some initial thoughts on the fantastic events attended by this intern! Keep checking back for more information on next year's equally amazing lineup!
Check out what authors Janet Fitch, Ana Maria Spagna and Susan Rich thought by visiting their blogs!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Jazzin' it up
It's not every day that Spokane, WA sees celebrities like this. Pushcart Prize winner, National Book Award nominee, performer at Carnegie Hall, four-time national Poetry Slam champion; featured in the HBO series "Def Poetry Jam;" documented performing her poetry in a short film; instructor in poetry, performance and creative writing; inductee into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African descent. That's right, it's just one person with a boatload of accolades. Oh, and did we mention she's performed alongside Adrienne Rich, Sharon Olds, Rita Dove, Joyce Carol Oates, Allen Ginsberg, Walter Mosley, Gwendolyn Brooks, Billy Collins and Galway Kinnell? And even Viggo Mortensen, of Lord of the Rings fame?Of course, it could be none other than world-renowned performance poet Patricia Smith, who will perform her poems alongside top local jazz musicians, melding music and poetry into one exciting evening, Wednesday, April 21, 7 p.m. at The Fox Theater.
Smith often explores the relationships between music and poetry, having worked with blues bands and improvisation jazz groups. She says of the experience, “Here's how it's worked with bands I've performed with before. I very seldom know for sure what I'm going to read until I'm in the venue. Instead, I share the tone of the poem—what it's about, how long it is, and if there are any special moments I should signal—once I begin, the musicians catch the rhythm and mood of what I'm doing. They inspire me and, hopefully, I inspire them. That's how the best performances are created.”Local jazz musicians (and EWU professors) Todd DelGiudice, Don Goodwin and Rob Tapper will be joined by other locals to perform with Smith, drawing on their various experiences with the Spokane Symphony and Spokane Jazz Orchestra. Opening the evening will be the next generation of poetry performers, including the 2010 Regional Poetry Out Loud winner as well as the first place Get Lit! Youth, Teen and College Slam winners. The event is free for students with ID and $20 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketswest.
Smith has received stellar reviews around the world for how compelling and energetic her performances are. One critic, Victor Infante, raved, “Smith epitomizes what a performance poet should be: supremely confident, radiating with presence, drilling each word for precise effect, no nuance or inflection too small for consideration.”
Smith is currently at work on the verse memoir Shoulda Been Jimmie Savannah and the young adult novel The Journey of Willie J.. Her fifth book of poetry, Blood Dazzler, was a finalist for the National Book Award.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Insight with Sallie Tisdale
"Insight with Sallie Tisdale" will be at 11:30 a.m. in the Marie Antoinette Ballroom of the Davenport Hotel. You can also join her for the Davenport's Sunday Brunch at 10 a.m., just mention Get Lit! when you make your reservations with the hotel.
Sallie Tisdale says that her perfect day would include sunshine, a good book, being outdoors, and perhaps a good baseball game on the radio. Now that doesn't sound striking or controversial, right?
Tisdale is known best for being provocative, examining various issues around sex, gender, medicine and morality. She was a registered nurse and has written about her experiences working in various clinical settings. Despite the tense issues she often explores, she can engage almost any ready through her head-on approach to each topic. She knows better than to proselytize; instead, she demonstrates the complexity of each chosen topic and approaches it directly, without apology.
Her most recent book examines the female teachers of Buddhism she'd never heard about in her 25 years of practicing. Once she realized most of the Buddhist literature she was reading was by men and about men, she decided to explore how women have contributed to the Buddhist life, and the result was her seventh book, Women of the Way: Discovering 2,500 Years of Buddhist Wisdom.
Tisdale has taught at Reed College, Northwestern University, and New York University. One of the writing tips she shares with students is:
"Ignore the rules. Forget what they taught you in the writing program. Ignore the bestseller lists and whatever seems to be in fashion right now. Read the writers you admire, but not very much. Don't imitate; but if you're really stuck, open a book of poetry and pick a line at random, and do a free write from it. Then throw it away. Keep piles of notes, lines and titles, and anecdotes. You will find a place for a few of them someday. Accept a few hard truths: There is 95-percent chaff for the few kernels of wheat. Revision is continual. Most good writers don't get published very easily. Most bestsellers suck. It's not a meritocracy. Write for the sake of the words. Keep your day job."
Her books include The Sorcerer's Apprentice: Tales of the Modern Hospital (1986), Harvest Moon: Portrait of a Nursing Home (1987), Talk Dirty to Me: An Intimate History of Sex (1994), and The Best Thing I Ever Tasted: The Secret of Food (2000). Her work also frequently appears in such periodicals as Conde Nast Traveler, the New York Times Magazine, and The Antioch Review.
Sallie Tisdale says that her perfect day would include sunshine, a good book, being outdoors, and perhaps a good baseball game on the radio. Now that doesn't sound striking or controversial, right?
Tisdale is known best for being provocative, examining various issues around sex, gender, medicine and morality. She was a registered nurse and has written about her experiences working in various clinical settings. Despite the tense issues she often explores, she can engage almost any ready through her head-on approach to each topic. She knows better than to proselytize; instead, she demonstrates the complexity of each chosen topic and approaches it directly, without apology.
Her most recent book examines the female teachers of Buddhism she'd never heard about in her 25 years of practicing. Once she realized most of the Buddhist literature she was reading was by men and about men, she decided to explore how women have contributed to the Buddhist life, and the result was her seventh book, Women of the Way: Discovering 2,500 Years of Buddhist Wisdom.Tisdale has taught at Reed College, Northwestern University, and New York University. One of the writing tips she shares with students is:
"Ignore the rules. Forget what they taught you in the writing program. Ignore the bestseller lists and whatever seems to be in fashion right now. Read the writers you admire, but not very much. Don't imitate; but if you're really stuck, open a book of poetry and pick a line at random, and do a free write from it. Then throw it away. Keep piles of notes, lines and titles, and anecdotes. You will find a place for a few of them someday. Accept a few hard truths: There is 95-percent chaff for the few kernels of wheat. Revision is continual. Most good writers don't get published very easily. Most bestsellers suck. It's not a meritocracy. Write for the sake of the words. Keep your day job."
Her books include The Sorcerer's Apprentice: Tales of the Modern Hospital (1986), Harvest Moon: Portrait of a Nursing Home (1987), Talk Dirty to Me: An Intimate History of Sex (1994), and The Best Thing I Ever Tasted: The Secret of Food (2000). Her work also frequently appears in such periodicals as Conde Nast Traveler, the New York Times Magazine, and The Antioch Review.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Dr. Reza Aslan on The Daily Show!
One of the first events to kick off the Get Lit! Festival features Dr. Reza Aslan, who will address the intersection between religion and political conflict, expressing his concern for how those two elements have contributed toward a rise in militancy and terrorism.
Dr. Aslan has written two books on religion and politics, but despite the intense issues he is concerned with, he believes political engagement is the best way to moderate radical ideologies. Best of all, even though he's been published in countless scholarly journals, he also knows how to reach an even larger group of intelligent viewers: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Not only does he know his stuff, but he's funny and engaging as well. Based on that interview, it looks like the Get Lit! attendees are in for a treat.
Dr. Aslan will speak on Thursday, April 15 at 7 p.m. in the Doubletree Hotel's Grand Ballroom. Tickets are $20 general admission and free with a student ID. For more info, look here.
In his most recent book, How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization and the End of the War on Terror, Dr. Aslan examines the origins of the Israel-Palestinian conflict; zealotry in various religious forms; the history of Islamic jihadist distortions of Islam; the repressive governments that produce such radicals; and analyzes America's current war on terrorism.
Dr. Aslan holds degrees in religion from multiple universities including Harvard, and he also holds an MFA in Fiction from the University of Iowa. Born in Iran, he currently lives in Los Angeles where he works as an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at UC Riverside and a contributing editor of The Daily Beast.
Dr. Aslan has written two books on religion and politics, but despite the intense issues he is concerned with, he believes political engagement is the best way to moderate radical ideologies. Best of all, even though he's been published in countless scholarly journals, he also knows how to reach an even larger group of intelligent viewers: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Reza Aslan | ||||
| ||||
Not only does he know his stuff, but he's funny and engaging as well. Based on that interview, it looks like the Get Lit! attendees are in for a treat.
Dr. Aslan will speak on Thursday, April 15 at 7 p.m. in the Doubletree Hotel's Grand Ballroom. Tickets are $20 general admission and free with a student ID. For more info, look here.
In his most recent book, How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization and the End of the War on Terror, Dr. Aslan examines the origins of the Israel-Palestinian conflict; zealotry in various religious forms; the history of Islamic jihadist distortions of Islam; the repressive governments that produce such radicals; and analyzes America's current war on terrorism.
Dr. Aslan holds degrees in religion from multiple universities including Harvard, and he also holds an MFA in Fiction from the University of Iowa. Born in Iran, he currently lives in Los Angeles where he works as an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at UC Riverside and a contributing editor of The Daily Beast.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Help Spread the Word!
As we gear up for the 12th Annual Get Lit! Festival, we want to ensure that everyone in the community hears about the amazing lineup the festival has to offer. This year's festival has events, readings and workshops that will be entertaining, practical, enlightening, humorous, off-the-wall, inspiring and so much more. There are readings, panels and workshops for lit lovers of all ages by an array of award-winning writers like Janet Fitch, Richard Russo, Jess Walter, Reza Aslan, Anna Lappé , Sallie Tisdale, Victor Lodato, Janet Wong and many more.
The festival is designed to appeal to our entire community with events that engage as many individuals as possible. We'd love your help spreading the word about the festival, the more people know about it, the easier it will be for them to realize which events would be perfect for their son, daughter, teacher, spouse, coworker or friend. Every person who hears about the Get Lit! Festival and decides to attend even one event makes our arts community stronger!
We've made it really easy for you to help spread the word. It's as easy as printing a poster or linking to our website on your Facebook profile or blog. You can even Tweet about us, if you feel so inclined :)
We have 13 different posters, flyers and bookmarks for you to choose from, so feel free to print and post to your heart's content! Just go here to choose which flyer would be perfect for your workplace or favorite hangout spot.
If you'd like to link to us on your blog, Facebook, Twitter or other site, here is the link to our homepage.
And, of course, good old fashioned word of mouth is tried and true.
The festival is designed to appeal to our entire community with events that engage as many individuals as possible. We'd love your help spreading the word about the festival, the more people know about it, the easier it will be for them to realize which events would be perfect for their son, daughter, teacher, spouse, coworker or friend. Every person who hears about the Get Lit! Festival and decides to attend even one event makes our arts community stronger!
We've made it really easy for you to help spread the word. It's as easy as printing a poster or linking to our website on your Facebook profile or blog. You can even Tweet about us, if you feel so inclined :)
We have 13 different posters, flyers and bookmarks for you to choose from, so feel free to print and post to your heart's content! Just go here to choose which flyer would be perfect for your workplace or favorite hangout spot.
If you'd like to link to us on your blog, Facebook, Twitter or other site, here is the link to our homepage.
And, of course, good old fashioned word of mouth is tried and true.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Page Ahead: View From the Judge's Table by Guest Blogger Cecelia Goodnow
Get Lit! Programs is once again working with Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program at our annual festival. This year we are hosting a book drive to gather new books for children up to age 12. You can drop off books at any Numerica Credit Union branch, at the INB Performing Arts Center, or any festival event during the month of April.
Get Lit! was also asked to participate in judging for the first Page Ahead Book Award. The categories were picture books in nonfiction, read-aloud, and multicultural. I learned about snowflakes and the boy who actually invented television and discovered many great titles to add to my collection. Each one had something to offer, so it was hard to choose the winners. Below is an insider's look at our book discussion by guest blogger Cecilia Goodnow.
"Does anyone have any thoughts about the next category?"
Cecelia Goodnow has been writing about children's books for two decades, initially as a reporter for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Her newspaper career has led her to many topics, including education, politics, lifestyle trends, health and pop culture, but some of her most rewarding stories have been about the world of children's books, whose talented creators too often go unsung. Read more about news, reviews, and dialog about books for children and teens from the Cover to Cover blog here.
Get Lit! was also asked to participate in judging for the first Page Ahead Book Award. The categories were picture books in nonfiction, read-aloud, and multicultural. I learned about snowflakes and the boy who actually invented television and discovered many great titles to add to my collection. Each one had something to offer, so it was hard to choose the winners. Below is an insider's look at our book discussion by guest blogger Cecilia Goodnow.
"Does anyone have any thoughts about the next category?" Susan Waller, development coordinator for the Page Ahead, scanned the faces of the judges ranged around the conference table high above downtown Seattle. We were there to select the winners of Page Ahead's Best Books for Kids, the literacy group's inaugural children's book contest.
I bit. With the confidence of conviction, I pulled my favorite multicultural book from the stack of nominees and argued its merits.
"Clearly," I concluded, "this is the standout title in the category."
A head nodded, and I prepared to take a victory lap. But then another judge spoke up:
"I hated that book."
"I did, too," said another.
Huh?
It was a graphic demonstration of what we all know in the abstract -- that reading tastes are highly personal and individualistic. They also can be quite passionate, as we learned from fellow judge Cecilia McGowen, head children's librarian of the King County Library System. McGowen, who has served on other awards committees, said tears and angry words can spill out in the heat of rhetorical battle. She even heard of one disagreement that was punctuated by a slap.
Fortunately, we were a congenial and collegial group, and we had a lot of fun this afternoon discussing the pros and cons of the titles under consideration. It went kind of like this:
Judge A: "I'm sorry none of your favorites was chosen. I don't want you to feel your opinion isn't being heard."
Judge B: (chuckling) "That's okay. It's not about me."
In addition to McGowen and yours truly, the "deciders" included Rene Kirkpatrick, former buyer at All for Kids and now a buyer at Third Place Books; Stephanie Dunnewind, who reviews kids' books for The Seattle Times, and (via speakerphone from Spokane) Dani Ringwald of Get Lit! Programs, which sponsors an annual literary festival. Waller and Jacki Crowther, Page Ahead's book program manager, rounded out the selection committee.
The scene was a 48th-floor conference room inside the Washington Mutual Tower, in the sprawling offices of Perkins Coie, the Northwest's oldest and largest law firm. We had a great view of the misty city and kept ourselves stoked with a tempting array of snacks from Trader Joe's, so it was well nigh impossible to be cranky about anything. And it was all for a good cause.
Page Ahead launched the contest, which is planned as an annual event, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its literacy outreach. Since 1990 the organization has donated some 2 million new books to more than 600,000 low-income and at-risk children. Through its Family Involvement Program, it works to encourage parents to read aloud to their children. In fact, Read-Aloud was one of the categories in this year's contest, along with Nonfiction and Multicultural titles.
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in late April, so I can't divulge the outcome of our vote, but I can share the list of nominees. Feel free to jump in with your opinions, pro or con, on the titles we considered.
Nonfiction
Butterflies and Moths, by Nic Bishop
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11, by Brian Floca
The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth, by Kathleen Krull
The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder, by Mark Cassino
Boy, Were We Wrong About the Solar System! by Kathleen V. Kudlinski
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Maybe a Bear Ate It! by Robie Harris
Thunder-Boomer! by Shutta Crum
The Three Little Tamales, by Eric A. Kimmel
One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference, by Katie Smith Milway
14 Cows for America, by Carmen Agra Deedy
The Beckoning Cat, by Koko Nishizuka
Our Children Can Soar, by Michelle Cook
Book Fiesta! by Pat Mora
Cecelia Goodnow has been writing about children's books for two decades, initially as a reporter for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Her newspaper career has led her to many topics, including education, politics, lifestyle trends, health and pop culture, but some of her most rewarding stories have been about the world of children's books, whose talented creators too often go unsung. Read more about news, reviews, and dialog about books for children and teens from the Cover to Cover blog here.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Earth Day is on its way!
At the Get Lit! Festival we are celebrating Earth Day with three environmental events featuring festival author and co-founder of the Small Planet Institute, Anna Lappé.
On Wednesday, April 15th at 7pm, Ms. Lappé will read and discuss her newest book, Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do about It at Spokane Community College's Lair Auditorium. Her book proposes a farming method that is nature mentored, restorative, regenerative, resilient, and community empowered, as well as a diet to reduce carbon and cool the planet.
The following morning on Thursday, April 15th at 9:30am, Lappé will open up the conversation at SCC’s Hagan Foundation Center for the Humanities (locate in the library building, 2nd floor) to discuss your sustainability concerns. For more information about Anna Lappé and her various works, please visit her bio page.
Both events with Anna Lappé on April 14 and 15 at SCC are free and open to the public. For more information about the events, visit the Get Lit! Programs website! You'll also find 50 other events to choose from!
On Saturday, April 17th, Spokane is celebrating Earth Day, so why not ride your bike, your toboggan, the bus, or just walk on downtown and make a day of celebrating literature and the Earth! Come on down and catch some Get Lit! events on the 17th, then check out the Earth Day Spokane events to honor Earth Day. The Earth Day celebration will take place April 17th, 11am to midnight on Main street between Division and Brown, in the streets and on the sidewalks!
Wrap up your week of Earth Day and Get Lit! events by checking out the film What’s on Your Plate? During Get Lit! Flicks at the Magic Lantern on Tuesday, April 20th at 7:15, a documentary featuring commentary by Anna Lappé.
April is a great month for book and Earth lovers!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Poetry Live! Finalists
We are pleased to announce the finalists for Poetry Live!, a special event sponsored by Spokane Civic Theatre and Get Lit!
The finalists’ poems will be read and performed by actors on Saturday, April 17, on the Civic Theatre’s main stage, 1020 N. Howard, at 2 p.m. The cost is a $5 donation, and proceeds will benefit the Spokane Civic Theatre Academy. The winner of the free Academy class will be announced at the event.
The judges read 65 poems by students in grades 2 through 12. The names weren’t on the poems, so they were judged blindly. Sandra Hoskins, coordinator for Poetry Live! said of the submissions, "We’re sorry we can’t include them all in our performance. Thank you for participating in our contest and supporting the arts. Keep writing!"
The Finalists
Aidan Jacobs, Halloween Masks
Ben Read, When I Go To Bed & Opaque as Glass
Brittany Fillmore, Leaves
Christina Fruci, Max (My Step Brother)
Connor Skidmore, Dark Night
Daniel Swartz, Gojira
Hannah Hiscox, Where I'm From
Jadyn Malone, Haiku
Joey Nye, Autumn
Josh Foster, the overgrown trail & through eyes of children
Kaeli Glissmeyer, The Age of Elegance/The Modern Age & My Other Home
Katie Armstrong, Autumn
Mary Anne Gebhart, The room was bleak; Her eyes spoke the truth & The day we bought cinnamon raisin bread
Rashell Coon, Happy is bright yellow
Taylor Ward, The King's Cape
Tyler Skidmore, The Mice in the Wall
Willow Skidmore, Christmas Fairies
The finalists’ poems will be read and performed by actors on Saturday, April 17, on the Civic Theatre’s main stage, 1020 N. Howard, at 2 p.m. The cost is a $5 donation, and proceeds will benefit the Spokane Civic Theatre Academy. The winner of the free Academy class will be announced at the event.
The judges read 65 poems by students in grades 2 through 12. The names weren’t on the poems, so they were judged blindly. Sandra Hoskins, coordinator for Poetry Live! said of the submissions, "We’re sorry we can’t include them all in our performance. Thank you for participating in our contest and supporting the arts. Keep writing!"
The Finalists
Aidan Jacobs, Halloween Masks
Ben Read, When I Go To Bed & Opaque as Glass
Brittany Fillmore, Leaves
Christina Fruci, Max (My Step Brother)
Connor Skidmore, Dark Night
Daniel Swartz, Gojira
Hannah Hiscox, Where I'm From
Jadyn Malone, Haiku
Joey Nye, Autumn
Josh Foster, the overgrown trail & through eyes of children
Kaeli Glissmeyer, The Age of Elegance/The Modern Age & My Other Home
Katie Armstrong, Autumn
Mary Anne Gebhart, The room was bleak; Her eyes spoke the truth & The day we bought cinnamon raisin bread
Rashell Coon, Happy is bright yellow
Taylor Ward, The King's Cape
Tyler Skidmore, The Mice in the Wall
Willow Skidmore, Christmas Fairies
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The End or the Beginning of Publishing
Take a moment to watch this...but don't stop half way through!
Over the years, technological inventions have shaped how we receive information. Printing presses churned out books, books, books. Newspapers came out several times a day. Families could gather around the radio for news and stories. Once upon a time talkies were the BIG DEAL. Then television opened a window to the world. We now have moment to moment tweets, apps for everything under the sun, and digital devices that will fit a stack of books into your back pocket.
Book lovers who long for the adventure of finding something unexpected in the stacks, who seek our that familiar spine crack on the first opening, and who would happily wear eau d'ink on paper if it were available, are being confronted by all of this newness. Writers, publishers, and booksellers are also being challenged to change in order to keep up with new media.
At this year's festival, we are looking at "How Publishing is Changing" from the perspective of an author, editor, publisher, and bookseller. We invite you to join our panelists to discuss where the future of publishing is headed. Change can be exciting!
This free panel will be at the Hotel Lusso, our festival hub, on Saturday, April 17 from 1:15-2:15pm. To find out more about this panel or the 50 other events that celebrate reading, writing, and storytelling at the festival, visit www.ewu.edu/getlit.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Buy Books and Help Support Get Lit! Programs
For one weekend each, Barnes & Noble and Auntie’s Bookstore will give a portion of their sales to Get Lit! when you present a voucher downloaded from our website. It's easy:
March 20 and 21 go to Auntie’s Bookstore (406 W. Main)
March 27 and 28 go to Barnes & Noble (Northtown mall or Valley Mall)
Stock up on books by festival authors or 
any other book you've been meaning to get. Any purchase made with your voucher will contribute to your donation! Bookstores with offer as much as 20% towards Get Lit!
any other book you've been meaning to get. Any purchase made with your voucher will contribute to your donation! Bookstores with offer as much as 20% towards Get Lit!Then take home your stack and and enjoy, knowing that you just contributed to the Get Lit! Festival. We appreciate your support!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
March Newsletter
Check out our March Newsletter for info about how to volunteer, festival workshops, and a great way to help out Get Lit! Programs with your spring book purchases!
Only 27 days until the Twelfth Annual Get Lit! Festival!
Only 27 days until the Twelfth Annual Get Lit! Festival!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Book Discussion at Auntie's Bookstore
Get Lit! is quickly approaching, just over one month until the festival! Leading up to the big week, we'll be keeping you in the loop on any events that will help you get to know our festival authors and their works.
To that end, senior writer Michael Bowen of The Pacific Northwest Inlander will be hosting two discussions at Auntie's Bookstore, one on Victor Lodato's Mathilda Savitch and one on Richard Russo's That Old Cape Magic. Both authors will be reading from those works on Saturday, April 17, so this is your chance to discuss the book beforehand and come up with the most insightful, thoughtful question either author has ever been asked! Why yes, that is a challenge from us to you :)
Details:
Mathilda Savitch discussion, Tuesday, March 30, 6- 7 p.m., Second Floor, Auntie's Bookstore
That Old Cape Magic discussion, Tuesday, April 6, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Second Floor, Auntie's Bookstore
If you can't make either of those dates, Michael Bowen is also hosting online book discussion clubs centered on the same two books. To join the ongoing discussion online, just visit Facebook.com and search for "Inlander Book Club."
To view the Calendar of Events for Get Lit!, including the details of the Richard Russo and Victor Lodato readings, go to: http://outreach.ewu.edu/getlit/festival-2010.xml
To that end, senior writer Michael Bowen of The Pacific Northwest Inlander will be hosting two discussions at Auntie's Bookstore, one on Victor Lodato's Mathilda Savitch and one on Richard Russo's That Old Cape Magic. Both authors will be reading from those works on Saturday, April 17, so this is your chance to discuss the book beforehand and come up with the most insightful, thoughtful question either author has ever been asked! Why yes, that is a challenge from us to you :)
Details:
Mathilda Savitch discussion, Tuesday, March 30, 6- 7 p.m., Second Floor, Auntie's Bookstore
That Old Cape Magic discussion, Tuesday, April 6, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Second Floor, Auntie's Bookstore
If you can't make either of those dates, Michael Bowen is also hosting online book discussion clubs centered on the same two books. To join the ongoing discussion online, just visit Facebook.com and search for "Inlander Book Club."
To view the Calendar of Events for Get Lit!, including the details of the Richard Russo and Victor Lodato readings, go to: http://outreach.ewu.edu/getlit/festival-2010.xml
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Attention Teachers! Clock Hours Available at Festival Events
Get Lit! Programs is showing our love for teachers by offering multiple events during the festival that count for up to six continuing education credit hours. K-12 teachers, librarians and parents can participate in one or all of these events, which range from just 1-2 hours each. Not only do these sessions provide an enjoyable way to get those pesky clock hours taken care of, but also give teachers concrete tools to get their students energized about reading and writing. In our world of Facebook, texting and email, we can't just tell students that reading novels and poetry is fun, we have to prove it, and these events can help you do so.
The sessions appeal to a wide range, so whether you are a kindergarten teacher or your spouse teaches 11th grade AP English, you'll find a discussion worth your while. There will be sign-in sheets at each event and there's no need to pre-register. The cost for obtaining the clock hours from ESD 101 is just $10 for 3-5 hours and $12 for 6 hours. So essentially for $12, you can knock out six continuing education credit hours and attend a few awesome sessions on getting your students excited about reading and writing. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal.
Here's the breakdown of the different sessions:
Author Janet Wong will lead a workshop open to any K-12 teacher, focusing on the importance of reading aloud in the classroom. She'll discuss how reading aloud can encourage a child's success in literacy and she will also offer suggestions on how to incorporate poetry into the classroom on a daily basis. Friday, April 16, 4:30-6 p.m., EWU Riverpoint, Phase 1 Building, Room 115.
Since 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Mark Twain's death, one session will focus on celebrating Twain's writing and his influence on American literature. Whether for teachers who have previously taught Twain's works or those who see it looming in the curriculum, this could be a great way to discover a new approach to a novel like Huckleberry Finn. The discussion could spark your own interest in Twain's life or works, give you insight into how your students might relate to the book or perhaps a fellow educator will share how they've successfully engaged their students in Twain's works. Saturday, April 17, 12 p.m.-1pm, Hotel Lusso
For parents and teachers exhausted by trying to keep track of which books should be must-reads for their kids' age, Marilyn Carpenter, a professor of education at EWU, has you covered. She'll be offering a list of the "100+ Best Kids and Young Adult Books," helping teachers, librarians and parents get an idea of which books will engage and excite their students. Saturday, April 17, 12 p.m.-1:00 p.m., Hotel Lusso
In the Classroom Publishing Workshop, teachers can learn how to inspire their students to write, and also how to encourage students to publish their work, whether through a blog, wiki or actual book. Ooligan Press, out of Portland State University, has an upcoming book on classroom publishing, and they'll discuss their philosophy that students who participate in all aspects of the writing and publishing process become more engaged with their own writing. Saturday, April 17, 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Hotel Lusso
Last but definitely not least, there will be a Performance Poetry workshop. Geared toward demystifying poetry and getting students energized about poetry, language and writing, the workshop invites both students and teachers to participate. Teachers who'd like their classrooms to join the workshop can even do so via live video-feed rather than transport their students by bus. If you'd like your classroom to participate, just email dringwald@ewu.edu to RSVP, and ESD 101 will help you set up the technical equipment.
For more information on the sessions that qualify for continuing education clock hours, click here.
UPDATE:
Another opportunity for K-12 teachers is coming up March 10 & 11 at Spokane Community College. The Northwest Inland Writing Project is hosting their spring conference, "'Spring Planting: Growing Student Writers." The keynote speaker will be Barry Lane, author of ten books on writing and currently a professor at the University of New Hampshire. He'll be giving a keynote address on the morning of March 10 and March 11, followed by sessions on literacy topics like "Writing in the Digital Age" and "Publishing with Purpose." Lane's address will focus on practical suggestions for teaching writing to students of all ages. For more information, visit: http://www.niwp.org/
The sessions appeal to a wide range, so whether you are a kindergarten teacher or your spouse teaches 11th grade AP English, you'll find a discussion worth your while. There will be sign-in sheets at each event and there's no need to pre-register. The cost for obtaining the clock hours from ESD 101 is just $10 for 3-5 hours and $12 for 6 hours. So essentially for $12, you can knock out six continuing education credit hours and attend a few awesome sessions on getting your students excited about reading and writing. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal.
Here's the breakdown of the different sessions:
Author Janet Wong will lead a workshop open to any K-12 teacher, focusing on the importance of reading aloud in the classroom. She'll discuss how reading aloud can encourage a child's success in literacy and she will also offer suggestions on how to incorporate poetry into the classroom on a daily basis. Friday, April 16, 4:30-6 p.m., EWU Riverpoint, Phase 1 Building, Room 115.
Since 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Mark Twain's death, one session will focus on celebrating Twain's writing and his influence on American literature. Whether for teachers who have previously taught Twain's works or those who see it looming in the curriculum, this could be a great way to discover a new approach to a novel like Huckleberry Finn. The discussion could spark your own interest in Twain's life or works, give you insight into how your students might relate to the book or perhaps a fellow educator will share how they've successfully engaged their students in Twain's works. Saturday, April 17, 12 p.m.-1pm, Hotel Lusso For parents and teachers exhausted by trying to keep track of which books should be must-reads for their kids' age, Marilyn Carpenter, a professor of education at EWU, has you covered. She'll be offering a list of the "100+ Best Kids and Young Adult Books," helping teachers, librarians and parents get an idea of which books will engage and excite their students. Saturday, April 17, 12 p.m.-1:00 p.m., Hotel Lusso
In the Classroom Publishing Workshop, teachers can learn how to inspire their students to write, and also how to encourage students to publish their work, whether through a blog, wiki or actual book. Ooligan Press, out of Portland State University, has an upcoming book on classroom publishing, and they'll discuss their philosophy that students who participate in all aspects of the writing and publishing process become more engaged with their own writing. Saturday, April 17, 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Hotel Lusso
Last but definitely not least, there will be a Performance Poetry workshop. Geared toward demystifying poetry and getting students energized about poetry, language and writing, the workshop invites both students and teachers to participate. Teachers who'd like their classrooms to join the workshop can even do so via live video-feed rather than transport their students by bus. If you'd like your classroom to participate, just email dringwald@ewu.edu to RSVP, and ESD 101 will help you set up the technical equipment.
For more information on the sessions that qualify for continuing education clock hours, click here.
UPDATE:
Another opportunity for K-12 teachers is coming up March 10 & 11 at Spokane Community College. The Northwest Inland Writing Project is hosting their spring conference, "'Spring Planting: Growing Student Writers." The keynote speaker will be Barry Lane, author of ten books on writing and currently a professor at the University of New Hampshire. He'll be giving a keynote address on the morning of March 10 and March 11, followed by sessions on literacy topics like "Writing in the Digital Age" and "Publishing with Purpose." Lane's address will focus on practical suggestions for teaching writing to students of all ages. For more information, visit: http://www.niwp.org/
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Festival Workshops
One of the most exciting aspects of the Get Lit! Festival is the amount of opportunities for members of our community to expand their personal or professional horizons. There is truly something for everyone, from the high school junior panicking about college admissions essays to the small non-profit struggling to write grants. In that vein, there will be workshops throughout the festival addressing aspects of both practical and creative writing. Business writing, poetry, essays, grant writing, screenwriting-- they'll all be discussed in a workshop setting. In addition, various workshops will break down specific aspects of writing, such as how to write believable dialogue in fiction, weaving your personal narrative in non-fiction and revising and editing your work.
You might be asking yourself, "What exactly is a workshop?" Well, if you're wondering whether you'll be quietly listening to a lecture for a couple of hours, the answer is no. Workshops are all about lively discussion, practicing your skills and getting feedback on them. Many of the workshops will include writing exercises that you'll do right then and there, while others will send you home with suggestions for how to practice a particular writing style. Other workshops, such as the "Rewriting and Editing Your Writing" session, ask you to bring a few pages of your work so you can figure out, based on the discussion, what works in your piece and how to improve what doesn't.
Most of the workshops are two hours long, after which you'll probably be inspired to go home and spend another couple of hours working on your piece. The workshops are led by some very impressive professionals in their fields, including authors of various award-winning novels, memoirs, poetry and short-story collections, as well as professors, grant writers and screenwriters. The cost differs depending on the workshop; some are free, while others are $20 with a student ID and $30 for the public. Each workshop has a different date, time and location, so check the schedule at here.
Each of the workshops provide a pretty unique opportunity. When else are you going to have two hours to sit down with a published author, expert grant writer or award-winning screenwriter and pick their brains about what you can do to improve your writing? Parents who want to encourage their child to write a stellar admissions essay or apply for scholarships can listen to Rachel Toor, EWU Professor, explain to students what pitfalls to avoid and how to make their essay stand out among hundreds of others. Aspiring screenwriters can learn how to pitch their story like a pro from Don Caron, who co-wrote Different Drummers, winner of the 2007 Grand Remington Prize at the Houston International Festival. Poets and travel writers can learn from Susan Rich, poet and activist, how to explore other cultures and people in your writing while treating them with respect.
For registration information, go to here.
You might be asking yourself, "What exactly is a workshop?" Well, if you're wondering whether you'll be quietly listening to a lecture for a couple of hours, the answer is no. Workshops are all about lively discussion, practicing your skills and getting feedback on them. Many of the workshops will include writing exercises that you'll do right then and there, while others will send you home with suggestions for how to practice a particular writing style. Other workshops, such as the "Rewriting and Editing Your Writing" session, ask you to bring a few pages of your work so you can figure out, based on the discussion, what works in your piece and how to improve what doesn't.Most of the workshops are two hours long, after which you'll probably be inspired to go home and spend another couple of hours working on your piece. The workshops are led by some very impressive professionals in their fields, including authors of various award-winning novels, memoirs, poetry and short-story collections, as well as professors, grant writers and screenwriters. The cost differs depending on the workshop; some are free, while others are $20 with a student ID and $30 for the public. Each workshop has a different date, time and location, so check the schedule at here.
Each of the workshops provide a pretty unique opportunity. When else are you going to have two hours to sit down with a published author, expert grant writer or award-winning screenwriter and pick their brains about what you can do to improve your writing? Parents who want to encourage their child to write a stellar admissions essay or apply for scholarships can listen to Rachel Toor, EWU Professor, explain to students what pitfalls to avoid and how to make their essay stand out among hundreds of others. Aspiring screenwriters can learn how to pitch their story like a pro from Don Caron, who co-wrote Different Drummers, winner of the 2007 Grand Remington Prize at the Houston International Festival. Poets and travel writers can learn from Susan Rich, poet and activist, how to explore other cultures and people in your writing while treating them with respect.
For registration information, go to here.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Get your Get Lit! Tickets
The Festival Pass offers admission to all headlining events listed below at a discount of over 60%. Passes or individual tickets to the following events are now available for purchase through TicketsWest.
*How to Win a Cosmic War with Dr. Reza Aslan
*PRI’s Selected Shorts: Year of the Father
*An Evening with Richard Russo and Jess Walter
*Insight with Author Sallie Tisdale
*In Conversation with Janet Fitch
*Jazz Poetry Performance with Patricia Smith
Registration for workshops will be available through Spokane Parks & Recreation’s Spring Activities Guide ($30 general/$20 students, plus some workshops are free).
Get Lit! Flicks tickets will be available at the Magic Lantern Theatre (25 W. Main) for a cost of $7 for a single showing or $10 for a double feature.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Getting Ready for Janet Wong at Get Lit!
Janet Wong loves interacting with her young audience and she provides many opportunities to do just that.First, she has an excellent blog, where she interacts directly with students. Janet will post one of her poems and invites students from kindergartens to 8th grade to comment and ask questions. Then comes the exciting part: Janet responds! She gives great insight into her writing style, culture, and writing process. Teachers whose students have participated on the blog report that their students discovered a purpose for their writing through their interactions with the poet who responded to their comments, became engaged in the revising and editing process through sharing their poetry and comments, increased their enthusiasm for writing, and engaged in dialogs with students in other schools by posting their writing and discussing each others’ work.
The other way you can prepare for Janet Wong's appearance at the Get Lit! Festival is by downloading a free advanced copy of her book Me and Rolly Maloo by going to the Charlesbridge website and using the username: Charlesbridge, password: ARC. Here you can download not only the book, but discussion and activity guides, as well as enter to win a free classroom visit with Janet Wong via Skype.
If you know any kids who love writing, get them excited about Janet Wong coming to the Get Lit! Festival through her blog and her latest book. These two activities will get them prepared for the Kids Poetry Workshop with Janet on Saturday, April 17 at 9:30am, and Janet Wong's Essence of Childhood reading at 10:45am, both at the Kress Gallery during the Get Lit! Festival. Janet will also be teaching a free workshop for educators about incorporating social-responsibility into reading and writing lesson plans (Friday, April 16 at 4:30pm, EWU Riverpoint Campus). Advanced hardcopies of Me and Rolly Maloo will be available for purchase at the Festival as well.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Getting Too Close to the Truth by guest blogger Lisa Norris
Lisa Norris is the author of Toy Guns, a collection of short stories that takes a hard look at American violence as it relates to the issues of feminism, sexuality, and social responsibility. Toy Guns won the Willa Cather Fiction Prize in 1999. You'll be able to listen to her read from this book at the downtown library on Saturday, April 17. Giving you some backstory, our 2010 festival author offered up an honest reflection of her writing process, her fears, and her intentions in this blog entry.
But first, a little more about Lisa: after several years of pursuing her passion for forestry, she moved to Idaho, earned her MFA from Idaho State University, and started teaching and writing. Her stories, poems and creative nonfiction have been published in Fourth Genre, Ascent, Notre Dame Review, an anthology called Kiss Tomorrow Hello (Doubleday 2006) and others. And she currently teaches at Central Washington University.
When asked how her favorite heroes/heroines of fiction are Norris said: "Huck Finn because I love his voice and his sensibility and the way he does the right thing even though he thinks it’s wrong. He trusts something he can’t name, in himself. Also Jane Eyre for the way she frankly and sincerely addresses me, the Reader. She makes me feel like her intimate, the recipient of her trust and her truth."
I learned to read with Navy warships just a few blocks from my family’s quarters on the base in Philadelphia, then moved to the Philippines just before the Vietnam War, where I played inside a barbed wire-enclosed military compound near Quezon City while American Bandstand, Combat!, and The Flintstones appeared in black and white on our family’s television, and a TV personality called Uncle Bob showed pictures of American children who’d been kidnapped by Filipinos. I learned there were threats you could talk about outside the gates, poverty was to be feared, and the guys in uniform who took care of you could be dicey, too—especially when drinking—but we didn’t talk about that.
With this experience deep in my memory, and observations of violence in American culture later in my life, I wrote Toy Guns, a collection of ten stories in which the characters—most of them girls or women—deal with the consequences of abuse, militaristic thinking, and guns that are far too handy. The book won the 1999 Willa Cather Fiction Prize from Helicon Nine Press, but people who read it and knew me said they could hardly believe the stories came from such a nice woman.
“You have to be careful what you let loose in the world,” said one very dear friend. So I worried: Did writing about violence perpetuate violence? How could I represent myself as a compassionate person and tell disturbing truths? Were these truths rock bottom personal and experienced, or were they constructs created from reading work of Raymond Carver, Joyce Carol Oates, and Flannery O’Connor? Did fiction have to be conflict driven? Could readers be engaged by stories in which people generally behaved themselves, and weaponry did not appear?
These questions blocked me for a long time. I did not like being the representative for disturbing and violent stories. I recognized the truths in my stories, and I liked crafting suspense, but I didn’t want to live in the vision. In the aftermath of Toy Guns, I often wrote badly, trying to find a new vision and voice. I tried humor in essays and stories about people’s relationships with nature and women’s relationships with men. I floundered for models, joining the fans of Alice Munro, Sherman Alexie, Toni Morrison. I admired these writers, tried on their styles, but found them alien.
In my continuing writerly journey toward a second published book, I’ve written and written and revised and revised and revised. My new short story manuscript, Women Who Sleep With Animals, has evolved with my aging. My novel-in-progress, a story loosely based on my great-great aunt’s experience as a schoolteacher in an 1889 Montana mining town, has taken me deeper into characters than I’d been before. I’m still reacting to the preoccupations of Toy Guns in many ways, as the bombs go off in Afghanistan and Iraq, and shootings occur on campuses, in Seattle coffee shops, and at Ft. Hood. I have to focus on truths in my characters and culture, but I also wish to move my readers, my characters, and myself toward forgiveness and compassion. As in life, it’s not easy to do.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Stories Are Letters by guest blogger Diana Joseph
When I saw this ad a few months, I was intrigued. It stuck with me. I think words loving scribbled on paper really do touch someone more than an email, phone call, or text. I always feel like a kid at Christmas when it comes to getting a letter in the mail instead of a bill or donation request. It makes me feel loved. I figured that writers would have a strong reaction to the somewhat lost art of letter writing, so I asked one of our 2010 festival authors, Diana Joseph, to write about her thoughts on this image. Here is what she sent:
The voice in I'm Sorry You Feel That Way, my memoir-in-essays is not the voice I use when I’m talking to my students or my family or even my friends. It wasn’t the voice I used to sound smart in essay exams or to sound not-like-a-lunatic in tirades I’ve sent to my local congressman. But it is my letter-writing voice. It’s how I sound in letters—not emails or IMs or text messages, but actually pen-scratched-on-paper letters.
John Edgar Wideman says "Stories are letters. Letters sent to anybody or everybody. But the best kind are meant to be read by a specific somebody." When I was working on the essays that became my memoir, I first imagined them as letters. In fact, when I sat down to write a draft, I even put Dear Melanie at the top of the page.
Melanie is Melanie Rae Thon, one of my favorite people in the universe. I met her in 1993 when I was a student in the MFA program at Syracuse University and she was my teacher. She runs a fantastic workshop, one that inspired me to become a more patient reader, a more compassionate writer, and a better person. Over the years, Melanie and I have kept in touch not by telephone or email, but through letters, hundreds of them, the old fashioned kind, written by hand on a sheet of paper, folded into thirds, slid into an envelope then mailed from Syracuse, New York; Columbus, Ohio; Grand Junction, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; Mankato, Minnesota.
There was something lovely about reaching into my mailbox and finding, amongst the letters from utility companies threatening to turn off my electric and my heat, and collection agencies threatening legal action—I was trying to support myself and my son on an adjunct’s wages—a letter from Melanie. The envelopes were pink or gold or cream; the sheets of paper were pale green or yellow or light blue. Her handwriting was distinctive, swoopy but also angular, and just seeing it made me hear her voice. Sometimes she included a photograph she’d taken of an adobe house or a barn or a run-down shack. Other times she included a collage she’d made of the Virgin Mary, serene in a blue forest, or Jesus against a green mountainside. She’d sometimes mention whatever she was working on; she'd always ask about my writing, offering encouragement, support, and a heartfelt belief in me that I didn’t always have in myself.
While writing my memoir, there were times I felt anxious and afraid. But beginning with the words Dear Melanie made me feel less alone. Imagining each of my essays as a letter to a person who, when I am behaving in ways she isn't wild about, loves me enough to say I understand the impulse—made me feel brave but also safe. Imagining her as my reader made me feel like I could tell these personal stories, especially the ones where I don't come off like a winner.
Do you still write letters to anyone? Tell us about it. Perhaps there is someone like Melanie in your life that would inspire a story from you!
You'll be able to hear Diana read from her memoir at the Hotel Lusso, our Festival Hub on Saturday, April 17. She will also be participating in our editing/rewriting workshop. Check our website as we will be adding details for the festival soon!
The voice in I'm Sorry You Feel That Way, my memoir-in-essays is not the voice I use when I’m talking to my students or my family or even my friends. It wasn’t the voice I used to sound smart in essay exams or to sound not-like-a-lunatic in tirades I’ve sent to my local congressman. But it is my letter-writing voice. It’s how I sound in letters—not emails or IMs or text messages, but actually pen-scratched-on-paper letters.John Edgar Wideman says "Stories are letters. Letters sent to anybody or everybody. But the best kind are meant to be read by a specific somebody." When I was working on the essays that became my memoir, I first imagined them as letters. In fact, when I sat down to write a draft, I even put Dear Melanie at the top of the page.
Melanie is Melanie Rae Thon, one of my favorite people in the universe. I met her in 1993 when I was a student in the MFA program at Syracuse University and she was my teacher. She runs a fantastic workshop, one that inspired me to become a more patient reader, a more compassionate writer, and a better person. Over the years, Melanie and I have kept in touch not by telephone or email, but through letters, hundreds of them, the old fashioned kind, written by hand on a sheet of paper, folded into thirds, slid into an envelope then mailed from Syracuse, New York; Columbus, Ohio; Grand Junction, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; Mankato, Minnesota.
There was something lovely about reaching into my mailbox and finding, amongst the letters from utility companies threatening to turn off my electric and my heat, and collection agencies threatening legal action—I was trying to support myself and my son on an adjunct’s wages—a letter from Melanie. The envelopes were pink or gold or cream; the sheets of paper were pale green or yellow or light blue. Her handwriting was distinctive, swoopy but also angular, and just seeing it made me hear her voice. Sometimes she included a photograph she’d taken of an adobe house or a barn or a run-down shack. Other times she included a collage she’d made of the Virgin Mary, serene in a blue forest, or Jesus against a green mountainside. She’d sometimes mention whatever she was working on; she'd always ask about my writing, offering encouragement, support, and a heartfelt belief in me that I didn’t always have in myself.
While writing my memoir, there were times I felt anxious and afraid. But beginning with the words Dear Melanie made me feel less alone. Imagining each of my essays as a letter to a person who, when I am behaving in ways she isn't wild about, loves me enough to say I understand the impulse—made me feel brave but also safe. Imagining her as my reader made me feel like I could tell these personal stories, especially the ones where I don't come off like a winner.
Do you still write letters to anyone? Tell us about it. Perhaps there is someone like Melanie in your life that would inspire a story from you!
You'll be able to hear Diana read from her memoir at the Hotel Lusso, our Festival Hub on Saturday, April 17. She will also be participating in our editing/rewriting workshop. Check our website as we will be adding details for the festival soon!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Writing Nonfiction Without an "I" by guest blogger Ana Maria Spagna
Each year we ask festival authors to participate on our blog. Ana Maria Spagna is the first of many for 2010! In April, you will hear her read from her latest nonfiction book about a personal exploration of the civil rights movement and can also participate in a writing workshop about the power of telling two stories at once. Check on our website for more information as we are adding details all the time.
Washington author, Ana Maria Spagna, shares her journey to discover her father’s role in the bus boycott in Tallahassee, which, she said, changed her life. "Meeting John Lewis, and so many other 'foot soldiers' of the movement, at the 50th anniversary of the Tallahassee bus boycott was one of the proudest, and most humbling, moments of my life," said Ana Maria. "John Lewis is the quiet hero of the Civil Rights Movement, former Freedom Rider, and last surviving speaker from the March on Washington in 1963. He remains one of the most powerful voices for civil rights, gay rights, human rights in the nation."
When I started work on my new book, Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus, there was one word I wanted to avoid at all costs: “I.” For years, I’d been writing personal essays—some heavy on the personal—my first book had just come out, and I was feeling exposed and exhausted, weary of self-indulgence.
By happenstance I’d stumbled upon evidence of my late father’s involvement in the early civil rights movement in Florida, and I thought: “This is it! Not my story, but his story!” Research was a relief; it was exhilarating. Slowly, over months and years, books, microfilm, bold cold emails, motel telephone interviews, distant rural church services and poorly-attended peace marches all led me closer to the buried truth about six courageous young men on an empty city bus.
Then it was time to write. Problems arose. For one thing, the two central living witnesses—one black and one white—told radically different versions of the story. Whose was true? Another inevitable problem was I began to feel like an encroacher. Civil rights history belongs to African Americans, I thought. Florida history should belong to Floridians. There was real danger of appropriation, of being a modern day outside agitator.
The answer lay in one word: “I.” The only way, ethically, to make the story mine was to go whole hog. I had to tell the story with all of my pre-conceived notions, all my fears and suspicions, my family guilt and family grief, all front and center. That’s not to say I abandoned the research. Far from it. But over time, I found that melding memoir with history offered unexpected benefits. Like the early New Journalism of Joan Didion or Tom Wolfe or even Hunter S. Thompson, my own perspective offered a unique slant, a lens through which to watch events unfold. [Little know fact: when Ana Maria drinks gin, she's convinced that she is Joan Didion, whose essays she admires more than anyone else's.] And as in the best novels, telling two stories at once—what happened back then and what I discover now—increased the tension and gave the book its shape. In the end, including more of me makes Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus more authentic and more poignant. Because, well, it includes more of the truth.
Lately I’ve been thinking again about finding a me-less story to write. But I’ve also been wondering this: is there really any such thing?
We'd love to hear your thoughts on this...me-less or no me-less, that is the question. Comment below or be the first to start a discussion on our message board!
Washington author, Ana Maria Spagna, shares her journey to discover her father’s role in the bus boycott in Tallahassee, which, she said, changed her life. "Meeting John Lewis, and so many other 'foot soldiers' of the movement, at the 50th anniversary of the Tallahassee bus boycott was one of the proudest, and most humbling, moments of my life," said Ana Maria. "John Lewis is the quiet hero of the Civil Rights Movement, former Freedom Rider, and last surviving speaker from the March on Washington in 1963. He remains one of the most powerful voices for civil rights, gay rights, human rights in the nation."
When I started work on my new book, Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus, there was one word I wanted to avoid at all costs: “I.” For years, I’d been writing personal essays—some heavy on the personal—my first book had just come out, and I was feeling exposed and exhausted, weary of self-indulgence.
By happenstance I’d stumbled upon evidence of my late father’s involvement in the early civil rights movement in Florida, and I thought: “This is it! Not my story, but his story!” Research was a relief; it was exhilarating. Slowly, over months and years, books, microfilm, bold cold emails, motel telephone interviews, distant rural church services and poorly-attended peace marches all led me closer to the buried truth about six courageous young men on an empty city bus.
Then it was time to write. Problems arose. For one thing, the two central living witnesses—one black and one white—told radically different versions of the story. Whose was true? Another inevitable problem was I began to feel like an encroacher. Civil rights history belongs to African Americans, I thought. Florida history should belong to Floridians. There was real danger of appropriation, of being a modern day outside agitator.
The answer lay in one word: “I.” The only way, ethically, to make the story mine was to go whole hog. I had to tell the story with all of my pre-conceived notions, all my fears and suspicions, my family guilt and family grief, all front and center. That’s not to say I abandoned the research. Far from it. But over time, I found that melding memoir with history offered unexpected benefits. Like the early New Journalism of Joan Didion or Tom Wolfe or even Hunter S. Thompson, my own perspective offered a unique slant, a lens through which to watch events unfold. [Little know fact: when Ana Maria drinks gin, she's convinced that she is Joan Didion, whose essays she admires more than anyone else's.] And as in the best novels, telling two stories at once—what happened back then and what I discover now—increased the tension and gave the book its shape. In the end, including more of me makes Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus more authentic and more poignant. Because, well, it includes more of the truth.
Lately I’ve been thinking again about finding a me-less story to write. But I’ve also been wondering this: is there really any such thing?
We'd love to hear your thoughts on this...me-less or no me-less, that is the question. Comment below or be the first to start a discussion on our message board!
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