Writers Up Close

The Writers Up Close series is an outgrowth of Shara McCallum's course on arts administration, ENGL 290, an occasional English Department offering. The series brings to campus poets who also work in literary arts administration (for instance, as magazine or book editors, directors of reading series or literary centers, etc.) Each poet visits McCallum's class to speak on his or her area of administrative or editorial expertise and, later in the day, delivers a formal reading of his or her poetry. Students in the class are responsible for organizing and executing the readings, giving the class hands-on experience in the administration of literary events. Like our regular reading series events, Writers Up Close readings are free and open to the public.

In its first year in 2007-08, Writers Up Close hosted Judith Hall, poetry editor for Antioch Review; John Hoppenthaler, former personal assistant to Toni Morrison; Thom Ward, senior editor for BOA Editions; and Ellen Dore Watson, director of the Poetry Center at Smith College. (For more information on these poets, click on their names). 

The Writers Up Close series is offered only when McCallum is teaching ENGL 290. It will not be offered in the 2008-09 academic year.