The Writing Life

From Phyllis Benay, Writing Center:

The Task Force on Writing is sponsoring a new series called “The Writing Life: Interviews about the Writing Process.” All are welcome to attend these exciting panel discussions. Please invite your students to share in this event as we discover how the panelists convert their thoughts into text.

Part I: Great Beginnings
Thursday, February 18, 1-2 p.m., Mountain View Room
Featured Panelists: Linda Aldrich, English; Marianne Salcetti, Journalism; Paul Vincent, Holocaust Studies
What inspires us to write? Where does the initial inspiration come from? Do we conceive of projects as a whole or in parts? What are the feelings that we experience as we begin to articulate an idea?

Part II: The Mess in the Middle
Friday, March 12, 2-3 p.m., Mountain View Room
Featured Panelists: Sander Lee, Philosophy; Marie Duggan, Economics; Greg Knouff, History
How do we move from the initial inspiration to the actual work of writing? How do we respond to writer’s block, stops and starts, and daily interference? How do we balance our normal everyday work with the intense concentration and discipline of writing?

Part III: Spreading the Word
Wednesday, April 14, 4-5 p.m., Student Center 309
Featured Panelists: Nick Germana, History; Mark Long, English
What are the complications of publishing? How does co-authoring work? Freelancing? How does someone find a publisher? How do we deal with rejection?