VANCOUVER, Wash. Five Northwest writers will be featured in the Professional Writers Series offered by the Washington State University Vancouver English department Jan. 18-March 21. The series is ideal for those looking to get a new sense of purpose and direction in their writing.
Each installment will include writing prompts and exercises along with the main lecture. Each will be 7-9 p.m. in the WSU Vancouver Library, room 264.
“Narrowing down choices of who will be selected to make presentations can prove challenging,” said Howard Aaron, English professor and coordinator of the series for the last five years. “I look for both established and emerging authors who are devoted to their craft, possess a certain candor that will help those who aspire to literary careers, and can rally even the least optimistic of us to achieve our goals and ambitions.”
Jan. 18, Lidia Yuknavitch, “Moving Outside the Margins”
Yuknavitch is the author of the celebrated memoir, “The Chronology of Water,” described by author Rebecca Brown as the “kind of book Janis Joplin might have written had she made it through the fire.” Yuknavitch also has published three works of short fiction – “Her Other Mouths,” “Liberty’s Excess” and “Real to Reel” – as well as a book of literary criticism, “Allegories of Violence.” She teaches writing, literature, film and women’s studies in Oregon.
Yuknavitch is the author of the celebrated memoir, “The Chronology of Water,” described by author Rebecca Brown as the “kind of book Janis Joplin might have written had she made it through the fire.” Yuknavitch also has published three works of short fiction – “Her Other Mouths,” “Liberty’s Excess” and “Real to Reel” – as well as a book of literary criticism, “Allegories of Violence.” She teaches writing, literature, film and women’s studies in Oregon.
Feb. 1, Jelly Helm, “Hey Mister, That’s me up on the Billboard”
Helm spent many years as executive creative director at Wieden+Kennedy in Portland and Amsterdam working on campaigns for Nike, Coke and Microsoft and was founder/director of W+K 12, Wieden+Kennedy’s experimental in-house school. He heads Jelly Helm Studio, whose clients include the Portland Timbers, Nike, Forest Ethics, Warner Brothers/DC Comics, Oregon Humanities and Wikipedia.
Helm spent many years as executive creative director at Wieden+Kennedy in Portland and Amsterdam working on campaigns for Nike, Coke and Microsoft and was founder/director of W+K 12, Wieden+Kennedy’s experimental in-house school. He heads Jelly Helm Studio, whose clients include the Portland Timbers, Nike, Forest Ethics, Warner Brothers/DC Comics, Oregon Humanities and Wikipedia.
“I’m interested in story, artisan values and the open/free/shared knowledge movement,” he said. “I’m interested in the role of story in the emerging culture.”
Feb. 15, Brian Doyle, “Noticing What Goes Unnoticed”
Doyle is an award-winning novelist, essayist and editor of the University of Portland’s Portland Magazine, ranked one of the 10 best American university publications. About his new novel, “Mink River,” the Oregonian newspaper said, “The greatest gift of ‘Mink River’ is that it provides every reason in the world to see your own village, neighborhood and life in a deeper, more nuanced and connected way.”
Doyle is an award-winning novelist, essayist and editor of the University of Portland’s Portland Magazine, ranked one of the 10 best American university publications. About his new novel, “Mink River,” the Oregonian newspaper said, “The greatest gift of ‘Mink River’ is that it provides every reason in the world to see your own village, neighborhood and life in a deeper, more nuanced and connected way.”
His other books include “Saints Passionate & Peculiar,” “Credo” and “Two Voices,” which won a Christopher Award and a Catholic Press Association Book Award.
Feb. 29, Cai Emmons, “Weaving the Well-Woven Story”
Emmons’s debut novel, “His Mother’s Son,” won the Ken Kesey Award for the Novel in 2003 and has been translated into French, Italian and German. Of her second novel, “The Stylist,” Booklist said, “With family relations as twisted as a French braid and language as vivid as a platinum dye job, Emmons’ potent novel features magnetic characters and complex and compelling secrets.”
Emmons’s debut novel, “His Mother’s Son,” won the Ken Kesey Award for the Novel in 2003 and has been translated into French, Italian and German. Of her second novel, “The Stylist,” Booklist said, “With family relations as twisted as a French braid and language as vivid as a platinum dye job, Emmons’ potent novel features magnetic characters and complex and compelling secrets.”
She is also a noted playwright, editor, director and screenwriter.
March 21, Randy Gragg, “Making Your Pitch”
Gragg is editor-in-chief of Portland Monthly, the city’s premiere arts and culture magazine. He has been architecture and urban design critic for the Oregonian newspaper, where he also wrote on the culture wars, visual art, film and performance.
Gragg is editor-in-chief of Portland Monthly, the city’s premiere arts and culture magazine. He has been architecture and urban design critic for the Oregonian newspaper, where he also wrote on the culture wars, visual art, film and performance.
The market for freelance articles and what makes a cultural magazine cohesive are among the topics he will discuss.