Cultivate: April 2018

Next Workshop: Writing & Reading, May 3

The next drop-in class I'm offering will be another evening of writing prompts and sharing. If you want to share something you've already been working on, bring up to 3 pages to read aloud. Shared writing will not be critiqued; this is simply an opportunity to hear your own work aloud, which is pretty exciting and inspiring. 
 

Date & time: Thursday May 3, 6:30-8:30pm
Location: The Mothership, 401 W Geer St, Durham.
Cost: $10

Writers' Salon at The Mothership

Another opportunity for writing and sharing is the Writers' Salon at The Mothership. This takes place the 2nd Tuesday of every month in the back room and I try to join when I am able. More information here. The leader is another membership member, Allison Kirkland, who is really great!

In February, I attended the annual conference of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP), which was full of great readings and panel discussions. I always take away so much from this experience; this year the two quotes that rose to the top of the list of most memorable moments were Ada Limón saying, "The way I deal with writer's block is not writing; it works pretty well!" and Chris Abani saying "The first seven drafts of a novel are basically just notes on your characters." To hear more words of wisdom from these two and other great writers, check out this collection of interviews recorded at AWP.

Books to Read

I just blitzed through The Burning Girl, an engrossing, deftly written novel by Claire Messud. I recently enjoyed a wonderful biography of groundbreaking computer programmer Grace Hopper, Grace Hopper and the Invention of the Information Age. And I just picked up Tom Perrotta's Mrs. Fletcher. If you haven't read his book Little Children, start there. 

Zadie Smith is out with a new book of essays, Feel Free, which undoubtedly is brilliant; here's a piece on her from the Guardian. I'm also very curious about Meg Wolitzer's new novel, The Female Persuasion, reviewed by Lena Dunham in the NYT Book review. I really enjoyed her novel The Interestings. 

To Go Poem

Before you head off into your day, read this poem by one of my dearest friends, Caroline Manring, from her book, Manual for Extinction:

How to Go Extinct