The Writer’s Project sounds very cool. The one creative writing class I took required that we read 5 novels over the semester. I was more interested in writing, though. I understood the instructor’s reasons for making us read (it’s important for writers to read), but I deliberately avoided reading at that time. (Although I did read Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle for the class.)

When I explained to the instructor that I deliberately avoided reading because I was 21 and didn’t want to be too influenced by what I read, she told me I could satisfy the “reading” assignments by attending a week-long series of lectures with writers at Southern Methodist University.

It was worth the drive each night. I got to see Ray Bradbury speak, meet a poet laureate (Howard Nemerov), and hear a comedic writer talk about his process. I did leave early during the lecture of a playwright…he was just reading everything and not speaking, and he talked more about himself. And there was one other writer who focused on essays. She was very nervous, but had some good moments in her talk.

That week of hearing writers speak was a huge influence on me.

I’m glad you have something like that where you are.

At school we have something called The Writers Project which brings writers to campus to read and talk about their work. This semester they changed things up a little bit by inviting oral storytellers. I’ve attended a couple of these sessions and it was a great experience, there’s something personal and intimate about this kind of storytelling.

http://writersproject.sunyacc.edu/