Monday, October 16, 2017

Writing enthusiasts are invited to the UNCW Department of Creative Writing’s annual celebration of the written word. From Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, a variety of authors and literary professionals will be on campus for readings, panel discussions and more for the 18^th annual Writers’ Week.

In her first year at UNCW and co-coordinator of this year’s event, lecturer Melissa Crowe is excited for a “super-inspiring week. Our authors are wonderfully diverse in just about every way imaginable. This variety of identities, experiences and approaches will benefit participants at any stage of writing,” she said.

Poet Ross Gay, the 2017 Buckner Keynote Speaker, is the author of Against Which; Bringing the Shovel Down; and Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, winner of the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2016 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. Catalog was also a finalist for the 2015 National Book Award in Poetry, the Ohioana Book Award, the Balcones Poetry Prize, the Hurston-Wright Legacy Award and nominated for an NAACP Image Award.

Julie Barer, a partner at The Book Group, a boutique literary agency in New York City, will speak about publishing. Kristen Radtke, author of the graphic nonfiction book Imagine Wanting Only This and art director and New York editor of Believer magazine, will offer a multimedia presentation. In addition, a panel of UNCW creative writing alumni will discuss life after college.

“At least eight Pulitzer Prize winners and five National Book Award winners have visited campus for Writers’ Week over the years,” said Professor Mark Cox, who is coordinating this year’s event with Crowe. “At the same time, we also bring in writers who have only published a book or two, allowing our students to sample a broad spectrum of voices.”

All events are free and open to all. A complete schedule and details can be found at uncw.edu/writersweek.

--Caroline Cropp

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