AWP & A Little More

Friends,

Some of you might have had this experience while teaching, so I'm just putting this out there as a call to help for me. Is there a delicate way to tell a smug student that he/she is not as smart/special as he/she thinks his/herself to be, or can that be only approached hard and fast like a shot of Black Velvet whiskey?

Speaking of AWP...Jorge put up what he plans on viewing while at AWP NYC, so I figured I will do the same. Note that right now, my schedule looks like I will be a good trooper and go to every session...I don't know if I'm really going to live up to that...see, I have other shit I want to do.

Wednesday
The day of arrival. I will be going to the Museum of Modern Art. Come along if you like, if not, I'll see you when I'm done.

Thursday
900 - 1015
Proud Collaboration or Monkeying with Genius? The "Art" of Editing Short Fiction.
Could be informative as they discuss the editor's role in short fiction...and when a story is done in their eyes. I would go to the one about making a short story collection, but when I write one, I'd rather figure it out on my own.
1030 - 1145
Ausable Press Presents the Poet's Notebook: Charles Simic & Bruce Weigl, a Reading and Conversation.
The poet laureate talking about how he goes from notes to finished poems? Fuck yeah, I'm going. My runner-up option is the panel about how editors acquire books, though from the sound of it, it will be depressing and not earth shattering.
1200 - 115
Poetry Reading: Yusef Komunyakaa and Sharon Olds.
I won't miss a Sharon Olds reading...and I really want someone from our MFA group (Jorge?) to slip Ms. Olds his room key after the reading. What sucks hot shit about this, Charles Baxter and Alice McDermott will be talking about the effect of place in fiction at the same time. This makes me sad.
130 - 245
The J in Literary Journalism: Research and Reporting Skills in the Context of Creative Writing Programs.
This is one I could miss and not cry over. I'm interested in writing some non-fiction somewhere down the line about my family, and I'm curious what they have to say about research (I don't know the family well, so this could help). There's another one about how to run fiction workshops that could be interesting as well, but again, not required viewing.
300 - 415
Literary Interview with Daniel Menaker, Random House Former Executive Editor
This could be informative, and interesting...and depressing. This is counter programming to the Galway Kinnel reading, which I wouldn't mind seeing. He is very old, so it's not like I'd get this chance again soon...plus he will be interviewed..and The Bear is a good fucking poem. I don't know about this.
430 - 615
A Reading & Discussion with Joyce Carol Oates
Yes, please. But the real kick in the nuts, it's opposite the Carolyn Forche & Ha Jin reading. This is just terrible. I mean, is there really that much of a demand for Jonathan Safran Foer that they couldn't have slapped the Forche/Jin reading opposite that?
8:30
Keynote Address by John Irving
Ah, the teacher of Terry Davis. Mr. World According to Garp himself. He may not be reading, but he'll have interesting stuff to say nonetheless.

Friday
900 - 1015
AWP Townhall Meeting: Getting the Job and keeping It: The Creative Writing Tenure Track.
I got a feeling that this one might be a stinker, but it could be useful in this job hunt. There's another one about the art of revising poetry that would be useful as well.
1030 - 1145
Conversation with, and Reading by the New York State Author, Russell Banks
I have to admit, if I hadn't read Sarah Cole: A Type of Love Story, I wouldn't go to this. Continental Drift was interesting and dense, but I didn't enjoy it. Sarah Cole is a damn fine piece of work though...so I will go to this, and he had best be good.
1200 - 115
From Stories to Novels: Crossing the Great Divide.
This is about the struggles between writing short stories and novels. I think this could be informative, but I swear, if they start fucking reading their work, or selling their books, I'm going to be pissed off and go to the one about the business of literary magazines.
130 - 245
The Road Not Taken: Pursuing Careers
This is about potential jobs besides teaching. Now, the last year, I went to a session that promised similar info, and they didn't do anything close to that. If these fuckers don't, I might have to rip off their ears because I'll be missing the William Kennedy/Alice McDermott reading/interview. Eh, I might skip this one anyway for the Kennedy reading.
300 - 415
Fraud! The Debunking of Experimental Fiction
Michael Martone will be here at this one. And the description sounds kind of fun, and discussing experimental fiction will be informative...I hope that someone really takes the piss out of that genre of writing, and Safran Foer is in the audience during this.
430 - 615
Blue Flower Ars Presents: Poetry of Grief and Faith.
This poetry reading stars Robert Bly, Li-Young Lee (swoon!), and C.K. Williams. That's an all-star line-up right there ladies and gentlemen. There are some interesting counter programming options too, like another one abot researching non-fiction, a guide on how to steal from the greats of literature, the Safran Foer reading, and a session about how to write about fucking (i.e., lovemaking).
8:30
Mark Strand/Louise Gluck Reading
I know I should go to the prose reading of A.S. Byatt that is running opposite of this, but I don't know who that person is. Maybe that's bad of me to admit, but I don't know. I do know that she's British...but that doesn't mean anything. There will be an interview with Byatt, so maybe that will have something interesting. Also, I only know of one Strand poem that I really like...but it's very good....but I'm not exactly jonesing to see this. I don't know what I'm going to do.

Saturday
900 - 1015
Pitching Fiction: From Academia to the Marketplace
They will be talking about the connection between what is taught and what sells. That sounds fun and contentious. Also, I will say this in case Jorge didn't see it...there is something called Ultra-Talk poetry going on at the same time...and one of the panelists is none other than Rodney Jones. There is also one about syntax in poetry that could help with my comprehensive exams, so I might go to that one.
1030 - 1145
Why Ballet is Good for Football Players: How Screenwriting Informs Fiction and Poetry Writing
This isn't something terribly interesting to me, but I like screenwriting, so I'm going to see what they have to say...plus the guy who is writing the Godfather sequels will be there. Counter programming: a panel about writing on craft, that stars Charles Baxter.
1200 - 115
Truth and Taboo in the Incriminating Memoir
This is about the issues of writing memoirs about ugly family histories and dealing with that. So yeah, I want to see what is said about it. Counter programming: A session about editors and publishers that could be interesting.
130 - 245
Alternatives to Academia
Another one about jobs that aren't teaching...if this one stinks too, I'm going to write AWP a firm letter. Counter programming: A Gerald Stern tribute, an Edwidge Danticat reading, a session about prose poetry starring some hotshot poets (Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Kim Addonizio, Beth Ann Fennelly and Bob Hicok)
300 - 415
The Place of Art and Language, and the Language of Art and Place Writers from the New York State Writers Institute.
A reading with a discussion of place in writing...and it has William Kennedy here. Hot diggity!
430 - 615
Readings by Billy Collins and Frank McCourt
Frank McCourt? That's awesome. I'm looking forward to this one. Counter programming: Cynthia Ozick/Philip Lopate reading
8:30
Martin Amis Reading
I haven't read anything about this guy, but he was called out for being a racist recently, so some interesting shit could go down at this reading. But I hear he's quite the writer too. Counter programming (that is very, very tempting): Natasha Trethewey & Robert Pinksy.


Now, somewhere in all that, I need to go to the New York Public Library, The Metropolitan Musuem of Art, and other points of interest around NYC. It's going to be a jam packed weekend.

Viva el mustache