September 2011

Writing Prompt Thursday: Playing with Fire

Posted: September 29th, 2011 by PEN Center USA Comments: 0

Today's prompt is modified from Brian A. Klems's prompt in Writer's Digest:

You come across a pack of matches that sets off a series of uncanny events. Start your poem with “My mother always told me not to play with fire.”

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Up the Ante Wednesday: Djerassi

Posted: September 28th, 2011 by PEN Center USA Comments: 0

The Djerassi Resident Artists Program is internationally recognized as one of the eminent artist residency programs. Now in its 32nd year, Djerassi has provided over 2,000 artist residencies, and currently serves approximately 90 artists each year – all free of charge. It is the largest artist residency program in the West and considered among the best in the country.

History

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Revising My Manuscript for the Midterm Review by Mehnaz Turner

Posted: September 28th, 2011 by PEN Center USA Comments: 0

So this week I’m in the process of revising my poetry manuscript for the midterm review in the Mark Program. I have to turn in an updated manuscript by Friday, and it’s got to be about twenty-five pages shorter than when I started...when it was close to ninety-five pages. It’s also got to be more intentionally organized. That’s the purpose of this program, to get me to reflect on manuscript construction, my poems, and how to put together a book of poetic fragments. The process has been exciting yet daunting.
 

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GENERATIVE POETRY WORKSHOP WITH ANNA JOURNEY

Posted: September 27th, 2011 by PEN Center USA Comments: 0

The Mark Program is pleased to present a generative poetry workshop with Mark instructor Anna Journey.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 and SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2011
All participants must be able to attend both sessions.

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Faculty Interview: Anna Journey

Posted: September 26th, 2011 by PEN Center USA Comments: 0

Anna Journey is the author of the collection If Birds Gather Your Hair for Nesting (University of Georgia Press, 2009), selected by Thomas Lux for the National Poetry Series.

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RAN 48/11: IRAN

UPDATE: Journalist, poet and activist Faranak Farid released on bail.

The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International welcomes the release on bail on 17 October 2011 of journalist, poet and activist Faranak Farid after forty-two days in prison for her peaceful activism and critical writings. PEN continues to call for any charges against her to be dropped, in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory.

Writing Prompt Thursday

Posted: September 22nd, 2011 by PEN Center USA Comments: 0

Today's writing prompt comes from Jacaranda Press, a small literary press that publishes helpful and creative prompts on their website.

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The 5th Annual Festival of California Poets

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Festival of California Poets
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Maxine Hong Kingston, James Ragan, Steve Kowit and other distinguished poets will read at the 5th Annual Festival of Festival of California Poets...
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October 14th and 16th at the Hammer Museum and the Pasadena Central Library

The 5th Annual Festival of California Poets celebrates the poetic tradition of the Golden State. Three distinguished contemporary California poets will introduce and read poems by canonical California poets, as well as their own poems. A Q&A will follow the readings.