ENG 433 - Visiting with Writers

Semester Hours: 4

Over the course of the term, several writers will be visiting our class to converse with us about their lives as readers and writers. These visitors will also be giving public readings of their work. Naturally, in advance of their visits, we will read some of these writers’ works, as well as the works of writers who may have influenced our visitors. To put our conversation into perspective, we will be reading Harold Bloom’s The Anxiety of Influence. Students working on or toward their capstone should find this course useful as they seek to understand the connection between their creative and critical endeavors. Among the writers who may be visiting our class are Michael Pearson (author of a soon to be released book of nonfiction titled Reading Life), Paula Closson Buck (author of a soon to be released novel), and Philip Terman (author of a soon to be released book of poetry titled Our Portion: New and Selected Poems). Of course, we will also draw upon the work and experience of our own faculty writers. Students can expect to write several creative pieces, a few short papers, and one long paper.