An evening at the Kelly Writers House

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

This is the season during which the work days never end, and the skies darken for long stretches, and the rains come, and the tree limbs scratch their chaos into the tired stucco walls of this house.

This is that season, again.

But last night, through what was cold and what was dark, I made my way by train and collapsed umbrella to the University of Pennsylvania campus, which Al Filreis and Greg Djanikian have turned into a second home for me.  I traveled there to hear New Yorker editor David Remnick speak of journalism—then and now.  I traveled to sit with my dear student Kim, and to hear of her life, how it unfolding.  I traveled for the chance to chat with the great fiction writer and teacher, Max Apple. I traveled to sit among students intent on learning all they can—there, here, now—and among teachers and working writer/editors (Dick Pohlman, Avery Rome, more) who are generous with their own stories.

A gift, all of it.

2 comments:

KFP said...

Beth, might you be able to say what was said about "journalism now" in a nutshell? Like so many of us, I'm trying to figure it out and like to pay attention to what others are saying.

Becca said...

There must have been so much energy and inspiration in that room! How lucky to soak up some of that :)

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