Past Poets & Writers Live Events

Chicago: Agents & Editors

June 20, 2015

The fifth Poets & Writers Live event was held at Chicago's Instituto Cervantes on June 20, 2015. The program explored the writer's journey from inspiration to publication and featured a "poetry keynote" by acclaimed poet Li-Young Lee, followed by panel discussions on resources for writers in Chicago; how to prepare the perfect pitch to agents, editors, and other publishing professionals; tips for savvy self-publishing; and the ins and outs of the editor-author relationship; craft talks; live-lit performance; and much more. A highlight of the program was a reading and discussion with Chicago literary icons Stuart Dybek and Marc Kelly Smith.

San Francisco: Inspiration

January 10, 2015

The fourth Poets & Writers Live event was held on January 10, 2015, at San Francisco's Brava Theater Center. The program featured a "poetry keynote" by Pulitzer Prize–winner and former U.S. poet laureate Kay Ryan; a conversation with award-winning poets and writers about why we write; a "quarrel" between David Shields and Caleb Powell over the age-old debate of life vs. art; a multigenre, multimedia “inspiration experiment” featuring acclaimed author Joyce Carol Oates; and much more.

Washington, D.C.: Independent Publishing

October 25, 2014

The third Poets & Writers Live event was held on October 25, 2014, at the Library of Congress and featured panel discussions with authors and editors from innovative independent publishers such as Graywolf Press, Algonquin Books, New Directions, Black Balloon Publishing, Rose Metal Press, Augury Books, and Gival Press, as well as advice about self-publishing opportunities, conversation about resources for writers in Washington, D.C., and a featured reading by award-winning author Charles D'Ambrosio.

New York City: Literary Agents

June 21, 2014

The second Poets & Writers Live event was held on June 21, 2014, at Scandinavia House in New York City, and featured agents, editors, and authors engaged in panel discussions and conversation about how to sustain the writing life, the many reasons why we write, the author-agent relationship, and how agents and editors work together on behalf of writers. The day-long event concluded with a reading by award-winning poet Frank Bidart followed by a cocktail reception where writers networked and discussed the day's program.

Los Angeles: Inspiration

January 11, 2014

The inaugural Poets & Writers Live event was held on January 11, 2014, at the literary arts center Beyond Baroque in Los Angeles, and included a talk on publishing, a panel discussion about resources for writers who live in Los Angeles, a conversation about why we write, a featured reading by Dani Shapiro, and a literary mixer where participants shared advice and inspiration.

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