Exploring ‘Writers in Conversation’

Ahead of March 11th’s event with The Guardian’s Gary Younge, Arts Ambassador Molly Adams recounts this semester’s Writers in Conversation events.

Hosted by creative writing lecturer Carole Burns, Writers in Conversation occurs three times each semester, with visiting writers dropping in to give readings of their work and discuss their craft in front of a live audience. At the first event of this semester, hosted in the cultural quarter’s John Hansard Gallery, University of Southampton lecturer Devorah Baum read excerpts from her book Feeling Jewish: A Book for Just About Anyone and discussed the process of co-editing ‘The Politics of Feeling’, the latest issue of prestigious literary magazine Granta. Dr Baum’s conversational style of writing complemented the tone of Writers in Conversation and made for an intimate event in which Dr Baum discussed her own reading habits, writing process, and influences.

The second event welcomed Eley Williams, an award-winning short-story writer, whose debut collection, Attrib. and Other Stories, has won both the Republic of Consciousness Prize and the James Tait

Black Memorial Prize. Noted for her careful attention to language and creative use of wordplay, Williams discussed visual art, her writing process, and why she chooses to write short stories, helping the audience understand her use of form and structure. Williams also read two of her short stories, exploring queerness, visual art, and the hidden depth in seemingly mundane interactions, as well as discussing her journey through the publishing industry.

Writers in Conversation is a free event for students and staff at University of Southampton, and charges only £5 admission to audience members not affiliated with the university. With the chance to hear insights from critically acclaimed writers and to ask questions related to your own work and study in an intimate, relaxed environment, what’s stopping you from attending?

The third, highly-anticipated Writers in Conversation event will be held at NST Campus and will host The Guardian’s Gary Younge. Author of Another Day in the Death of America: A Chronicle of Ten Short Lives, Younge is known for his astute political commentary and engaging columns in The Guardian newspaper. This event will be held on March 11^thand it is recommended that any person wishing to attend book tickets now to avoid disappointment.

 

 

Arts Ambassadors is a paid opportunity, supported by the Careers and Employability Service’s Excel Southampton Internship programme, University of Southampton