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For more than a decade, the New Writing Series has brought a variety of authors and poets to speak on the University of Maine campus.
Usually taking place Thursday afternoons in Soderberg Auditorium, each installment in the series highlights a contemporary literary figure with a visit that includes a reading from the author’s work and a Q-and-A session. The series doesn’t aim for a united artistic argument, but rather takes pains to explore the single question: What is going on in the world of modern literature?
As the 2010 Series comes to a close, UMaine English professor Steven Evans chatted about the series’ impact and legacy. Evans isn’t the only man behind the New Writing Series, but it can be alleged that he is the face of the program, working hard behind the scenes and introducing many of the guest speakers at their events. Evans joined the university in 1999, and it didn’t take long for him to begin organizing a series of readings for the department’s students and faculty.
Before its inauguration, there were a few readings on campus, mostly relating to poetry, but they were scattered and poorly marketed. Evans, working with professor Benjamin Friedlander, pushed to create a recognizable series, something that could be familiar to those on campus but still see different, unique experiences at each event.
The English Department worked with the National Poetry Foundation to create the series and was given financial support by the Lloyd H. Elliott fund and grants from the university’s Cultural Affairs Committee.
Over the years, the series has become nationally respected, holding its own against programming in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and other major cities. Currently, established writers are willing to make appearances for far less than they’d normally ask for out of interest in the series. The series isn’t about taking on readings from mega-authors like Stephen King and JK Rowling. Instead, they focus on niche literary figures, supplying an indie alternative to mainstream, household names.
The first event in the series was in December of 1999 with a visit from poet Anselm Berrigan. Since then, the series has welcomed the likes of acclaimed author Steve Tomasula, Edgar Award-winning Brian Evenson, and noted professor and author Laird Hunt. The series stuck with mostly poetry in its early years, but when professor David Kress joined the staff in 2005, his influence on the series caused more fiction writers to join in. Now the New Writing Series sees a healthy balance of fiction writing and poetry in its programming.
The series aims to stay up to date with contemporary writing and present a thorough representation of the modern literature landscape. The committee works hard to book a range of writers, balancing new movements, established writers and favorites making return visits.
Some professors will try and work their curriculum around what the series has to offer, or vice versa, a way for students to gain further insight into the works they are reading. This past semester alone, David Kress’s 21st Century Literature class read books by Jessica Anthony and Lance Olsen as the two novelists made visits to campus. The students were able to ask questions and pick the brains of the two authors, and the discussion was much more beneficial because of their knowledge of the author’s works.
Luckily, the Internet has made it easier to get into contact with writers and spread the word regarding the series’ influence. Evans said he doesn’t just contribute to the series’ programming and direction, he also maintains the series’ online presence as well. On the New Writing Series’ website, nwsnews.wordpress.com, there is a slew of archived content, including photos, recaps and records of every one of the series’ installments to date. When you consider the program has welcomed over a hundred literary figures to the university, that’s a lot of content.
The New Writing Series also has a Facebook group and a Flickr page, allowing for college students who practically live on various social networking sites to constantly feel the series’ presence on campus. The strongest aspect of the series is its creation of a viral identity, depending on posters and word of mouth to attract viewers and never falling short. Often, readings will be at least three quarters full and events are often covered after the fact via Facebook and Flickr.
With all this in mind, and when you consider the intellectual labor that goes into acquiring visitors, making arrangements with professors and the general minutiae of making sure everyone’s clear of the where and when, the New Writing Series is an incredible gift from Evans, Kress and their colleagues to the University’s students, from those in the English major to regular folk just looking for an interesting peek at modern literature. With a focus on variety, no two events are the same.
With a visit from Omar Berrada and Sarah Riggs, the New Writing Series’ 2010 Edition will conclude today at 4:30 p.m. in Soderberg Auditorium. Their 2011 slate will be revealed early next year.
Bangor Daily News