Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Aciman & McCann on Teaching Writing

Last week I finished the day at my office job and headed south several blocks to the CUNY Graduate Center to sit in on a lively conversation on “Art & Craft: Teaching Writing.”

The event was billed as follows: “Next in the series of Chancellor’s Conversations, highlighting the work of CUNY faculty, Interim Chancellor Bill Kelly speaks with two of contemporary literature’s most distinctive stylists. André Aciman of the Graduate Center is the author of seven books, including the novels Harvard Square and Eight White Nights and the acclaimed memoir Out of Egypt. Colum McCann of Hunter College is the author of eight books, including Transatlantic and Zoli; his novel Let the Great World Spin was awarded the 2009 National Book Award for Fiction.”

It was a vibrant discussion, likely to interest anyone who thinks about creative-writing pedagogy (student, teacher, alum) as well as fans of the speakers. And I’m happy to say that video from the event is already available to share. (Now I just need to add it to the Creative Writing at CUNY website that I help manage at the day job!)

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