Ohio Wesleyan University’s Department of English began their 2023 Visiting Writers & Lecturers series with poetry written and read by poet, essayist and musician, Scott Minar, on February 13.
The series is organized by Director of Creative Writing Amy Butcher and is funded by OWU’s English Department.
The goal of the Visiting Writers & Lecturers series is to provide students access to “writers who represent a
larger literary community in America”
Photo courtesy of Scott Minar’s personal website. than those traditionally taught in the
classroom, said Butcher.
She selects several published and talented writers with diverse backgrounds, various writing styles and specified interests.
In previous years writers of all ethnicities and writing styles have been featured to give students diversity in literary representation and insight on the influence race and background may have on subject matter.
Minar explained some of the challenges and conversations he faces as an American poet when having works translated to other languages during his lecture.
He said when writing a piece that will be translated into Arabic, for example, he avoids idiomatic writing. Minar also spoke on his tendency to attempt various poetry styles so that topics can be told in a better way and read some of these poems during his visit.
Five more writers will visit in this series. Among them is a Native essayist, Elissa Washuta who is also a member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.
Brendan Isaac Jones is a novelist, essayist, and journalist who is primarily “interested in drawing attention to environmental issues concerning the Tongass rainforest in Alaska.”
More information on the writers will be sent out in the OWU Daily as the dates get closer.
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