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Writers at Work will examine fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry from the point of view of both writer and audience, artist and critic. We will read contemporary literature in each genre, as well as some secondary materials written whenever possible by those same authors. For example, we might read David Mamet's play GLENGARRY, GLEN ROSS and then his craft book ON DIRECTING FILM; Charles Baxter's novel THE FEAST OF LOVE and then his craft book THE ART OF SUBTEXT; Richard Hugo's poetry as well as his craft book THE TRIGGERING TOWN; Annie Dillard and Jo Anne Beard's essays paired with Sven Birkerts' THE ART OF TIME IN MEMOIR; and then various readings paired with THE WRITERS' NOTEBOOK: CRAFT ESSAYS FROM TIN HOUSE. Everyone will both write in and about each genre. The writing load for this course is a minimum of 15 pages of formal revised writing. Prerequisite: ENGL 111 or 121. This course replaces ENGL 112 as the second course in the core Literature and Writing sequence. ENGL 190 students should take an ENGL 205 or above literature course to satisfy the core Literature and Writing requirement.
Part II of the sequence of two, two-credit courses, ENGL 421 and 422, includes readings from The Art of Literary Editing, active involvement with other editors in the selection process, learning and applying principles of literary copyediting, using desktop publishing to produce the new edition of Summit Avenue Review, and learning Web design to create and revise pages on the Summit Avenue Review Web site. Completion of the two-semester sequence fulfills the second-level Computer Competency requirement in the core curriculum. Prerequisite: ENGL 421
Students will read and write about literary texts critically and closely. The course emphasizes recursive reading and writing processes that encourage students to discover, explain, question and clarify ideas. To this end, students will study a variety of genres as well as terms and concepts helpful to close analysis of those genres. They will practice various forms of writing for specific audiences and purposes. Students will reflect on and develop critical awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses as readers and writers.
Students will read and write about literary texts critically and closely. The course emphasizes recursive reading and writing processes that encourage students to discover, explain, question and clarify ideas. To this end, students will study a variety of genres as well as terms and concepts helpful to close analysis of those genres. They will practice various forms of writing for specific audiences and purposes. Students will reflect on and develop critical awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses as readers and writers.
This course introduces students to skills necessary for imaginative writing. It includes close readings of literary texts that model basic techniques, weekly writing exercises that encourage exploration and development of craft, and workshop discussions to develop students' critical skills. This course will include instruction in setting, character, voice, point of view, literal and figurative imagery, rhythm and sound patterns, and literary structures. Prerequisites: ENGL 111 and 112 or 190
In ENGL 421 and 422, a sequence of two, two-credit courses, participants will study the history and character of literary magazines from 1912 to the present; learn desktop publishing, book and Web design, and editorial procedures; and apply this knowledge to producing the university's literary and visual arts magazine, Summit Avenue Review. Activities during the fall semester, part I of the sequence, include readings in literary history, studying professional literary magazines, learning desktop publishing, and working collaboratively with other Summit Avenue Review editors to solicit submissions and develop selection procedures. Prerequisite: previous or concurrent enrollment in ENGL 321 or 322 or 326 or instructor permission
Academic History
Ph.D., University of Utah M.F.A., The Ohio State University M.A., Boston College B.A., Marquette University At St. Thomas since 2007
Selected Publications Fiction, creative nonfiction, and book reviews have appeared in Tin House, Mid-American Review, Fifth Wednesday, Quarterly West, Western Humanities Review, Soundings East, The Isthmus, San Francisco Chronicle, Salt Lake Magazine, Another Chicago Magazine, and in the anthology Food & Booze: A Tin House Literary Feast.
Current Book-Length Projects Sugarhouse, the story of renovating what might have been a Salt Lake City crackhouse, and The Enthusiast, a collection of compulsive essays about obsessive subjects such as baking sourdough bread, fixed-gear cycling, rock climbing, spelunking in third-world countries, parenting, and other fairly unreasonable things.
Editorial Experience Internship at The Atlantic Monthly. Served as Nonfiction Editor of Quarterly West and REAL: Regarding Arts and Literature. Served as Contributing Editor at the Ohio State Journal and Another Chicago Magazine.
Grants and Awards Recipient of a 2010 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Five-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize.
