AWP--a haze, a daze, a-dazzle

Last week I spent four days with writers from all over the world at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs annual conference. This year it was in NYC, and it was a madhouse! The conference was sold out--7500 people registered--and of course there were many off-site events in this literary mecca in addition to the panels, readings, and book fair at the conference.

Some highlights:
---Moderating a lively discussion in the Multi-Genre Pedagogy Forum session with a great group of creative writers/teachers. I hope to post more about our discussion soon.
--Carly's panel "Speaking Through Silence: Women Respond to Rape and Assault" including readings from her important new anthology the why and later
---"The Personal Narrative: The Art and The Health of It." (Diana Raab, Mindy Lewis, Michael Steinberg, Kyoko Mori, Phillip Lopate, Molly Peacock)
--"Keep It Real: Everything You Need to Know About Researching and Writing Creative Nonfiction." (Paul Morris, Robert Boynton, Lee Gutkind, Meredith Hall, Barbara Lounsberry)
--"Overlooked Foremother? Marianne Moore in the 21st Century." (Sharon Dolin, Jeanne Marie Beaumont, Catherine Daly, Timothy Liu, Moira Egan)
--"Blockheads: A Roundtable Discussion of the Pleasures and Pains of the Prose Poem." (Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Kim Addonizio, Beth Ann Fennelly, Patrick Rosal)
--Mark Strand's reading (with Rae Armantrout)
--Getting my contributor's copy of Letters to the World: Poems from the WOM-PO Listserv, and meeting fellow WOM-PO members at the panel and party.
--Reception at the Center for Book Arts--a fabulous display.
--Parties (not one, but two!) for the Contemporary Poetry Review. Meeting Martin Amis for five minutes. Seeing many, many friends, including the West Chester and Sewanee crews. Sipping an 89 Margaux (on the house) at Maison (thanks Erin and Adam!). All-too-brief time with fellow poe-bloggers Sandra , Reb, and Mary. Spotting "Professors Strike Back" star Jerry Williams. Brief hug with Jill and Jess.
--last but certainly not least: spending time with Kate and Mark from Red Hen Press and finding out that Saint Nobody will be out in time for the 2009 AWP Conference in Chicago!

Anything I've forgotten? Let me know!

I think I've finally recovered (somewhat). And it's time to put together a panel proposal for next year!