Pen to paper

Local literary scene sparkles

JOHN KRAFT/Daily Acclaimed writer and English Prof. Charles Baxter stands outside Angell Hall in March. Baxter is one of many high-profile writers in the Ann Arbor area.

One often-overlooked aspect of Michigan's history is the many famous writers the state has produced - Ernest Hemingway, Elmore Leonard, Theodore Roethke and Jim Harrison, to name a few. But contrary to what this might suggest, Michigan's writers are not only found in Detroit or in the northern Michigan countryside. Many of them reside in Ann Arbor.

Indeed, the city has plenty of wonderful features, but one especially striking one is its diverse and omnipresent literary community. There are almost too many well-known, highly respected authors here to count - not to mention those with the potential to become well-known. Just take a look around: Your professor could be a writer. The guy at the next table in Espresso Royale could be a writer. And so could you.

Probably the best-known local authors are University faculty members. Preeminent among these is English professor Charles Baxter, the author of several novels and short-story collections. His books "Believers" and "First Light," in particular, are highly worthwhile reading.

"I've come to feel that the real challenge to me as a writer is to take ordinary experiences and to make them interesting again," Baxter said in an interview with The Michigan Daily. "Apparently it's not my mission in life to take the huge subjects - war and peace - and deal with them. What I do is to take some of these more day-to-day events and make them compelling."

Novelist Nicholas Delbanco, and poets Alice Fulton, Richard Tillinghast and Thylias Moss also teach at the University.

Of course, there is life in Ann Arbor beyond the University campus, surprising as it may seem. The Washtenaw County area boasts several potentially famous writers as well.

For example, Chelsea native Laura Kasischke has published several books of poetry and a chilling suspense novel, "Suspicious River." Just this spring, Ann Arborite Joshua Henkin published "Swimming Across the Hudson," a novel that has won favorable reviews.

Ann Arbor's poetry world is especially vibrant, featuring frequent spoken-word performances and open-mic nights.

The Ann Arbor Poetry Slams at the Heidelberg, on North Main Street, are probably the most exciting of these. Their competitive atmosphere lures both those who love hearing poetry, and those who just want to see who wins.

But back within the ivy-covered walls of the University, there is still another hotbed of literary activity: student writing.

The Rackham graduate school offers a Master of Fine Arts degree in a program that trains many aspiring authors, and a large number of collegiate writers set their sights here.

However, undergraduate writers can definitely keep busy while waiting for their acceptance letters from Rackham. The University offers numerous venues for young writers to be published.

Xylem, an LSA journal, and the Residential College Literary Magazine both publish once a year. They accept poetry, fiction and nonfiction submissions. Player magazine also features student writing and artwork. Once a year, The Michigan Daily publishes a literary magazine that includes a variety of poetry and fiction by students.

Probably the best-known forum for young writers is the Hopwood Awards, a program that offers cash prizes and fellowships (and, equally as important, immense glory and prestige) for all types of writing. With numerous entrants in a variety of categories, the Hopwoods strive to recognize the best of students' work.

When it comes to writing-as-performance, the University has its own answer to the Poetry Slams. During the past year students created an unusual opportunity for young writers to be recognized: the State Street Poetry Project. This group organizes poetry readings at which both students and faculty members perform. Its April show at the East Hall Auditorium was a vivid, energizing event, and plans are under way for an even bigger performance in Rackham Auditorium next March.

The English Department also sponsors readings by creative writing subconcentrators. These events are not given much publicity, but they present a very high caliber of work, and as they last longer than most literary events, audiences are able to enjoy the readings in more depth. In addition, they offer another opportunity to hear the students who just might be famous someday.

Once you've been introduced to the Ann Arbor literary world, it's very hard to stay away from it. Luckily, it's very easy to get involved: go to Shaman Drum to hear local authors discuss their work. Submit something to a University literary journal. Listen to some new perspectives on writing at an English Department reading. The single drawback to Ann Arbor's literary life is its multiplicity of options - there's no way to attend five events in one night, and yet there'll be nights when you wish you could.

09-03-97