Writers @ Grinnell Events

Writers@Grinnell brings to campus writers of all kinds: poets, novelists, memoirists, essayists, radio essayists, columnists, graphic memoirists, playwrights, and short story writers.

“Interacting with writers, hearing them not only read from their work but also talk about their achievements and struggles, helps us to see that literature is a living tradition,” says Ralph Savarese, professor of English. “Writers@Grinnell works its magic in the way that the College does generally: by allowing students to discover and cultivate a passionate commitment to engaged living. Students learn that carefully and beautifully crafted words matter.”

The program is not designed just for student writers. “The program serves interdisciplinary learning by showcasing writers who take up matters of politics or history or science, for example — the latter is a loose but common thread in the work of a number of this year's visitors," Savarese says.

Fall 2019 Schedule of Events

(Additional events may be added as details are finalized.)

All events are free and open to the public.

Danez Smith

Roundtable: 4:15 p.m., Sept. 3, Rosenfield Center, Room 209
Reading: 8 p.m., Sept. 3, Hotel Grinnell Auditorium

Keah Brown and Lyz Lenz

Roundtable: 4:15 p.m., Sept. 12, Rosenfield Center, Room 209
Reading: 8 p.m., Sept. 12, Rosenfield Center, Room 101

Charles Baxter

Roundtable: 4:15 p.m., Sept. 23, Rosenfield Center, Room 101
Reading: 8 p.m., Sept. 23, Rosenfield Center, Room 101

Kaveh Akbar

Reading: 8 p.m., Sept. 26, Rosenfield Center, Room 101

Carlos Gamerro

Reading: 4:15 p.m., Oct. 3, Humanities & Social Studies Center (HSSC) S3325

Eileen Pollack

Reading: 4:15 p.m., Oct. 7, HSSC S3325

Rob Nixon, Connelly Lecture

Reading: 8 p.m., Oct. 10, Bucksbaum Arts Center, Room 131, Faulconer Gallery

Spring 2020 Schedule of Events

(Additional events may be added as details are finalized.)

Eleanor Glewwe

Reading: 4:15 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, Mears Cottage Living Room

Garth Greenwell and Brandon Taylor

Roundtable: 4:15 p.m., Thursday, March 5, Rosenfield Center, Room 209
Reading: 8 p.m., Thursday, March 5, HSSC S3325

Ed Pavlic

Roundtable: 4:15 p.m., Tuesday, March 10, Rosenfield Center, Room 209
Reading: 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 10, HSSC S3325

Post-Spring Break Events

Spring W@G events are cancelled. Thanks to our amazing students and their open hearts, open minds. It is truly an honor for us to curate a reading series for such curious, generous students. We will reschedule Hanif Abdurraqib & Ada Límon for 2020-21. Please direct any questions to Professor Bakopoulos via email.

Much love & strength, Dean Bakopoulos & Alissa Nutting

Grinnell College Writers-in-Residence

Ada Limón, Distinguished Author (cancelled)

Roundtable: 4:15 p.m., Thursday, April 9, Rosenfield Center, Room 101
Reading: 8 p.m., Thursday, April 9, Rosenfield Center, Room 101

Hanif Abdurraquib, Armando Montaño Memorial Reading (cancelled)

Roundtable: 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, April 15, Rosenfield Center, Room 209
Reading: 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 15, Rosenfield Center, Room 101

Saskya Jain and Christopher Kloebe (cancelled)

Roundtable: 4:15 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, Rosenfield Center, Room 209 (Tentative)
Reading: 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, Rosenfield Center, Room 101 (Tentative)

Student Writing Contest Awards Ceremony (cancelled)

6–8 p.m. (To be determined) Thursday, May 7, Rosenfield Center, Room 101