Gessner Encourages Buttler MFA Students

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Earlier this month, David Gessner visited Butler as part of the Vivian S. Delbrook Visiting Writers Series. The author, editor, and professor at the University of North Carolina held a public reading, but when an author visits Butler, MFA students have unbelievable opportunities beyond the public reading.

Gessner met with the nonfiction workshop, where he answered questions, inquired about students’ writing, and gave encouragement. A student in the class, first year Jervon Perkins said, “He was so cool. It was so personal and relaxed. It was like he was just hanging out with us, talking about writing. It changed my perception of visiting writers.”

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Gessner was interviewed by a student, ate dinner with a small group and participated in an informal Q & A where he encouraged students to write wild and live wild. He said, “Do what you love from here on out. And do more than one thing. All my heroes do more than one thing.” His advice for successful writing is to practice the balance between freedom and discipline. He suggested creating a daily routine of two distinct writing periods, one to “air it all out, loose and free” and then another to be disciplined and serious.

Before leaving Indianapolis, Gessner also conducted one-on-one workshops with nonfiction students. He gave personal advice, discussed thesis plans, and seemed genuinely excited to engage personally. Students were amazed by the time and thought he put into the meetings.

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