
We are gearing up for our summer programs, including our awesome summer workshops for teens. This month, we asked our PWN Teen summer instructors to share with us what they’re obsessing over.
Here’s what they are reading, watching, listening to, eating, and more!
June 2021:
What we’re reading …
Jim McConville: “Derek Walcott poetry. A man of multiple places, multiple histories, and an otherworldly talent for figurative language, I am constantly moved by the Caribbean stories he relates in his poems, as well as the sense of space and place he evokes.” (Jim is teaching Fantastic Voyage.)
Watching …
Mimi Cross: “Since the start of spring I’ve been obsessed with early mornings: the silence, and the birdsong. The dark sky turning to light: the pale pinks and washes of blue deepening into day. Damp green grass, filling birdbaths … Standing barefoot on the cool brick front steps, watering flowers. Yellow African daisies in an ancient urn my mother gave me, blue-purple salvia standing tall. Coral geraniums with trailing two-toned vinca vines, the vines already long, though summer hasn’t started. More flowers with names I can’t remember, periwinkle in a huge faded sea-green pot. I have more flowers this year than I’ve ever had, because this year home is my vacation spot!” (Mimi is teaching Songwriting Studio and Performing Songwriter.)
Listening to …
Christa Teter: “I am obsessed with the song “Comes and Goes” (In Waves), by Greg Laswell. It has a beautiful melody, he has a cool voice, and his lyrics are about suffering a loss, memories and perseverance.” (Christa is teaching Your Voice Matters.)
Eating …
Laura Cyphers: “I’m opting for lots of raw fruit and veggies at the moment, especially carrots and sweet peppers.” (Laura is teaching Poetry.)
Miscellaneous …
Lizbeth Finn: “I’m captivated by the release of a recent UFO report by the American government. As a storyteller, I often write character-driven stories fueled by supernatural or paranormal plotlines. I am currently rewriting a novel about time travel and ET disclosure, so the timing of this report is perfect for me. While the Pentagon’s findings do not prove aliens exist, they leave the possibility open. It’s this possibility that excites and captivates us all—not just storytellers. And it is especially thrilling for those, like me, who grew up watching Star Trek, dreaming of the final frontier.” (Liz is teaching The Dreamers Writers’ Room: Writing a TV Pilot.)
What are you obsessed with this month? We’d like to know! Email your response to wi@projectwritenow.org for a chance to appear in an upcoming column!