Words Awake!
Poet Eric Ekstrand ('07) talks with Tom Phillips ('74, MA '78), director of the Wake Forest Scholars program and an organizer of Words Awake!
Writers provide inspiration and career connections
When pursuing a dream of writing for a living, getting good advice and making connections are essential.
Senior English major Morgan Schutte did both when she served as student ambassador for during Words Awake, a celebration of Wake Forest University writers and writing held March 23-25 that drew more than 250 people to campus for discussions, networking and readings.
Wake Forest University establishes Writers Hall of Fame
Ed Wilson, an inaugural inductee
Fifteen alumni have been installed as the inaugural inductees into the Wake Forest University Writers’ Hall of Fame during the Words Awake! conference banquet on campus on Saturday, March 24. See more about each inductee on the Words Awake! site »
Also:
- Ed Wilson speaks about the encouraging environment for writers through the history of Wake Forest
- Read Wilson’s full speech
- “Words Awakened: Biographies of Wake Forest’s Most Distinguished Writers” (e-book at Amazon)
Inspiring young writers
Laura Elliott
Silk maps, B-24 bombers and avoiding anachronisms were the hot topics during Laura Elliott’s visit to Northwest Middle School in Winston-Salem. Elliott, a 1979 Wake Forest graduate who writes young adult historical novels, mixed WWII history with writing advice in conversations with 6th, 7th and 8th graders as part of Words Awake! A Celebration of Wake Forest Writers and Writing on campus March 23-25.
She was among 18 Wake Forest graduates who visited local schools to share their enthusiasm for writing. Read more »
Son seeks father, finds literary and artistic avant-garde
Harold and Tom Hayes
Words Awake!, the three-day symposium showcasing Wake Forest’s literary legacy, launched with a spectacular start Friday evening when Tom Hayes (’79) premiered his documentary film, “Editor Uncut,” about his father, Harold Hayes (’48), who as editor of Esquire (1963-1973) marshaled the talent that established the magazine as the disquieting mirror of its age.
“It is fitting that the film should be shown at Wake Forest University first,” said Tom Hayes, “because my father had such a close connection to college. He attributed almost everything he became to Wake Forest.” Read more »
Also: “Son’s documentary focuses on Harold Hayes’ work at Esquire” (Winston-Salem Journal)
Preview coverage
- “WFU to celebrate its writers” (Winston-Salem Journal)
- “Words Awake! celebrates writers, writing” (WFU News Center)
- “‘Healing Reads’ includes Wake Forest author Amidon” (Deacon Blog)
Storify
Follow the event through a Storify from the Wake Forest News Center:
[wfu_storify username=’WakeForestNews’ slug=’words-awake’ title=”Words Awake!”]
Categories: Alumni, Arts & Culture, Community Impact, Happening at Wake, Research & Discovery
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