PEN America's Virtual Gala this week was a celebration of the power of words. As part of the ceremony, President Barack Obama received the PEN America Voice of Influence Award for “the power of his soaring words, the promises he has unlocked in our nation, and the enduring American values that he has embodied.” Read or watch President Obama's interview with former PEN America president and Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Ron Chernow. Check it out here ››
Kickstart your writing with PEN America's free online workshop series, You Are A Writer, starting in January 2021 on Wednesday evenings. From navigating the publishing world to getting projects ready for submission, these workshops provide advice and tools for launching a literary career. ASL interpretation is provided by Pro Bono ASL. Learn more »
This workshop will present an overview of how books are created and sold, the taxonomy of publishers, publication and pay timelines, an author’s marketing responsibilities, life after the book deal, and developments in diversity, equity, and inclusion in publishing. Register here »
Ready to share your work? PEN America presents a free workshop providing step-by-step guidance on preparing your fiction, nonfiction, or poetry project for submission. From assessing the readiness of your project to deciphering submission guidelines. Register here »
In a crowded landscape, building an audience for your work and literary community is more important than ever. This hands-on session will look at what a platform is and the foundational components of the writer’s toolkit, from readings to websites. Register here »
The ins and outs of literary representation can be difficult to decipher, particularly for those working outside of traditional pathways like MFA programs. This session will include a guide to composing a compelling query letter and tips on researching and landing an agent that is right for you. Register here »
› Avenues for Magic with Emily X.R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma: "My favorite thing is seeing something bloom from a blank page when a writer had no idea what might emerge when they’re given a prompt, a word, an opportunity, or something that opens a door for them."
› The Restorative Power of Black Art with Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham: “We really want people to sit with this, see themselves in it, and to understand that you’re part of an incredible legacy and that, yes, you are living through a deeply traumatic time, but also, yes, there are so many spaces and reasons to be joyful, to be thankful, to feel connected, and to feel powerful."
› The PEN Ten with Kiese Laymon: “Don’t ask anything of your characters or your nation or your people that you won’t ask of yourself. That’s the hardest part of this art creation shit. We have to be tough and tender with ourselves.”
› The PEN Ten with Michelle Gallen: “The most important thing a writer can do is to live mindfully with curiosity and kindness, to participate in life, and to listen to—and observe—as many people as you can."
› The PEN Ten with Dolores Reyes: "To me, it’s very fruitful to approach conflicts or situations that do not have definite answers and generate fiction from that point."
Join The New York Times for the first in a series of free virtual book clubs. The inaugural book, James Baldwin’s semiautobiographical novel Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953), explores the story of a teenage boy in 1930s Harlem struggling with his family, the church, and the world at large. Arguably one of the greatest modern American books, it weaves together issues of race, religion and sexuality with enduring brilliance and precision. RSVP to attend here »
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