Alumnae return to give students the ‘write’ advice

UNC’s creative writing program is working to support its current students by connecting them with working alumni through a series of events today.

Daniel Wallace, director of creative writing, invited writers and alumnae Lydia Millet and Jenny Offill, who will talk at three different events throughout the day. Both have written multiple books and maintained an active presence in the writing community.

Millet and Offill, who met at UNC, graduated in 1990 and have remained friends. Both writers found a mentor in now-retired professor Daphne Athas, who continues to support them and their work.

“She plans on coming to all of the events,” Wallace said. “In the creative writing program, you are able to find a mentor, a teacher who cares deeply about you and who you care deeply about. Daphne Athas was that for them.”

Each event is free and open to the public, including readings, question and answer sessions and book signings.

The first event, held in Greenlaw Hall’s Donovan Lounge, is geared toward students currently taking creative writing courses.

“This is the first event we’ve had that has featured alumni of the program,” Wallace said. “I want students to see two great writers talk about writing.”

Later at 3:30 p.m., Bull’s Head Bookshop is hosting a book signing with Marianne Gingher, who edited an anthology to which Millet and Offill contributed. The two will speak to their experience as N.C. authors and read an excerpt of the book, “Amazing Place: What North Carolina Means to Writers.”

“Everyone invited to be in the book responds in any way that they wanted. Lydia and Jenny decided to do a dialogue, a conversation,” Gingher said.

The day will wrap up with “In Conversation: Jenny Offill and Lydia Millet” — a talk at Flyleaf Books. Audience members will snack on refreshments and listen as the alumnae talk about writing and their friendship.

Jeremy Hawkins, author and bookseller at Flyleaf, said he was particularly excited about the event.

“We’re really big fans of them, and we’re giddy with excitement for them to be here,” Hawkins said.

Millet said the unique thing about UNC’s creative writing program is its dedicated teachers.

“It’s a very teaching-driven program and faculty. It’s unique in that the teachers here are already committed to their students, not just writers who have a job teaching,” Millet said.

Gingher said she hopes the events will help inspire writers to stick to their guns.

“I want the community to be aware that creative writing is somebody’s dream,” Gingher said.

“They get their foundation in our department, but they continue to practice and grow wherever they go and can develop into a very successful writing career.”

arts@dailytarheel.com