Drexel’s ‘Week of Writing’ opens literary doors, from songs to sex

From May 12 through 16, Drexel University is bringing writers of all disciplines together to explore questions and answers from pretty much every corner of the industry. The student-friendly festival is also open to the public, with no registration required.

Kathy Volk Miller, an English professor who is also the coeditor of Painted Bride Quarterly and codirector of the Drexel Publishing Group, helms "Week of Writing." She says the event addresses questions teachers and mentors get, like “how do I not write cheesy lyrics?” or “How do I write about sex in a tasteful way?”

Naturally, that last one is important — where would we be without classy sex scenes? Volk Miller says that the “I’ll Have the Footlong, Hold the Smut: Writing About Sex” panel (Wednesday May 14 at 3pm) will “delve into the difference between erotica and writing about sex in a literary way.” Author and Rolling Stone music critic Anthony DeCurtis will moderate, with panelists including Metropolarity founder Ras Mashramani and Rutgers creative writing professor Lisa Zeidner, a poet and novelist herself.

Drexel is also looking forward to welcoming MK Asante, the best-selling author of the memoir Buck, who will sit on a panel called “Write Like Crazy” on May 13 at 2pm. This session will address writing about mental illness and the choices that face writers who tell these stories. In addition to Asante (also a filmmaker, hip-hop artist, and professor), fiction writer and teacher Evan Roskos and Philly journalist and editor Liz Spikol will join the panel.

Other panels will include “Storytelling in Unexpected Places,” a session on mentoring young writers, and a discussion about creating good song lyrics. For a map and the full roster, click here.

Drexel University’s “Week of Writing” is running May 12 through 16. Most events will be held at Drexel’s Barnes & Noble in MacAlister Hall at 33rd and Chestnut Streets, but attendees should be sure to check the latest schedule online. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit Drexel’s website.