GOOD NEWS: Lott leads new CofC creative writing master’s program

The great American poet William Carlos Williams didn’t understand how someone could live and never write something down, says Bret Lott, acclaimed novelist and professor of English at the College of Charleston. If you’re a like-minded person, perhaps it’s time to consider applying to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from the College.

Lott

Lott is the author of the bestselling novel Jewel and 13 other titles. His teaching colleagues in the MFA program, including poetry professors Emily Rosko and Gary Jackson as well as fiction writer Anthony Varallo, are equally as talented. Together they’ve published more than 20 books.

The two-year, full-residency program, which begins in the fall of 2016 pending approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Schools, is designed to sharpen the writing skills of graduate students interested in fiction and poetry. Students will choose from two tracks of instruction: either a studio track designed to prime writers for publication and careers in literary-related fields, or an arts management track to prepare students for “positions in the arts community at large,” says Lott, the program’s director. Altogether the program promises immersion in a world of prose, poetry and the practical aspects of establishing a career in the arts.

These professors will teach regular three-hour writing workshops in which students offer critiques of each other’s work. Also, the MFA program will feature graduate courses in English and American Literature as well as Elements of Form and Craft in Fiction. Enrollment will be capped at 24 students for the College’s MFA program, and classes will meet in a historic home at 72 George St.

Lott says the College’s MFA program provides aspiring professional writers “time to rehearse” and practice a craft that is almost unmatched in its utility and versatility.

“Writing is such a portable thing,” says Lott. “You can go anywhere and be a writer.”

In other Good News:

In the Mix: This monthly music series by the College of Charleston School of the Arts monthly music series connects musicians and College of Charleston students to music industry leaders through discussions on industry topics.  The next session is 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 in the Recital Hall of the Simons Center for the Arts, 57. St. Philip St., at the college. It will focus on “Touring: Agents & Promoters” and guest speakers will be Rob Lamble, a Charleston concert promoter who owns and runs Ear For Music, and Rick Booth, President of Intrepid Artists, a booking agency out of Charlotte. Local rock group, Dead 27’s, will perform an acoustic set. More.

She -crab celebration: Historic Charleston restaurant 82 Queen will celebrate its 34^th anniversary this month by donating $1.80 to One80 Place for every bowl of its she crab soup served in the first two weeks of the month. According to a press release, the restaurant has made more than 52,000 gallons of the quintessentially Charleston soup over the last 15 years. “Instead of spending the money of a lavish celebration, they wanted to invite the community to help give back to those in need instead,” the release said.

New park: Charleston County Council on Jan. 26 approved a $2.1 million Greenbelt project on that will provide funding for the purchase and protection of 638 acres in the southern area of Charleston County. The Spring Grove Rural Greenbelt project will provide funding to the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission’s (CCPRC) proposed plan for a Spring Grove County Park.  The property is located on U.S. Highway 17 South between the Town of Ravenel and the Adams Run community. The more than 600 acres will be used as a County public park providing outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, biking and bird watching trails and will be managed by the CCPRC.

Singing Valentines: Quartets from the Charleston Barbershop Chorus will deliver singing Valentines throughout Charleston County and Summerville from Feb. 12 to Feb. 14. For $50, the a cappella singers wearing distinctive red, white and black dress will visit all kinds of places–restaurants, schools, offices, hospitals, retirement communities, or homes and sing for your loved one two love songs, deliver a Valentine’s Day card and a long-stemmed rose provided by Belvas Flower Shop of Mount Pleasant. To learn more, contact Harvey Rumph at (843) 557-0500 or  Charlie Harbin at (843) 991-9281 or email singsingsinging@gmail.com.