On December 14 and 15, Writers & Books will host students from Maria Brandt’s upper-level Short-Fiction Workshop at MCC for an end of the semester reading of work they have compiled over the past term. Brandt, Assistant Professor of English at MCC, has brought her students to Writers & Books for the past two years to expose them to the world of giving a public reading.
Brandt remarks:
“Two years ago, with encouragement from Joe Flaherty and Al Abonado, the students in my upper-level workshops began reading for a public audience at Writers & Books. This experience has changed the class, and arguably my students’ lives.”
Brandt’s class focuses on flash fiction, helping students cultivate micro-level skills. Students range in not only age, but also ethnicity and economic background, which produces a diverse group of stories by the end of the semester. Another benefit of having the students read in public is exposing them to the city and specifically Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts.
Brandt reflects:
“Ultimately, they learn about their larger community, they learn how to stand on that stage, they learn how to share their work, and they learn how to share themselves.”
The readings will take place in the Performance Space at Writers & Books at 7:00 on both Wednesday, December 14 and Thursday, December 15. This event is free and open to the public.