March 18, 2005

Literary notes

After some badgering from my students, I finally relented and distributed two poems I wrote as an undergraduate. I was surprised that the poems are still around, no doubt a result of my sentimentality. Naturally, I cringed when I re-read them two nights ago.

I hope they give my students some hope - they should know that budding poets will produce rather cheesy and inane lines in the process of creating Art. Not that I ever truly succeeded. I haven't written a poem since graduation!

Now that my next graduation is nearing, I'm reminding myself that I must keep writing even though I'm leaving this wonderful writing community. A few of my friends have promised to exchange work with me, even after I've moved back to Singapore.

This week - attended a lecture and roundtable by Ian Jack, long-time editor of Granta, the literary journal of Cambridge University. More later.

Next week - meeting another agent. Banana Yoshimoto's American agent!

Posted by Monoceros at March 18, 2005 10:36 PM
Comments

ooh, Yoshimoto's agent! Hope the meeting goes well!

Posted by: dsd at March 20, 2005 7:58 PM

interesting. i've always wondered how she liked her work after it's been translated. does she approve? was it a buddy of her, or agent introduced?

so what happens at these meetings?

Posted by: noob at March 22, 2005 11:20 AM

I didn't dare ask the agent what Banana Y. thinks, but she did say that Banana Y. was pleased that her work is getting to N. America. Also, I got to see the forthcoming novella collection. Not yet published so it's a temporary cover - looks cute, but it will be changed because she doesn't like it.

The American agent was in Japan and met Banana Y.'s Japanese agent, and the rest is history.

The meetings? Well, these agents ask to visit the program. They hold a roundtable discussion for both first-and-second year students. Then individual meetings with the second-years. But it seems our workshop advisor is letting the whole jean gang meet the agents now. So we literally have to compete for attention. Last year, when we were first-years we could only sit in at the roundtables.

Posted by: monoceros at March 22, 2005 11:21 PM