Department of English

Note: Admission to this course is by permission of the instructor only. Applicants should contact Lily Applebaum at <alily@writing.upenn.edu> and see below for more information.

This is the 18th annual Kelly Writers House Fellows Seminar, which features visits by eminent writers as "Fellows" of the Kelly Writers House, the student-conceived writing arts collaborative at 3805 Locust Walk. The seminar is taught by Professor Al Filreis, Kelly Professor of English and Faculty Director of the Writers House, and will include extended visits to the class by writer of short (and micro-) fiction Lydia Davis; poet and scholar of jazz and improvisation Nathanial Mackey; and writer, stand-up comedian and actor Maria Bamford.

Throughout the semester we will study the work of these three writers—and some of the materials "around" them that make the particular contemporary context in which each operates so compelling. Enrollment in the course is strictly limited. Students will be enrolled only by permit of the instructor and are asked to send a two- or three-paragraph statement by email to alily@writing.upenn.edu describing: why they want to participate in this project, what academic (or perhaps non-academic) experience makes them especially eligible, and their relationship to the works of one (or more) of our Fellows. Participants will write frequent short position papers; will engage in team projects following up each of the Fellows' visits; will be involved in interviewing the three Fellows; and will take a comprehensive final examination.  Participants must be available on three Tuesday mornings during the semester. The Writers House Fellows program is made possible by a generous grant from Paul Kelly.