THE PROGRAM
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Travel Matters | Recommended ReadingAbout SLS Montreal
SLS Montreal is our first program in North America -- and yet follows in the exciting path of other SLS programs: immersion in a fascinating city, rich in literary and cultural history.
Montreal is a unique portal between Europe and North America. Its diverse culture and languages mixed with the eclectic and exciting arts scene (both in English and French), make Montreal one of the liveliest and most Eurocentric cities on the continent.
The city, named after Mount Royal, a lush mountain park to the north, boasts a lengthy and rich literary tradition that includes amazing writers like A.M. Klein, Nicole Brossard, Irving Layton, Leonard Cohen, Mordecai Richler,Louis Dudek, Gabrielle Roy and many more.
During the summer months, people everywhere flock to Montreal to see it transformed into a city of festicals. Film, music, theatre and comedy festivals take up June and July, and on Grand Prix weekend the city buzzes with fans fr om around the world.
SLS is proud to invite you to come with us to this captivating place.
Apply now for June 13th - 27th, 2010!
About the Program
SLS Montreal - a program with a literary emphasis - follows in the spirit and format of our previous SLS programs, bringing the best Contemporary writers of the moment together. Viewing our past faculty in SLS Russia, SLS Lithuania and SLS Kenya, you'll find winners of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Awards, poet laureates, best selling authors, and top scholars in their field.
One of the SLS main characteristic features is its teaching faculty’s and writers-in-residence's accessibility in answering participants’ questions and in helping to solve any arising issues concerning their work. The faculty and the participants also spend considerably more time together outside of the classroom than in most other literary programs, both in the US and abroad. It is an exciting, personal experience; one which often results in profound friendships and wonderful new contacts in the industry.
Participants in the writing seminars will include individuals of all ages and all levels of accomplishment: gifted beginners and writers who have already begun publishing; undergraduate and graduate students of creative writing; and people turning (or returning) to writing relatively late in life. All are treated with equal respect by the SLS faculty and writers-in-residence. Please bear in mind: One does not necessarily have to be an accomplished writer to attend Summer Literary Seminars: an abiding love of literature, intellectual curiosity, openness to new artistic and cultural experiences, and the sincere desire to deepen one's understanding of the creative process are the only prerequisites.
Students generally enroll in one morning seminar and one afternoon seminar as their core classes. The seminars meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. In addition there will be lectures on Canadian Literature and Culture, travel writing, and folk arts as well as other writing-themed and cultural lectures. Readings, roundtable discussions and tours of the city and its outlying areas will also be included in the SLS Montreal experience. The specifics of the upcoming program are as follows:
Seminars
Participants may take a maximum of one seminar from the morning block and one from the afternoon:
Morning Seminars
Fiction – Kevin Canty
Fiction – Padgett Powell
Poetry – Martín Espada
Poetry – Elizabeth Bachinsky
Afternoon Seminars
Nonfiction – Chuck Klosterman
Travel Writing TBA
Playwriting – Mac Wellman
Contact Zone Montreal: Exploring the culture and paradoxes of the most European of North American cities – Patrick Leroux
Along with readings from their works, authors will be presenting lectures and other aspects of being a professional writer. Lecturers and panelists will include Sam Lipsyte, Douglas Messerli, Gary Shteyngart, Christopher Sorrentino and Deborah Treisman, with more to come! Learn more about our faculty!
The Fiction, Poetry, Creative Nonfiction, and Playwriting seminars will follow the typical creative-writing workshop model: individuals present their original work which is closely scrutinized and critiqued by the group, led by the instructor. Apply to the program now!
In addition to the program seminars, SLS offers the following activities (please note that lectures and lecturers are subject to change):
Literary Walks
A Montreal History, Literature, and Culture Series
Publishing Panels with Editors from various magazines
Montreal film screenings and commentary
Other Lectures and Mini-Workshops
Readings
Participant Open-Mic Nights
Tours
Readings by teaching faculty, contest winners, and participants, take place several nights each week at various local venues.
Participant Open-Mic Nights: Twice each session SLS organizes an informal open-mic format reading, during which participants sign-up to read their work.