Seattle becomes a literary hotspot this week with the AWP Conference

Our arts and culture picks this week turn to our collective love of books and creative writing. The Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) is hosting a huge conference and book fair at the Seattle Convention Center in Seattle. It starts Wednesday and continues into the weekend. And even if you're not a writer, there will be plenty of free offsite events to check out. To learn more about it, KUOW’s Kim Malcolm talked to Shin Yu Pai, Seattle's Civic Poet and the host of the KUOW podcast, "The Blue Suit."

About the AWP Conference

This giant creative writing conference moves from city to city every year. It’s a place where writers working primarily in universities gather. It's an opportunity to hear a lot of blockbuster authors read their work, as well as to attend panels on the craft of writing. And all the disciplines of writing are represented, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and this year, some graphic novel and comics in the mix as well.

The AWP Bookfair

Hundreds of presses and literary organizations set up tables. If you're an author, somebody who's really interested in literature, or a creative writing student, going to the AWP Bookfair is an opportunity to become more acquainted and aware of literary journals, small presses, and just the landscape and ecosystem of publishing.

It’s pricey to attend this academic conference, but on Saturday they're offering all-day passes for $25, which will get you into any of the conference presentations or sessions, and the book fair itself. And Saturday is the last day of the fair when a lot of people are packing up. There are giveaways, free journals, and deep discounts on books, so it's a very good day to pick up free swag.

Mutant, Monster, Misfit, Myself: Writing the Disabled / Chronically Ill Body

This is a session with several authors who either have disability or chronic illness. There's a range of disciplines represented, including poetry and memoir. I'm really interested in the way that the body is discussed and represented in the writing of these individuals who have particular perspectives when it comes to how they navigate space in the world. And it’s going to be live streamed and there will be ASL interpretation as well as live captioning provided for it.

Opacity of Performance, at Northwest Film Forum

I'm very excited to see Takahiro Yamamoto tonight. Taka is a sculptor, photographer, writer, and choreographer who will be visiting from Portland. He'll be doing an event around a book called "Opacity of Performance," which is a collection he organized a couple of years ago connected to a performance he did at the Portland Art Museum that was about exploring one's visibility and the ability to make oneself disappear.

Links to other AWP Offsite Events

Listen to the interview by clicking the play button above.