Story by Kelsey Rodich
Photo by Yzmari Duran
On February 20^th, University of Oregon Associate Professor and poet Daniel Anderson read some of his poetry to a large audience in the Knight Library Browsing Room. He shared poetry from his previously published works and followed the reading with a question and answer series.
The Creative Writing Department partners with the Robert D. Clark Honors College to sponsor an annual reading series that brings fiction writers and poets to the University. There are two readings, one in fiction and one in poetry scheduled each term.
This academic year has already brought Robert Pinsky, who served three terms as United States Poet Laureate, and fiction author Natalie Serber. These readings usually take place in the Knight Library Browsing Room, however some take place in larger rooms due to popular demand of specific authors.
The Creative Writing department often doesn’t advertise these events other than in their own classes to students who are already knowledgeable of the department and the events that it puts on.
Anna Scheler, a student in the Creative Writing department, explained how she usually hears about each reading in her various poetry classes. “I heard about [this event] in my Creative Writing Advanced Poetry class, from a classmate. I went to a couple [readings] last term as a part of my Intermediate Poetry class. That’s where I heard about them.”
Scheler stated that these events are a very unique experience for her as a student in the department. “Most of the authors that have been presenting are ones that I haven’t even heard of before.” Scheler believes that it would be great if people outside of the department attended these events if they are at all interested in the subject matter.
These readings are very laid back and audience members are encouraged to ask questions of the author once they are finished with their reading. This gives students as well as others interested in the writing process to ask about the unique writing experiences and techniques that these authors have and utilize within their own writing.
Although these readings seem like an exclusive experience between Creative Writing faculty and students, they are actually free and open to the public. Anyone interested in writing fiction or poetry, or the creative writing process of different authors, is highly encouraged to attend.

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Associate professor Daniel Anderson shares some of his poetry with the audience.