Author Archives: nancohen

This blog is not about reality TV, but

Posted on December 2, 2012 by nancohen

apropos of my post about MasterChef awhile back, I wanted to share Andrea Siegel’s New York Times Magazine piece “The Life Lessons Hidden in Reality TV.”  I particularly liked the first section, on Survivor, although I think I’ve seen maybe one episode during its … Continue reading →

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New poet laureate!

Posted on June 6, 2012 by nancohen

Natasha Trethewey! I was fortunate to work with her as her Fellow in her workshop at Bread Loaf in 2007.  She’s a striking poet and a gracious presence.  An exciting choice!

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Envy & Kindness

Posted on March 30, 2012 by nancohen

“Envy and Kindness” is the title of tonight’s USC MPW student-faculty reading.  This series, curated by Niree Perian, lands at LACMA’s Brown Auditorium tonight at 7:30 PM.  Reading will be faculty member Judith Freeman and students Richard Mathiasen, Leonard Pung, … Continue reading →

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Adrienne Rich, 1929-2012

Posted on March 29, 2012 by nancohen

Adrienne Rich was a great writer, a great woman, and she changed the landscape of American poetry.  Now that her great voice has finished speaking new words, we will hear anew what was, and is, so necessary about her work. … Continue reading →

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Applications are now open for the 2012 Napa Valley Writers’ Conference

Posted on March 5, 2012 by nancohen

We’re taking applications now for the Napa Valley Writers’ Conference, which will be held at the Upper Valley Campus of Napa Valley College in St. Helena, California, from Sunday, July 22, through Friday, July 27.  This is my tenth year directing … Continue reading →

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Reading: “Wrath and Patience”

Posted on October 28, 2011 by nancohen

“Wrath and Patience” is the title of tonight’s USC Master of Professional Writing Program reading at The Last Bookstore at 7:30 PM. I’m reading with MPW students Susannah Luthi, Sarah Dzida, Susan Kacvinsky, Josh Feldman, and Russell Nakamura. The Last Bookstore is at … Continue reading →

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Cemetery visit

Posted on September 9, 2011 by nancohen

The month before Rosh Hashanah is a traditional time for visiting the graves of our loved ones.  All four of my grandparents are buried in Baltimore, so I’m making those visits only in my thoughts.  Here’s a poem about placing … Continue reading →

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Learning from “MasterChef”

Posted on August 13, 2011 by nancohen

At my house, we’ve been following the second season of MasterChef all summer, and we’ll be watching its conclusion on Monday and Tuesday. The contestants begin as ambitious home cooks, people who’ve clearly been “the chef” in their families and among … Continue reading →

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Pictures from an Institution

Posted on August 2, 2011 by nancohen

Observation made confidently from page 71:  Randall Jarrell’s one novel for adults, Pictures from an Institution, delivers a particular kind of pleasure and only that kind.  It doesn’t have much of a plot; its characters aren’t really characters; its pleasure stems … Continue reading →

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Thirteen months later!

Posted on May 5, 2011 by nancohen

I had a lovely dinner* this evening with six of the eight students from my now-ended spring semester class at the Master of Professional Writing Program at USC, one of the happy consequences of which is that I’m now following … Continue reading →

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