The Writers Grotto

THIS MORNING! Listen to Grotto stalwart Vanessa Hua and the NYT Op-Ed editor on Instagram Live at 11 am today. Vanessa will be talking about the Lunar New Year, community organizing and more. Join at the link: https://www.instagram.com/nytopinion

Congratulations to Amanda Mei Kim, a student in the Grotto's Rooted & Written program, whose essay Living that Van Life Before It Was a Hashtag was published on LitHub and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. We are so proud of you! Read Amanda's piece here.

Read the latest in Jane Ciabattari's LitHub interview series, this time with San Francisco's own Vendela Vida on Edith Wharton, 1980s San Francisco, point of view and more.

BIPOC writers: Prepare your work to read at literary conferences with Lyzette Wanzer in this three-week online class beginning March 2 on Zoom.

Bonnie Tsui (Why We Swim) writes beautifully about surfing and civil twilight for Outside Magazine. Gorgeous writing as always from Bonnie. Enjoy!

For the past two weeks, #RootedAndWritten2020 has been providing workshops, professional panels and community for over >100 BIPOC writers. Join us this afternoon for the final public reading and closing event featuring Natalie Baszile! Admission free, but registration required. https://us02web.zoom.us//tZIuduCupzguGdPTAhrb43nN8JAhMB-pp

By popular demand, Anton Sanko's soundtrack from Grotto Member Alice Wu's brilliant Netflix movie THE HALF OF IT, is available on Spotify. Listen to it today...or better yet, (re-)watch the movie and (re-)live the joyful experience.

Thank you to everyone who attended our LitCrawl reading tonight, and congratulations to our fabulous readers and hosts!

It's been a busy week, but we can't miss the chance to highlight this profile of poet Maw Shein Win and her just-released book of poetry in this week's Datebook.

We know you've been waiting for it: the latest issue of Six Feet of Separation, Chris Colin's brilliant creation and Dan Rather's favorite all-kid-written newspaper. Happy reading!

Another terrific column from Vanessa Hua in the SF Chronicle -- this time about this amazing community we call the Writers Grotto.

Treat yourself and read Vanessa Hua's beautiful piece in the New York Times about identity, history, and the things we save from a fire.

This Saturday at 9:15-9:45pm Pacific, grab an adult beverage and join us for The Writers Grotto's "official" event at LitCrawl 2020. "When The Streetlights Come On: writers on the allure, danger and sensual charms of the night" features AH Kim (A Good Family), Roberto Lovato (Unforgetting) and Bonnie Tsui (Why We Swim) reading from their red-hot books. Hosted with style by Kevin Smokler and Kristen Cosby.

I work hard, I work very hard. All the books at least 30 revisions. Ha Jin. Learn the art of revision with Audrey Ferber on Zoom beginning Oct 28:

Kudos to Jane Ciabatteri, who has been elected by the National Book Critics Circle to serve as chair of the Fiction committee. Meanwhile, check out Jane's Lit Hub/Book Marks exchange with Drue Heinz award winner Caroline Kim, who recommends five books about the Korean diaspora, including authors Steph Cha, Nicole Chung and Cathy Park Hong.

There's a great new review of Roberto Lovato's memoir UNFORGETTING in Alta. Check it out.

Your opinion matters, so get it published! Laird Harrison's two-week Publish Your Opinion Piece class starts Thursday. Enroll here: https://bit.ly/2IHYy5m

When the Streetlights Come On: Grotto Writers on the Allure, Danger, and Sensual Charms of the Night. Don't miss authors Roberto Lovato, Ann Kim, and Bonnie Tsui (all who have new books out this year) read for Litquake's first-ever virtual LitCrawl this Saturday 9:15-9:45 pm hosted by Kevin Smokler and Kristen Cosby. Zoom link below: https://www.litquake.org/litcrawl2020.html