By Marcia E. Gawecki

Zach Savich, considered one of the “New American Poets,” by the Poetry Society of America, will be conducting a Master Class for the creative writing students at Idyllwild Arts Academy at 3 p.m. today.

Then at 6 p.m., the students will take over and recite some of their work at the Parks Exhibition Center. Then at 7:30 p.m., Zach will read excerpts from one of his poetry books.

It’s been a whirlwind trip for the poet who had to get up at 3 a.m. this morning to catch a shuttle to get on a 6 a.m. flight from Denver. Last night, he recited at an art gallery near Fort Collins.

“It was really nice to look around and see beautiful artwork on the walls, instead of just rows of chairs,” Zach said.

He’s a friend of Kat Factor, head of the Interdisciplinary Arts (IM) Department at Idyllwild Arts. They went to graduate school together at the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop.

Now, just a few short days before Spring Break, the creative writing students were looking forward to Zach’s arrival. To introduce them, Kat sent Zach some of their poetry.

“It was really great work,” Zach said, who just accepted a job teaching poetry to college students. “I know they want me to give them some advice, but all I can say is: ‘Keep doing what you’re doing.'”

He said the group of 14 creative writing students likely read his book of poetry before his arrival today.

Some of the questions that he receives from students, in general, is how to get a poetry book published.  He said for him, it was relatively easy working with small publishers who make beautiful books, and take care of the promotion.

He hopes to impart some of his experiences as a poet and teacher to the group today.

“I read the proofs of my book at Dunkin Donuts. I was surprised by how happy the poems seemed,” Zach had written in a preview to his work on the Poetry Society web site.  “I had thought they held only panic, desperation, folly. I had no idea I had written a happy book.”

Zach’s Master Class and Reading is the last in a series of guest artists sponsored by the IM Department. It begins at 6 p.m. tonight, March 11, at the Parks Exhibition Center. The students will read their work followed by Zach’s reading at 7:30 p.m. Like all event held at Idyllwild Arts, it’s free and open to the public.

For more information, visit www.idyllwildarts.org or call (951) 659-2171.

Copyright 2011 Idyllwild Me. All rights reserved.

Published on: Mar 11, 2011 @ 17:20

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