Dean Nelson, professor and director of the Point Loma Nazarene University journalism program, launched his two recent books yesterday. Hosted at Warwick’s at 7:30 p.m., Nelson read pages from his books, shared the history behind the Writer’s Symposium by the Sea and answered questions from the audience.
Originally just one book, “Talking to Writers” became two — “The Craft of Nonfiction” and “The Craft of Fiction” after publishers said it was too long to be one.
The event was full of laughter and a sense of humanity, as Nelson shared what it means to be a writer and to talk to writers. He illustrated the process of breaking the wall to begin writing, using the analogy of a glacier.
“This book [‘Talking to Writers’] is full of stuff that’ll help that glacier melt,” he said.
Nelson talked about the lessons he’s learned from some of the best writers in history and what it means to write stories.
“If there was any common theme to all of this — it’s how hard this is [writing],” he said.
An audience member asked what keeps Nelson motivated to continue the Writer’s Symposium each year. He said it’s energizing.
“It’s living in the world of ideas,” Nelson said. “You’re introduced into the life of the mind. … It fills me with joy. It’s a very life-giving thing for me.”
Article by Sydney Brammer. Photos by Emanuel Hadfield/The Point.
Emanuel Hadfield