Published: October 17, 2009 01:30 am      

Celebrating the written word

It is time to celebrate all things written.

A variety of activities have been planned in Commerce the week of Oct. 16 to 23 to celebrate the importance of writing in the 21st century. The United States Senate passed a resolution on Oct. 8 designating this Friday, Oct. 20 as the National Day on Writing.

On Monday, the Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of Literature and Languages will sponsor a creative writing forum from 4:30 to 7:10 p.m. in Room 203 of the Hall of Languages.

Three events are scheduled for Tuesday, including a panel regarding local history in the afternoon at Gee Library from 1 to 2, during which time Dr. James Conrad and Dr. Shannon Carter. From 2:30 to 4:30, a festival of films about writing and writers will be held at Gee Library. The day’s events will conclude with an open house at the Writing Center, during which time Dr. Fred Tarpley will conduct a memoir workshop. The event is scheduled from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s events include a documentary screening, a presentation on the lives of three PhD students at Texas A&M University-Commerce, a creative writing workshop, playwriting workshop, theater department workshop and an open mic forum at the Cowhill Express Coffee Shop.

No events are scheduled for Thursday.

Friday’s events include a short play competition, an open mic for kids in the afternoon from 4:30 to 6 at the commerce Public library, short play festival and a story slam at the Brew Spot from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

All events are free and open to the public.

According to the National Council of Teachers of English, the National Day on Writing is a day to celebrate the foundational place of writing in Americans’ personal, professional and civic lives. The day is also intended to: Emphasize the lifelong process of learning to write and composing for different audiences purposes and occasions, recognize the scope and range of writing done by the American people and others and encourage Americans to write and enjoy the writing of others.

Those seeking a full calendar of events can access one at convergingliteraciescenter.word press.com/events/.