In collaboration with the US Embassy in Amman, the Department of English at Yarmouk University hosted a group of American authors who gave a talk about their experience as creative writers. Cate Dicharry, an American novelist, shared her experience with the audience. She explained how she developed as a writer and what processes she goes through as she is writing her novels. She mentioned that her reading shaped and help her writing a lot. As a Youth Programs Coordinator at the International Writing Program at University of Iowa, she invited the students at Yarmouk University to benefit from this program as it helps them hone their writings.

The second speaker was Tom Sleigh, who is a famous American poet who shared his experience as a poet with the audience. He explained how he started as a writer. He mentioned that his mother as an avid reader helped him a lot to be the writer he is now. He emphasized the idea that one should write to please himself/herself first as writing is considered to be a healing process. This didn’t mean writer should be detached from his society.

The third speaker was Brian Turner, who is a famous American poet, too, who shared his experience as a writer. He mentioned that his writing was shaped by his experience, especially his experience in Iraq back in 2003. Moreover, he stated that imagination should be free of any social restrictions so one writes freely, without fear. In this way, writing is more honest.  

Prof. Yousef Bader, the Chair of the English Department, introduced the guest speakers addressed various questions raised by the audience. The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Ziad Al-Zou’bi, the faculty members of the Department, the department students, and the Arabic Book Program Director at the US Embassy attended the talk.