Literary Festival Goes Virtual
The 14th Annual St. Mark’s Literary Festival featured five renowned writers sharing their stories with the St. Mark’s community. Though this year’s guests met with classes via remote video conference, students still benefitted from the wealth of these writers’ combined experiences. The 2021 Literary Festival welcomed:
Throughout Thursday and Friday, January 14-15, 2021, the five writers met with 30 classes, including English, journalism, and acting. They discussed their careers and passed along advice to budding student writers and artists.
Alumnus Rhett Miller reflected on the impact of St. Mark’s on his life and career: “The education I received at St. Mark’s was better than the education many folks receive at colleges. In particular, the level of writing expected of you here is incredible.”
Poet Bob Hass challenged students to consider how their selection of words can impact their work: “Do not choose a word just for its denotation, but also for its connotative possibilities. A writer will choose a phrase that will evoke the emotional response they want to invoke.”
On Thursday night, the writers gathered online for a virtual installment of the Literary Festival’s Writers’ Forum. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents tuned in to watch as the writers discussed their careers and answered questions from the community. Recordings of the Writers' Forum and Friday's Middle & Upper School Assembly Panel Discussion are available for community members to watch on the Resource Board.
Before the Festival, Marksmen had the chance to submit their own work to be judged by the guest writers. This year’s winners were Thomas Philip ’22 (nonfiction), Josh Mysoré ’21 (fiction), and Blake Broom ’21 (poetry). On Thursday and Friday, each winner met with one of the visiting writers to receive feedback and advice.
The St. Mark’s Literary Festival launched in 2009 and has since become a staple of the Marksman experience. More than 70 guest speakers have met with Marksmen over the past decade, including 15 alumni. The Literary Festival is partially funded by the Brent P. Johnson ’89 Endowment Fund, which provides ongoing programmatic support and ensures the continued growth and recruitment of engaging guest speakers.
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- Masi Asare, composer, playwright, and performance scholar.
- Lauren Groff, bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and this year’s Brent P. Johnson ’89 Writer.
- Bob Hass, poet and literary critic.
- Rhett Miller ’89, singer/songwriter and poet.
- Calvin Watkins, sports reporter for The Dallas Morning News.
Throughout Thursday and Friday, January 14-15, 2021, the five writers met with 30 classes, including English, journalism, and acting. They discussed their careers and passed along advice to budding student writers and artists.
Alumnus Rhett Miller reflected on the impact of St. Mark’s on his life and career: “The education I received at St. Mark’s was better than the education many folks receive at colleges. In particular, the level of writing expected of you here is incredible.”
Poet Bob Hass challenged students to consider how their selection of words can impact their work: “Do not choose a word just for its denotation, but also for its connotative possibilities. A writer will choose a phrase that will evoke the emotional response they want to invoke.”
On Thursday night, the writers gathered online for a virtual installment of the Literary Festival’s Writers’ Forum. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents tuned in to watch as the writers discussed their careers and answered questions from the community. Recordings of the Writers' Forum and Friday's Middle & Upper School Assembly Panel Discussion are available for community members to watch on the Resource Board.
Before the Festival, Marksmen had the chance to submit their own work to be judged by the guest writers. This year’s winners were Thomas Philip ’22 (nonfiction), Josh Mysoré ’21 (fiction), and Blake Broom ’21 (poetry). On Thursday and Friday, each winner met with one of the visiting writers to receive feedback and advice.
The St. Mark’s Literary Festival launched in 2009 and has since become a staple of the Marksman experience. More than 70 guest speakers have met with Marksmen over the past decade, including 15 alumni. The Literary Festival is partially funded by the Brent P. Johnson ’89 Endowment Fund, which provides ongoing programmatic support and ensures the continued growth and recruitment of engaging guest speakers.
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St. Mark’s School of Texas
10600 Preston Road
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
About Us
St. Mark’s School of Texas is a private, nonsectarian college-preparatory boys’ day school for students in grades 1 through 12, located in Dallas, Texas. St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men to assume leadership and responsibility in a competitive and changing world.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
