Writing Institute story
What Are You Waiting For? An Anthology Celebration By Katie Machen, Assistant Director, Writing Institute
Publishing an anthology is a labor of love. When Writing Institute Instructor and SLC alumna Kathy Curto ‘89 MFA ‘12 decided to put one together, she said that at first she didn’t quite know what it would look like, but that she knew it would be beautiful and that her contributors would be paid. Maybe not much, but something—no one would write for free. She dreamed up the idea and invited writers and artists to engage with the topic of waiting, a task all of us have taken part in: waiting our turn, waiting for an answer, waiting for somebody else.
Well, the result is certainly beautiful. What Are You Waiting For? gathers 31 contributors across several genres—nonfiction, poetry, fiction, yes, but also visual art and a playlist on waiting by Amanda Petrusich. On a rainy July evening, a crowd of more than 40 people reconnected with old friends and made new ones. Kathy presented the book, and nine anthology contributors read from their essays and poems, all offering different takes on waiting.
With readings by Megan Cayler, Patty Dann, Steve Lewis, Terri Linton MFA ‘21, Kate Mayer, Irene O’Garden, Jessica L. Pavia MFA ‘22, Chris Vaughn, and Carla Zanoni, we heard about what it means to wait for a change, or for someone to leave, or for a future that might or might not ever be, for a disappeared son to come home, for self-acceptance, for the right words to arrive. In essays poignant, hopeful, and haunting, writers shared what it feels like to be in-between.
One contributor, Megan Cayler, thanked Terri Linton for creating the space for her to write her essay, which was born out of Terri’s popular Writing Institute course, Motherhood in Memoir. It felt like a full-circle moment: the seed of an idea brought to fruition; instructor and student published side by side.
For years, Kathy Curto has taught a beloved Writing Institute class, Letters & Lists. She spoke of the power of writing them both, and is true to her word in both the introduction and the closing of the book. She opens with the letter she shared with her contributors, inviting them to write for the anthology, and she closes with a “working list” on waiting, which can serve as a prompt for any reader who’s made their way through and wants to consider what they are waiting for.
Waiting for night/ Waiting for words/ Waiting for the polls to close/ Waiting for the water to boil/ Waiting for the paint to dry
To end the evening, poet, playwright, and memoirist Irene O’Garden read her poem, “The Tale of Wanda Now,” which she called an “ode to Shel Silverstein.”
“Her name was Arabella J.
She could not stand the least delay.
“I cannot wait!” she would avow,
So people called her Wanda Now.”
The crowd sat captivated, in a kind of trance, as we were read to. Following more serious readings, there was delight to be found in following impatient Wanda Now on her journey, a little girl who couldn’t wait for Christmas, and who suffered the consequences as a result—but I’ll let you read and see for yourself what happened.
“You looked like second graders,” said Kathy, smiling out to the crowd, our surprise, wonder, and joy at being read to, like we were children again, shining on our faces.
Looking to write with Kathy Curto? Don’t miss her upcoming class First Word to First Draft, starting on campus September 16th!
