New Literary Project Featured in SF Chronicle Datebook

The New Literary Project’s work was recently brought to life in the San Francisco Chronicle’s Datebook, in an article titled “Our stories matter. Oakland’s New Literary Project understands why,” written by Anna Nordberg.

We heard from many friends across the country who enjoyed how the article genuinely highlights the purpose and the innovative, life-changing programs of NewLit.

Read the article here.

Board Member David Wood Inspires Students in Times of Tumult with 2022 Northgate High School Graduation Speech

Board Member and Northgate High School English teacher David Wood graciously shared the speech he recently delivered to the graduating class of 2022 with the New Literary Project and our audiences.

In light of the recent tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, David’s words serve as a much-needed beacon of hope, even for those of us not graduating this season.

You are inheriting a world full of terrible beauties, one where the stakes are high and the possibilities are infinite, and where redemption can only come from our commitment to love and honor each other. George Bernard Shaw, a British playwright and socialist at the turn of the last century once said: “There are those who look at the world as it is and ask why; I dream of the world as it could be and ask why not?”

Read David’s full speech here.

Preview “Beyond the Process” by Ryan Lackey, Forthcoming in Simpsonistas Vol. 4 this Fall

In anticipation of our fourth volume of the Simpsonistas series—an anthology composed of work by friends of the Project as well as participants in our programs—we are pleased to share this essay by recent Simpson Fellow Ryan Lackey.

Like most writers, I think, I’m hugely hypocritical. If anyone—friends, students, other writers, strangers—asks, I say that I believe in the lunchpail theory of writing, which holds that writing does not begin with magical, Aeolian inspiration, that it’s not about finding the proper form to contain an amoebic blob of genius. Instead, writing is about showing up every day, about putting the butt in the chair and words on the page, about process rather than product—and a dozen other clichés besides. I say I believe this because I think on some level I do.

Ryan’s powerful reflection on writerly life is one of many brilliant works forthcoming in October 2022, and you can read it on our website now.

Read Ryan’s full essay here.

Books and Pets are a (Hu)man’s Best Friends

So many of you love your pets—and we love them, too. Dogs, cats, parakeets, turtles, rabbits, we’re non-discriminatory—some dear supporters of ours even have elegant, affectionate llamas!

Send us a pic with your pet or pets posed alongside their favorite book or books. We will publish as many as we can. Strong bias for pics featuring books by our Joyce Carol Oates Prize Winners or Finalists.

Please join in. Your mobile phone camera makes this easy. And if you have a tag line for the shot, send that along, too.

If we publish yours, we’ll send you a signed book by a Joyce Carol Oates Prize Winner.

Send in a Photo!