Syracuse in focus (SIF)

University College Dean Bea Gonzales and award-winning author George Saunders Friday morning at the Orange Central event (Newhouse 3).

Blame it on Amarillo…or maybe Asia.

SU Creative Writing Program professor George Saunders said it was in one of those places where he decided to become a writer and avoid what he called a “shadow” life.  The Guggenheim and MacArthur fellow participated in a conversation with fellow professor Dana Spiotta this morning.

Saunders talked candidly about his experience in the short story genre and grooming the next generation of fiction writers by growing their talents and awakening their artistry the way it was done when he arrived as a student in the writing program (1980s).

“Talent doesn’t change, only the flavor of the talent changes, ” he said.

In the clip below, Saunders talks about Syracuse as a good place to practice the craft of writing.