Key West Literary Seminar facts for kids
The Key West Literary Seminar is a special event held every January in Key West, Florida. It's like a big festival and conference for writers. People from all over the world come to listen to authors, join discussions, and learn new things about writing.
A Look Back: The Seminar's Story
The Key West Literary Seminar started in 1983. It was created by David and Lynn Kaufelt. At first, it was called the Key West Literary Tour and Seminar. The first event had readings, group talks, and tours about Key West's writing history. This basic plan is still used today. The current leader is Arlo Haskell, who is a poet and writer.
Key West is a small, warm town. Many famous writers have lived there. These include Ernest Hemingway, Elizabeth Bishop, Wallace Stevens, Robert Frost, and Tennessee Williams. In its early years, the Seminar focused on these writers and Key West's rich literary past. Later, the Seminar started to explore wider topics and types of writing.
In 1987, the Seminar became its own non-profit group. It is run by a board of directors. Lynn Kaufelt was the first executive director. Monica Haskell took over in 1988, and Miles Frieden became director in 1995. Many well-known authors have helped lead the Seminar. These include Judy Blume, Harry Mathews, and Richard Wilbur. Famous people like Jimmy Buffett and former First Lady Barbara Bush have also been part of an honorary board.
The Seminar used to be held at the Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center. Since 1993, events have taken place on Duval Street. They are held at the San Carlos Institute, a historic building. The Seminar starts each year with a special speech. It also has parties at famous places in Key West.
You can find audio recordings of past events on the Seminar's website. It also has information about speakers and Key West's writing history. The Seminar did not happen in 2021.
Exploring Seminar Themes by Year
Each year, the Key West Literary Seminar picks a different theme. This helps explore many exciting areas of writing. Here are some of the themes from past years:
- 1983: Key West Literary Tour and Seminar
- 1984: Key West Literary Tour and Seminar
- 1985: Hemingway: A Moveable Feast
- 1986: Tennessee Williams in Key West
- 1987: Writers & Key West
- 1988: Whodunit? The Art & Tradition of Mystery Literature
- 1989: The American Short Story: A Renaissance
- 1990: New Directions in American Theatre
- 1991: Literature of Travel: A Sense of Place
- 1992: Literature and Film
- 1993: Poetry of Elizabeth Bishop
- 1994: Biography and Autobiography
- 1995: Journalism
- 1996: American Writers and The Natural World
- 1997: Literature in the Age of AIDS
- 1998: Once Upon A Time: Children's Literature in the Late 20th Century
- 1999: The American Novel
- 2000: The Memoir
- 2001: Science and Literature: Narratives of Discovery
- 2002: Spirit of Place
- 2003: The Beautiful Changes: Poetry
- 2004: Crossing Borders: The Immigrant Voice in American Literature
- 2005: Humor
- 2006: The Literature of Adventure, Travel, and Discovery
- 2007: Wondrous Strange: Mystery, Intrigue, and Psychological Drama
- 2008: New Voices: Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?
- 2009: Historical Fiction and The Search for Truth
- 2010: Clearing the Sill of the World: 60 Years of American Poetry
- 2011: The Hungry Muse: an exploration of food in literature
- 2012: Yet Another World: Literature of the Future
- 2013: Writers on Writers
- 2014: The Dark Side: Mystery, Crime, and the Literary Thriller
- 2015: How the Light Gets In: Literature of the Spirit
- 2016: Shorts: Stories, Essays, and Other Briefs
- 2017: Revealing Power: The Literature of Politics
- 2018: Writers of the Caribbean
- 2019: Under the Influence: Archetype & Adaptation from Homer to the Multiplex
- 2020: Reading Between the Lines: Sport & Literature
- 2022: A Seminar Named Desire (planned)
