posted July 04, 2001 12:08 AM         

Hope she's not mad at me for revealing this!

Senior English major is finalist for prestigious James Hearst Poetry Prize

It's not often that a student, particularly an undergraduate, flips through the pages of North American Review (NAR) to find their work published among the literary world's elite. But Loyola senior Lisa Marie Brodsky is an exception. The English major was selected as a finalist for the James Hearst Poetry Prize sponsored by NAR, one of the premier literary magazines. Her poem, titled "Birds in the Mediterranean Speak Like Syrup," will appear in the magazine's March/April issue.

"NAR is a very prestigious journal so I was just shocked and excited," Brodsky says. Although she's netted other awards for her writing, including honorable mention for the Frank C. Lawler Poetry Prize and third place for the Union League Civic and Arts Foundation contest, this was Brodsky's first time entering the James Hearst contest. "Since I was 12, I've been submitting poetry." she says. "This is all I've ever known." Brodsky's poem, which started out as a classroom assignment, depicts the challenges both she and her father face as stutterers. After nearly a year of putting her heart and soul into the poem, it was ready to be put into the hands of the NAR judges.

Now that Brodsky realizes her ability, she plans to continue entering competitions at the NAR level, as well as those less distinguished. Students who believe such publications as NAR are out of their reach should reconsider, Brodsky says, citing herself as an example. "It takes some thought and time, but if you take the time, you get results," she says.

The reaction of David Kaplan, M.F.A., associate professor, English, to Brodsky's accomplishment was one of delight. "She's very much a stylist. Her stories feature voice and elegance and language above plot," he says. "This is quite an achievement for an undergraduate."

Kaplan also noted that Brodsky is the only Loyola student to receive such an honor. "Many of the best poets in America wouldn't mind being published in North American Review," Kaplan says. "She's an excellent fiction writer and student."

Kaplan, who himself is no stranger to competitions, captured the top prize in the 1999 Nelson Algren Awards for Short Fiction with a piece titled Bamboo. He says the creative writing concentration, which is Brodsky's focus is offered within the regular English major with a few course substitutions. The concentration is intended for students interested in and committed both to their own creative work and to the study of literature from a writer's point of view. Creative writing students are required to take the full sequence of creative writing courses including poetry, writing, fiction writing, literature from a writer's perspective, advanced writing workshop: fiction.

A large number of students who graduate with English majors with a concentration in creative writing go on to pursue careers in publishing, editing, magazine writing, advertising or public relations, while a small percentage enroll in graduate school.

"It's a pretty rigorous and intense concentration," Kaplan says. "Our students are doing really well."

posted July 04, 2001 12:38 AM         

Way to Go!!

LMB

~Princes

posted July 04, 2001 12:59 AM         

Why did you tell us you little dickens...I had to go find out for mysELF...

posted July 04, 2001 01:32 AM         

Thanks everyone.

truly!!!
Randall and Yivy, how on earth did you find that??

posted July 04, 2001 01:35 AM         

YIVY has her SPOOKY ways! hehehe

posted July 04, 2001 01:51 AM         

and Randall, you have my love AND my autograph!!! as for the autograph, just give me your address. i'll send you my john handcock.

Heheheheh. You're so funny.

Thanks for putting a huge smile on my face.

posted July 05, 2001 12:27 AM         

Seriously, yesterday I had been thinking of you. I was in Yahoo search doing this and that, when all of a sudden I had a feeling to search your name. I found it right off. Then another feeling to send the link to Randall. Then he took over and posted it. I think the Uni-verse thought you might need a 'boost'..so that's my story and I'm sticking to it

posted July 05, 2001 05:16 AM         

First YIVY~ Just yesterday, as I was posing a response to a post ... I was going to say something like, "...and YIVY says blablabla, so that's my story and I'm stikin' to it!" Changed my mind

Then... *Callie* I had been toying with this name all day and when I mentioned it to OSheen, she says, "wow! did you see LMB's post *CALLIE* ?? I hadn't, but of course there it was One of the sweetest reMemberings I've ever read... I was just overcome by it... (and a story of *Sisters* too)

Thank You s

posted June 28, 2002 09:21 AM         

that's great!!! I really envy you!!!

posted June 28, 2002 05:05 PM         

Thanks, everyone.

I salute everyone's talents and light!

posted November 04, 2002 01:34 AM         

If so, I have to say I'm not suprised it garnered that attention... it is really, really good! Actually, one of my favorites from the book! Congratulations again!

Btw- want to know when you have more poetry coming out... be sure to keep LL posted, K?

-Pearl

posted December 05, 2004 04:47 PM         

Miss you all!