Event Details

Date, Time & Location

Inside Story will be held Sunday, October 24th, 2004, from 1:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the Hotel Marlowe, 25 Edwin H. Land Blvd., in Cambridge. All-day parking, for $3.00, is available next door in the Cambridgeside Galleria garage. The hotel also offers valet parking for $12.00.

The Hotel Marlowe is handicapped accessible. Get directions.

What is Inside Story?

Inside Story is a day-long celebration of that quintessentially American genre, the short story, and a hands-on opportunity for aspiring writers to reach for the best under the tutelage of veteran storytellers.

Acclaimed authors — each of whom has been anointed by inclusion in Houghton Mifflin's annual Best American Short Stories® series — will share secrets of the trade during intimate classes on story-writing craft.

Later in the day, prominent critic and AGNI editor Sven Birkerts will moderate a keynote discussion about the "last word" in story writing, featuring Houghton Mifflin editor Heidi Pitlor, writer and Ploughshares editor Don Lee, and special guest Lorrie Moore, editor of Best American Short Stories 2004.

Directly following the panel discussion, participants will have the chance to meet and mingle at a reception honoring Lorrie Moore and the other Best American alumni. Lorrie Moore and the other Best American writers will sign copies of their books.

The festivities continue the following evening at the annual performances of selected short stories at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge. Don't miss this stylish and dramatic occasion!

Click here to learn about the special bonus for those who attend all of the events.

Agenda

Sunday October 24, 2004

The Hotel Marlowe

1:30 — 2:00	Registration, Serrano Foyer
2:00 — 3:30	Craft classes, various locations
4:00 — 5:30	Keynote discussion, Serrano Ballroom
5:30 — 7:00	Reception and Lorrie Moore signing, Alexis Gallery

Monday October 25, 2004

American Repertory Theatre

7:00 — 7:30 PM	Reception
7:30	Dramatic Readings from Best American Short Stories 2004

Keynote Discussion

The "Last Word" in Story Writing

With almost a century's worth of Best American Short Stories volumes already on the shelves, is there anything new under the storytelling sun? In an age when anything goes — in subject as well as form — veteran and aspiring writers alike may even struggle to judge what constitutes the "new." A panel of distinguished authors and editors, moderated by critic Sven Birkerts, will address contemporary story writers' attempts at innovation within the bounds of deep-set constraints. Can we aspire to invent the "last word" in story writing while also inventing stories that last?

The panelists will be Heidi Pitlor, Houghton Mifflin editor; Don Lee, author of Country of Origin and editor of Ploughshares; and honored guest Lorrie Moore, author of Birds of America and editor of Best American Short Stories 2004. The panelists will speak briefly and then entertain questions and discussion from the audience.

Reception

Directly following the keynote discussion, we will convene in the Alexis Gallery and adjoining foyer for a reception catered by the hotel's restaurant, Bambara. Light hors d'oeuvres will be provided, and beer and wine will be complimentary for the first hour. Lorrie Moore will sign books.

Event Fees

Inside Story All-day Access

$100 per person, includes craft class, keynote discussion, and reception.

Inside Story Reception Only

$45 per person, for Sunday evening reception and Lorrie Moore reading.

A.R.T. Performance

$35 per person, admission to Monday-night reading from Best American Short Stories, including pre-reading reception sponsored by Whole Foods.

All-access Admission

$125 per person, includes Inside Story craft class, keynote discussion, and reception on Sunday, plus admission to A.R.T. performance and reception on Monday.

Special Bonus: The first 60 people to register for the All-access Admission will receive a free copy of Best American Short Stories 2004, edited by Lorrie Moore—a $27.50 value!

Registration & Payment

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 19, 2004

We will continue to register at the door on the day of the event on a first come, first served basis until all classes are filled.

You may register and pay online or by mail. Please read the full registration details and instructions. We accept personal checks and all major credit cards (Visa and MasterCard are preferred). Online registrations are securely processed using Paypal. No deposit is required; advance payment is due in full to reserve your space at the event. Reservations and payment must be made in advance.

When registering, you should make a note of your first and second choices for craft classes. (Please note: Class preferences are accepted on a first come, first served basis. We will do our best to accommodate your first choices, but classes will fill up quickly. If neither of your top choices are available, we will assign you to a class.)

We cannot refund money for this event. However, if you are unable to attend, we will gladly apply the amount of payment to a future PEN New England event or membership.

All proceeds of this event benefit PEN New England, a 501(c)3 organization; your registration fee is fully tax-deductible.

If you are unable to attend Inside Story, but would like to support PEN New England, we invite you to make a tax-deductible contribution.

Miscellany

What to Bring

Be sure to bring a pen or pencil and a notebook, as your craft class teacher may assign a writing exercise.

Attire

Dress comfortably, but please note that proper business or casual attire is requested by the Hotel Marlowe. No jeans or athletic wear, please.

Child Care

We regret that day care facilities are not available for this event. Please make alternate arrangements for infants and children.

For More Information

If you need more assistance or additional information, please call the PEN New England office at 617.349.8113 during business hours. If no one is available, please leave a message and we will get back to you ASAP.