Sandra Cisneros: I Hate the Iowa Writers' Workshop

Listen to the entire interview here.
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/epis...

Sandra Cisneros critically acclaimed book The House on Mango Street turns 25 this year. The book tells the story of Esperanza Cordero, a young girl whose neighborhood is one of harsh realities and harsh beauty.

• Category

  Education

[denua22]

Well, at least she has one up on you. You spelled her name wrong.

[gokinsmen]

I think most writers' workshops are terrible experiences. I can't speak to Iowa, but the ones at Harvard were well-meaning...and totally ineffectual. They don't really make room for different kinds of voices -- and that's by design.

The established writers who serve as instructors got to be established by having a strong personal style...and thus isn't going to tolerate a dozen different developing voices. If you want to be a writer...write. And read. And live. Then write some more.

[skizz06]

well-said (written), gokinsmen...write, read, live, write.  Great ingredients.

[Pudle Luvr]

Love this interview. Thank you Sandra Cisneros.

[PoetryETrain]

Thank yo Sandra, added to a playlist...

[alexandergreenb]

I've seen a lot of people who went to workshops and criticize them who nevertheless have successful writing careers that they probably wouldn't have had without the workshop. Whether it taught good writing is another thing, one that I can't speak to, but it does seem to be a gateway to writing success.

[JordanjamesX]

Your answer comes across as ignorant Cisneros clearly stated she hated the Iowa Workshop based on her OWN personal experiences. You have no right to tell Sandra what her experiences are or should be. Also, the Iowa Workshop is very white dominated not many people of colour there she might have felt isolated.

[David Larew]

I hated WW, too!

Over talking blowhards intimidate the rest...

[Tralian1]

I very much enjoyed this interview. Sandra Cisneros is a true artist and a sensitive writer.

[2012endofanerror]

Someone should write a book about the painful irony surrounding 'diversity' - how it has hyper-racialized the entire 'human race.' While reaching our for 'diversity' we have closed our fist, now ready to punch anyone who doesn't agree with us. How 'diversity' is a synonym for me, me, me. How PC thugs crying about 'bullying' are personifying the word through political coercion. Good God Almighty - can we move-on?

[Nicole Dean]

She is a true ingrate. The fact of the matter is, no matter how much she hated U of I, it helped make her who she is. I don't doubt that it was a bad experience and that the program is overrated, but it non-the-less gave her a leg up and taught her a lot, even if by inverse example.