Join author Rob Magnuson Smith, the Museum of Life Sciences Writer-in-residence for an hour-long creative writing workshop, 'Parasites, Poetry and Prose.'
At least half of all known organisms are believed to be parasitic. They cause over a billion infections a year—yet can control outbreaks of disease-carrying mosquitos. How can we use these creatures as metaphors in our creative work? Taking writing prompts from a range of exciting parasites, we will explore some practical methods of building vivid language, developing character and even advancing plot.
Rob Magnuson Smith is a novelist, short story writer and investigative journalist. He holds a BA in philosophy and psychology from Pitzer College in Claremont, California, an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, where he won the David Higham Award, and a PhD in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. He is a Senior Lecturer in English and Creative Writing and co-Director of the Creative Writing Programme at Exeter University in Cornwall. He has held writing residencies at The Eden Project, The Arctic Circle Artist/Scientist Residency Program and the Moniack Mhor Centre in the Scottish Highlands.
Rob’s debut novel The Gravedigger won the Pirate's Alley William Faulkner Award and was followed by Scorper (Granta Books). His short fiction appears widely and has been awarded the Australian Book Review Elizabeth Jolley Prize and longlisted for the Times EFG Short Story Award. Rob has written investigative journalism for a number of publications including the Guardian, Granta and Playboy. His short fiction appears in Granta, the Guardian, the Reader, Ploughshares, and most recently in MoMA Magazine. More info at https://www.robmagnusonsmith.com/
This 5th edition of the festival is a celebration of health and wellbeing in the heart of London Bridge, running 21-25 March 2023. Browse the full events listing here.
Linking universities, hospitals, museums and more, the London Bridge Medi-Culture District will bring together sites of pivotal importance to science and medicine in the area.
