Desmond Kon
DESMOND Francis Xavier KON Zhicheng-Mingdé is the author of an epistolary novel, a quasi-memoir, two lyric essay monographs, four hybrid works, and nine poetry collections. A former journalist, he has edited more than twenty books and co-produced three audiobooks. Trained in publishing at Stanford University, Desmond holds a world religions masters from Harvard University and creative writing masters from the University of Notre Dame. Among other accolades, he is the recipient of the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award, Independent Publisher Book Award, National Indie Excellence Book Award, Poetry World Cup, Singapore Literature Prize, and three Living Now Book Awards. Desmond helms Squircle Line Press as its founding editor. He can be found here: Desmond Kon
POTM 2021
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR
The Epistolary Form: The Understated Brilliance of Letter-Writing
The epistolary novel is both admired and criticized for its confessional intimations. What are the limitations of framing a poem through this lens? What are the perks? Why do poets take up the genre, and what kinds of documents—apart from letters—are used? What are the narratological complexities that an author may experiment with? What distinct techniques may be employed to manipulate and further narrative elements? Join Desmond F. X. Kon ZC-MD, as we discuss the beautiful demands of the genre for both author and reader. Participants will also try their hand at such textual ingenuity.
