UNO's Creating Writing Workshop and WWNO Launch "Storyville"
The Creative Writing Workshop at the University of New Orleans and WWNO will launch a new collaboration called "Storyville," which will bring true stories about New Orleans to listeners of public radio.
Select nonfiction stories, written and read by UNO students pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing, will be broadcast on WWNO and available for listening through podcasts archived on WWNO's website. Full scripts of the stories and author biographies will also be posted online.
The first story will debut on September 26 during "All Things New Orleans," WWNO's half-hour radio magazine which airs at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Other stories will be posted on www.wwno.org and broadcast on the air in the coming months.
"In New Orleans, there's a story around every corner," said Paul Maassen, general manager of WWNO. "And that's what we can look forward to with this project—unexpected and original storytelling from some of our area's talented up-and-coming writers. Though the topics will vary, they will all be authentically New Orleans stories."
The stories will also be made available to other public radio stations around the country through Public Radio Exchange (PRX), an online marketplace for distribution, review and licensing of public radio programming.
"'Storyville' will bring the talents, diverse backgrounds and interests, and superb writing of UNO's MFA writing students to WWNO's listeners," said Richard Goodman, an assistant professor in the Creative Writing Workshop. "You can expect writing that is heartfelt, humorous, insightful and sensitive from these powerful voices."
The stories will be recorded and broadcast at WWNO, located on the campus of the University of New Orleans. Original theme music composed especially for "Storyville," was written and performed by Irvin Mayfield, a professor of professional practice in the UNO Department of Music.
The UNO Creative Writing Workshop is a resident graduate program in fiction writing, nonfiction writing, poetry writing, play writing and screen writing. The program culminates with a creative thesis and leads to a Master of Fine Arts degree.
WWNO is the listener-supported NPR affiliate radio station for New Orleans and 11 parishes of southeast Louisiana, broadcasting on 89.9 FM and on KTLN 90.5 FM in the Houma-Thibodaux area. WWNO broadcasts a range of trusted local, national and international news, information, cultural and entertainment programs, and classical and jazz music.
