The Writers from the Edge series gathered a diverse and supportive group of students, faculty and local community members to hear from Chris Siders, Norman Antonio Zelaya, Matt Sedillo and Tony Wallin-Sato, along with a fellow Otter who presented his original poem to the audience Thursday night.
Writers from the Edge is an annual series at Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) that showcases contemporary authors from across the United States.
“For the past few years, we have had one event in the fall and one in the spring. This year, the goal is to have three events. One in November, March and April,” said event host Alie Jones, a poet and a lecturer in the humanities and communication department.
She steered the speakers and audience through a night rich with poetry, questions, and useful guidance for emerging poets and writers.
Journalism student Max English participated in the event and was the first speaker to go on stage. He read his piece “Innocence,” a poem about nurturing children and working for their dreams “as if those dreams are yours.” He was greeted with a thunderous round of applause from the audience at the end of his performance.
Siders, a CSUMB alumni, delved into the theme of the evening: “The Truth Between Us.” With approximately 50 people in attendance at the World Theater, Siders began, “We acknowledge the intersectionalities in our communities to strengthen that connection. And that acknowledgment starts with storytelling.”
These poets’ storytelling avenues range from reciting poetry, performing a musical, painting, educating and more.
“Study your own techniques, your own natural impulses, your own odd, strange neurons that fire up. Become a student of your own mind in your own interesting ways of doing things because your best writing you meet is an actual extension of your personality,” said Sedillo.
“Lean heavily into AI,” Zelaya joked as the crowd burst into laughter. On the contrary, he advises unplugging, writing in your notebook, and listening to the world around you because “people will say things you can’t come up with.” Inspiration comes from everything and everyone around you.
Similar to what Sedillo advised, Wallin-Sato, who was formerly incarcerated and now is the coordinator for Project Rebound, suggests keeping a journal and “Incorporate writing as a practice, like a discipline. You start to learn your patterns, the way you think, the way you [use] syntax. Doesn’t it feel lighter to be understood by oneself?” The audience nodded in unison.
“For me, my highlight of the event was hearing more of their stories, more of their experiences, and their journey as an artist… [especially] when Tony talked about writing for himself and how he used to be the person in the back of the room,” said Nathan Rainey, a local teacher.
Siders closed by encouraging the next generation of storytellers, “Keep going, keep going. It’s a long haul, but it is going to be very rewarding.”