Professional Writing Series at 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Poses Essential Question: "Should Writers Quit Their Day Jobs?"

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VANCOUVER, WA--The Professional Writing Series at Washington State University Vancouver continues with an exploration of an essential issue for many working professionals: "Should Writers Quit Their Day Jobs?"

The discussion is scheduled at 7 p.m Feb. 16. in the Multimedia Classroom Building Room 6 on the 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø campus. Author and journalist Michael Balter will lead the discussion. The event is free and open to the public.

Balter, author of "The Goddess and the Bull," has written for Science, Travel & Leisure, and Bon Appetit magazines as well as the L.A. Times and the Los Angeles Weekly. He currently lives and works in Paris.

Balter's book examines an ancient archeological site in Turkey. Balter said that he quit his day job as Science magazine's Paris bureau chief to write the book. But, he added, this wasn't the first time he'd made such a bold move. In the 1970s, after receiving a bachelor's and master's degrees in biology, Balter turned his back on an academic career in the sciences and launched a new one in journalism. "That's the first time I quit my day job," he said.

There are two remaining events in this year's Professional Writing Series. Award-winning author Diana Abu-Jaber, author of "The Language of Baklava," "Crescent," and "Arabian Jazz," will discuss "Taking Creative Risks" on March 2. On April 6, a panel of 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø graduates from the campus' Professional Writing Program will examine "After the Degree, What's Next?"

All events are scheduled for Thursday nights at 7 p.m. in the Multimedia Classroom Building on the 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Campus. For more information, contact Pamela Smith Hill at (360) 546-9677 or hillpam@vancouver.wsu.edu.

The Professional Writing Series is an annual event that brings writers and editors from multiple backgrounds to campus to share their insight, experience and artistic vision with the larger 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø community.

91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205. 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø offers 15 bachelor's degrees and nine master's degrees in more than 35 fields of study. Parking rules are enforced Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parking is available in the blue lot for $2.00 or at parking meters.