Matthew will be discussing how he pursued a career as a creative writer outside of the academy, writing poems while working his “day job” in corporate communications. As an undergrad in the Honors Program (Class of 1996), Matthew thought that he had his career path all mapped out. As an aspiring poet, he would do what he saw other young writers do: pursue an MFA, then teach creative writing. But through an internship with News and Information Services (NIS), the university’s media relations office, Matthew discovered how he could use his writing skills in a different way: helping innovative organizations and people tell their stories.
What he had initially thought was a temporary line of work—as an intern in college, then working at a PR agency during grad school—has turned into a wonderful career. Today Matthew is the marketing communications manager at Paul Hastings, a leading global law firm. He writes (and edits) articles, newsletters, brochures, annual reviews and video scripts. Over the years Matthew has also written (and published) seven collections of poetry, including my new book, The Grace of Distance.
Matthew Thorburn is the author of seven collections of poetry, including The Grace of Distance and Dear Almost. His writing has been recognized with the Lascaux Prize in Collected Poetry and the Witter Bynner Fellowship from the Library of Congress, as well as two Hopwood Awards during his years at Michigan. He works in corporate communications in New York City and lives near Princeton, New Jersey with his wife and son.
Matthew will be reading from his book at the Literati Bookstore at 7:00p on the 24th. Learn more about the event here.
