Driven to Write Panel - with Julius Hobson, Jane Leavy, Robert Pinsky & Nazila Fathi

In this book of essays, over 40 successful writers in varied fields --poetry, science, the performing and visual arts, psychoanalysis, journalism, literature and more-- explore what drives them to write, and to work at their craft.

In contributions arranged under three headings-- "Models and Mentors," "Urges and Traumas," and "Evidence and Experiences"--each writer explores their personal understanding of writing as a psychological necessity. In varying ways, these candid, often emotional essays reveal a range of intimate, mysterious and unpredictable purposes and motivations.

Driven to Write provides fresh, practical, and imaginative approaches to literary art for aspiring and established writers alike.

Julius W. Hobson, Jr. has over fifty years of experience dealing with the Congress and Federal departments and agencies. As Senior Policy Advisor at Polsinelli, he advises and lobbies on a number of issues. Mr. Hobson previously served as lobbyist and Director of Congressional Affairs, American Medical Association. Prior to joining the AMA, Mr. Hobson served on the staff of Senator Charles Robb [D-VA]. He previously served as Congressional and Executive Branch liaison for the District of Columbia Government, Executive Office of the Mayor. Mr. Hobson was Chief of Staff to a Member of Congress and Staff Director of a House Subcommittee. He also handled Congressional and Federal Affairs for Howard University. Mr. Hobson served a four-year term as an elected member of the D.C. Board of Education. Mr. Hobson is Adjunct Professor, Graduate School of Political Management, George Washington University, where he teaches lobbying and legislative writing and research.

Jane Leavy is the author of Make Me Commissioner, to be published on Sept. 9 from Grand Central Books. She has written three national bestsellers The Big Fella, Babe Ruth and the World He Created; The Last Boy; Sandy Koufax: A Lefty’s Legacy and the comic novel Squeeze Play, which Entertainment Weekly called “the best novel ever written about baseball.” She was a staff writer at The Washington Post from 1979 to 1988, first for the Sports section, then for Style. Her work has been anthologized in many collections, including The Good Book; Jewish Jock; Best Sports Writing; Coach: 25 Writers Reflect on People Who Made a Difference; and Child of Mine: Essays on Becoming a Mother. She has two adult children, Nick and Emma Isakoff. She lives in Washington, D.C., and Truro, Massachusetts.

Robert Pinsky, as United States Poet Laureate from 1997 to 2000 founded the Favorite Poem Project. His most recent book of poems is Proverbs of Limbo. His PoemJazz album of the same title, with musicians including Laurence Hobgood and Mino Cinélu, is available on Spotify and Apple Music. His prose books include Democracy, Culture and the Voice of Poetry.

This panel is moderated by Nazila Fathi, a former New York Times correspondent and the author of The Lonely War (named as the best nonfiction of 2014 by The Guardian, Vogue and Foreign Policy Association). She has written over 2,000 articles on politics, trade, and society in the Middle East. She has also written five children’s books.

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Founded by Carla Cohen and Barbara Meade in 1984, Politics and Prose Bookstore is Washington, D.C.'s premier independent bookstore and cultural hub, a gathering place for people interested in reading and discussing books. Politics and Prose offers superior service, unusual book choices, and a haven for book lovers in the store and online.

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