Charles Taylor, Jr.

Charles "Chuck" Taylor, Jr. (born 1943) is an American author of books of poetry, essay, short story, and novels who was born in Minneapolis but has lived most of his life in Texas. He teaches creative writing at Texas A&M and operates small press Slough Press, publishing since 1973.[1] His contribution to building the literature scene on the Third Coast in Austin, Texas, includes activities as both a writer and publisher. He published leading poets, fiction and non-fiction writers whose books received numerous awards and were later published by larger presses. His own titles, such as the poetry collection What do You Want, Blood? received the 1988 Austin Book Award and regional critical acclaim. He is one of the legendary figures of the AustinSan AntonioDallas triangle culture that nurtured the eccentric, free-spirited independence of Texan bohemia and cross-cultural innovative creativity, especially in the literary arts. Taylor's novel, Drifter's Story, and his poetry book, Ordinary Life, explore the lives of the working poor. He has taught in the NEA Poets-in-the-Schools Program and was CETA Poet-in-Residence for the City of Salt Lake.

Along with Pat Littledog, Taylor co-operated Paperbacks Plus Books in Austin, Texas, from 1980 to 1988. The store became an important literary center for the Southwest sponsoring literary readings and plays as well as serving as a home for Slough Press.[2] Business owners John and Marquetta Tilton of Dallas opened several store locations run by famous Texas poets and writers who had not yet achieved widespread notoriety: poet Dr. Ricardo Sanchez in San Antonio and Dr. Hedwig Gorski's infamous Voltaire's Basement bookstore in downtown Austin. All branches of Paperbacks Plus allowed serious poets to live with their families on the store premises while providing a small income managing or selling at the location. Each became a hub of literary and performance activities across generations and styles nurturing the offbeat talents and lifestyles Central Texas is known for. These activities, venues, and people set the stage during the late 1970s and 80s for Austin Poetry Slam scenes.[3]

Communalism

Among the many themes Taylor uses expressing a hippie principle of communalism in both poetry and prose is the conflict between the ideal and the actual. His influences include Henry David Thoreau and hedonism. His search for spirituality includes reading Barth and Tillich and practicing chanting and meditation, plus explorations with a channeling group and a Wiccan group.

Professor

Taylor has been the Coordinator of Creative Writing in the English Department of Texas A&M University at College Station and taught literature and creative writing there for 21 years.[4] One of his students who writes under the name Sophie Jordan is currently on the New York Times best-seller list.[5]

Education

PhD in English, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois MA in English, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa BA (major in English) Northwestern University. Evanston, Illinois

Areas of specialization

Charles Taylor, Jr.
Chuck Taylor crowned as Beat Poet Laureate at the Revolution Cafe during the Beat Poetry and Art Festival in Bryan/College Station, Texas, 2011.

Creative writing (poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction), composition and technical writing for international students, Renaissance literature, Shakespeare, American literature, Introduction to film, bibliography, literature of the Beat Movement, American nature writing.

Courses taught at Texas A&M University

English 689 Literary Editing and Publishing; English 235 Introduction to Creative Writing: Prose; English 236 Introduction to Creative Writing: Poetry; English 346 Writers’ Workshop: Prose; English 396 American Nature Writing; English 396 Mexican-American Poetry and Fiction (Honors); English 350 Surrealism and Its Influence on English and American Literature (Honors); English 203 Introduction to Literature (Regular and International); English 231 English Literature I; English 228 American Literature II; LBAR 181 Immigrant Literature; LBAR I81 Film Adaptation; English 104 Composition and Rhetoric (Regular, Honors and International); English 210 Scientific and Technical Writing (Regular and International); English 221 World Literature I; English 222 World Literature II,

NEW COURSES TAUGHT SINCE 2005

English 481 (American Nature Writing), English 481 (Beat Movement in American Literature), English 628 (Literary Journal Editing), English 624 (Writing Seminar), English 622 (Introduction to Creative Writing), English 348 (Writer’s Workshop: Poetry), English 235 (Intro to Poetry and Prose), English 221 (World Literature I), Honors 203 (Southwestern Literature and Film).

Publications

Poetry titles

Memoir

Fiction titles

Essay titles
Anthologies (poetry, fiction, and essays)
Journal articles
Short stories (not published in books or anthologies)
Poetry

Poetry published in over 150 journals, including The Texas:

Notes and references

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