Miller Oberman, award-winning poet and GCSU alum, returned to campus for a public reading and conversation of his book “Impossible Things” and other recent works. GCSU graduate student and poet Christina Faber joined him for a discussion and Q&A, followed by a book signing. Faber introduced Oberman after reading several of her own poems and noted that he was the inspiration for some of her works.

The event took place on January 28 and is part of the university’s Visiting Writer Series. Open to all university students and the public, the series gives attendees direct access to writers and the opportunity to gain insight on the inspiration behind a writer’s works, as well as a professional career in creative writing.

Oberman has published two books of poetry and has also published poems in several magazines, including “Poetry Magazine” and “The New Yorker.”

“Poetry is a place where anything is possible and where feelings can be shared to others,” Obermain said. 

At the reading, he read several poems about memories from his past and childhood, and described how his book is intertwined with pieces from his late father’s unpublished memoir.

He enjoys talking to students and young writers when visiting schools and other literary communities, and said they are an inspiration to him. 

“Their work has a place in the world, and it is meaningful to other people,” Oberman said.

Professors noted these events are important for students so they have the opportunity to “see a possible future in which their own work moves from draft to published book and public reading,” said GCSU’s Undergraduate Creative Writing Coordinator, Kerry James Evans.

 Evans even remembered readings that he attended when he was a student, and said many of his colleagues remember them as well. Evans also described an example with a student who attended a reading with a visiting writer. The student was so inspired that she later made her first submission to a literary journal, leading to her first publication. 

“It is no surprise that these alumni readings hold a special place for our students—hearing authors who once sat where they sit and can relate directly to our students’ experiences,” Evans said.

GCSU students who were in attendance expressed how they were impacted by the writer’s words and advice. Asher Balmes, a junior English major, said he felt more encouraged to use some of Oberman’s writing techniques in his own work after listening to the public reading of “Impossible Things.” Balmes explained his belief that going out of personal comfort zones and taking creative risks when writing can strengthen and improve the overall skills of a writer.  

Through events like Oberman’s visit, the Visiting Writer Series helps students to bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional creative writing careers by bringing working writers to campus communities. These visits allow students to see that the skills they are developing in class can translate into published work and sustainable careers after graduation. 

By connecting current students with accomplished writers and alumni, it reinforces the idea that student work matters and deserves serious attention. With persistence, mentorship, and community, a place in the literary world is not only possible but is actively within reach.