Book Description
Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, William Burroughs, and Diane Di Prima – is there an aspiring poet or prose writer today who would miss a chance to meet and learn with these literary mentors face-to-face, sharing the secrets of their craft? That irresistible opportunity is now available with First Thought, Best Thought, the first landmark release from Naropa University’s treasured audio archives. Selected and edited by poet Randy Roark from thousands of hours of performances and teaching sessions, First Thought, Best Thought offers listeners four rare gems of inspiration and practical wisdom, including: · Allen Ginsberg on how we "discharge the spontaneous energy of genuine experience" onto the page · Anne Waldman on living your poetic practice by melting the boundaries between poetry on the page, performance, and every act of expression you choose to commit · William Burroughs on breakthrough methods for generating fresh writing – including "the cut-up method," chance operations, and dream work · Diane Di Prima on how to survive as an artist: preserving your sensibility; creating a supportive artistic community; approaches to getting published, self-publishing, and more "First thought, best thought" was the phrase that Allen Ginsberg used to describe the kind of spontaneous, fearless writing taught here – a way of telling the truth that arises from naked and authentic experience. In these thought-provoking sessions, anyone with a passion for words is sure to discover a wealth of insights for expressing themselves with greater immediacy and creativity.

About the Author
Randy Roark is a poet, editor, and alumnus of Naropa University’s Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. He serves as director of DADA Productions, produces live multimedia poetry readings and performances. His books include Mona Lisa’s Veil, Dissolve, One Night, and other works.

FROM THE PUBLISHER