Ron Hull to present 'Mari Sandoz: On Writing and Life'

Dr. Ron Hull will deliver the second installment in the Pilster Great Plains Lecture Series, “Mari Sandoz: On Writing and Life,” on Oct. 13 at Chadron State College’s Memorial Hall.

The lecture begins at 7 p.m. and is open to  the public free of charge.

Hull is senior advisor to Nebraska Educational Telecommunications and professor emeritus of Broadcasting at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He worked with Sandoz on numerous Nebraska Educational Television productions in the 1950s and 1960s. In addition to personal reminiscences of the author, Hull will use video clips taken from her series, “Mari Sandoz Discusses Creative Writing,” to illustrate her work and philosophy about writing, and personal tips on how to write one’s story.

In the series, she talks about: “gathering your material, beginning the work, choosing the point of view, revising and polishing, and the beginning and ending.”

Sandoz wrote, “There was no training school for the pioneer. He went out and he either was one or he wasn’t.” 

Hull said there was no training for Mari Sandoz.

“With a limited education and an abundance of drive and courage, she willed herself to be a writer, gaining both success and fame as a chronicler of the history of the high plains country of Nebraska,” he said.

The following day, Oct. 14, the Mari Sandoz Heritage Society will have its 2011 conference, titled “The Joy of Learning.” Numerous speakers and panel discussions will celebrate education throughout the day at the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center at CSC.

The second annual Pilster Great Plains Lecture series presented by the Mari Sandoz Heritage Society is supported by the Esther and Raleigh Pilster endowment. The series contributes to the educational mission of the Chadron State College and residents of the plains.