About R. Jim Stahl

R. Jim Stahl is founding editor of Merlyn's Pen magazine (1985-2001), the American Teen Writer Series (est. 1996) and The New Library of Young Adult Writing (est. 2003). In these roles he encouraged and edited the early works of teenage writers who today are shaping the literary scene. Before launching Merlyn's Pen with help from many friends, Stahl taught English at the University of Chicago Lab School, the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland, and the American International School in Vienna, Austria. He attended Georgetown University and the University of Chicago, where he earned a Master of Arts in Teaching.

 

He has continued teaching through his magazine, book series, website, writing workshops, and more than 60 instructional  guides for writing and English teachers. The International Reading Association, the Educational Press Association, the Parents' Choice Foundation, and the New York Public Library have honored his publications with twelve awards for editorial excellence, and today models from the Merlyn's Pen Library of Young Adult Writing are used on graduation exams and assessments in 15 states.

 

See Stahl interviewed

by Scott Indermaur for the acclaimed artist's photographic series THE REVEALED PROJECT.

 

Stahl served on the U.S. Dept. of Education committee that developed the writing portion of The National Writing Assessment, known as The Nation’s Report Card. For many years he was an Admissions Committee volunteer for Georgetown University. He has served on the Board of Trustees of the Community Preparatory School and the Board of Governors of Miriam Hospital, both in Providence, Rhode Island.   

 

WGBH, Boston's NPR station, recently interviewed Stahl and taped two of his monologues. THIS I BELIEVE, produced by Rhode Island's NPR affiliate, WRNI, last spring aired his personal essay about a career encouraging creative kids.  In summer 2010, Stahl acted as writer/editor-in-residence for the Black Dog Tall Ships "Writer's Week," a teen sailing and writing adventure based in Martha's Vineyard, MA. He recently began performing for audiences in his autobiographical Monologues of a One-Eyed Mensch, a funny and touching one-man show about "growing up long-haired, short-winded, one-eyed, two-fisted and unassisted in the finest suburbs from Boston to Miami." Stahl lives, consults, writes, and sails on Narragansett Bay, in Rhode Island.

Call 1-800-247-2027 or Email stahl@merlynspen.org for information.

 

Merlyn's Pen & the New Library of Young Adult Writing

11 South Angell St., Suite 301

Providence, RI 02906

1-800-247-2027  www.merlynspen.org