Logan Phillips, Pima County Public Library’s writer-in-residence, is helping authors and first-time writers hone their skills with several workshops.
For a free, half-hour appointment, writers must register on the library’s website. Phillips offers two appointments per day; check the site for registration times and dates. Currently, there are openings for adults and tweens on Tuesdays, July 22, July 29, Aug. 5 and Aug. 12, at the Valencia Library, 202 W. Valencia Road.
During that half hour, Phillips will discuss the works at any stage. Registrants have ranged from memoirs and experimental pieces to writers who are working on an art notebook with essays.
Phillips comes with credentials. He earned an MFA in creative writing from the UA and has several publications, including a book, “Reckon,” set for release in February.
He is a DJ (DJ Diirtyverb) and a performance artist because sometimes words and voice cannot share his message.
Phillips, who also consults in Spanish, said he believes art is for everyone.
“All of us have a story to tell; all of us are writers in one way or another,” he said.
Phillips said writers should not be overly concerned with the final product because it’s the act that’s most important. He said he encourages folks to take the plunge, putting their words onto the page even if they have no interest in sharing them.
“Writing is more about a process than a perfect final product,” he said. “The act of creating a piece of writing is as important or more important than what comes out of it in the end. This is why, especially in the age of AI, it’s really important for folks to explore a writing practice, whatever that means to them. … The (brain is) a muscle that’s worth exercising and the journey is the destination, as it were.
“I just think that in a world that is so intense and violent, it’s so important to create a space away from our screens to convene with ourselves. That’s something that’s accessible to just about everyone.”
Phillips said he sees the writer-in-residence role as necessary.
“I really see teaching as part of the work of being a writer, not as something extra or a day job,” he said.
“One of my favorite parts of being a writer-in-residence is the consultations. I never know who’s going to walk through the door and what their needs and interests are going to be.”
In fact, he likes the spontaneity of it.
“I just have to be in the moment and listen intently to the person who is sharing and respond in the most useful way I can,” he added. “I like the challenge and surprise of it.”
Writer in Residence
Logan Phillips, Pima County Public Library’s writer-in-residence, is available for consultations through August at the Valencia Library, 202 W. Valencia Road. Visit library.pima.gov.
This article appears in Jul 10-17, 2025.