Keystone Stories

Brian Fanelli

English instructor

"A Passion for Poetry"

For Keystone English instructor Brian Fanelli, there’s nothing better than a great poem. And he is certainly an expert on the subject.

An avid poet, Brian has won several awards for his work and has been nominated for the highly acclaimed Pushcart Prize for his poem, “After Working Hours.” Brian’s work has appeared in numerous journals including Boston Literary Magazine, Chiron Review, My Favorite Bullet, and Word Riot. Brian's latest book of poems, Front Man, was recently published by Big Table Publishing Company. Brian is also scheduled to publish a full-length book of poems later this year.   

While he initially wrote short stories, Brian soon realized that writing poetry gave him the most satisfaction. Much of his work reflects his “blue collar” roots in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Besides his time an author, poet, and writing instructor, Brian has worked as a journalist for a Philadelphia area newspaper.

“I love the challenge of poetry, how every word matters and how precise you must be. I also like the musicality of poetry and enjoy doing poetry readings as often as possible.”

Brian’s experiences as a poet and an author have provided a great foundation for the creative writing classes he teaches at Keystone.   

“I believe my experiences as a published poet and author bring a realistic element  to my classes. I not only instruct my students but share the creative process with them. I think they learn from me and I learn from them.”

For Brian, who has a master’s degree in fine arts, teaching at Keystone is a special opportunity.  

“I love the small-college environment that we have here. I have the opportunity to get to know each of my students and work with them individually to develop their  talents. There is a great sense of community at Keystone and I find that especially rewarding.”   

Brian was featured in the January 20, 2013 edition of the Scranton, Times-Tribune.