Hector Tobar on Inaugural Poetry and Prose

Were you inspired by Monday's inaugural ceremony? One of our favorite authors, Hector Tobar (The Barbarian Nurseries) took a look at the craft of speechwriting prior to the event,

An important speech usually begins as a writing project. And what separates a good inauguration speech from a great speech is, more often than not, a lot of writer's elbow grease. Speechwriting, to paraphrase your old English teacher, is speech rewriting.

And then he debriefed yesterday with Los Angeles Times book critic David Ulin on the poetry and prose of the day, including Richard Blanco's poem "One Today". Watch: Inauguration 2013: How was Obama's speech?

               - all of us -
facing the stars
hope - a new constellation
waiting for us to map it,
waiting for us to name it - together.

Are you ready for a little collective mapping? Here's a look at what Amnesty International would like to see on President Obama's second term agenda. And here's an action you can take today.