'Lit Throwdown' Lets Inmates Display Writing Talent

Six published authors competed in a writing "throwdown" against inmates at California's San Quentin State Prison over two consecutive Friday evenings in June. The surprise topic: "Damn. Now I'm back on square one again."

Last Friday the professional and the incarcerated writers met to have their writings judged.

The Lit Throwdown is part of a volunteer creative writing class — taught by two brothers since 2003 — on San Quentin's H-Unit yard of 1,000 prisoners. With most education programs cut inside prisons, volunteer-based programs like this are among the few remaining enrichment classes available to inmates.