Multiple nationally and internationally acclaimed writers and filmmakers will come together for one weekend at Sonoma State University to celebrate the power of story at the second annual Writers Festival on April 19.
The festival will host panel discussions featuring writers, editors and publishers, focusing on topics including crafting a story, getting published and the challenges of being a professional writer. Attendees may bring their own work to a one-on-one session with SSU’s award-winning creative writing instructors, or they may participate in poetry, fiction or creative non-fiction workshop to receive professional assistance with their writing.
“The festival is always fun and inclusive of all writers regardless of their stage of development,” said Gillian Conoley, creative writing professor at Sonoma State, 2017 Shelley Memorial Award winner and a one-on-one advisor for the festival. “We welcome beginning writers as well as more experienced ones, and take pride in creating a literary and artistic community for all."
The emphasis in the festival this year will be “Narrative Now” — an inquiry into how narrative works in the current fragmented, information-laden times. The theme will focus on narrative as a construct and how it allows artists in different genres to learn from one another.
The festival begins on Friday, April 19 at 5 p.m. at Prelude at the Green Music Center with a wine and food reception followed by a reading with award-winning authors Brian Teare and Amy Leach. Tickets may be purchased online, with meals, receptions and activities included. Students receive a discounted price. Workshops are sold separately. For more information on the festival, visit the English Department.
Schedule
| Friday, April 19 |
| 5 - 7 p.m. // Wine and Food Reception - Prelude, Green Music Center |
| 7 p.m. // Reading with Brian Teare and Amy Leach - Prelude, Green Music Center |
| Saturday, April 20 |
| 9:30 - 10 a.m. // Coffee & Welcome - Ballroom, Student Center |
| 10 - 11 a.m. // Narrative and the Spell of the Tale: From Origins to Current Uses - (Ballroom B) - Juvenal Acosta, Stefan Kiesbye (moderator), Kim-Hester Williams, Andrew Smith, Brantley Bryant |
| 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. // New Narrative Strategies in Practice -(Ballroom B) - Talena Sanders, Julie Carr, Brian Teare, Gillian Conoley (moderator), Brooke Wrisely |
| 12 - 1 p.m. // Lunch - Overlook Restaurant, Student Center |
| 1 - 2 p.m. // Notification Panel - (Ballroom B) - Anne Goldman, Amy Leach, Noelle Oxenhandler |
| 2 - 3 p.m. // Fictions Panel - (Ballroom B) - Stefan Kiesbye, Juvenal Acosta, Andrew Smith, Talena Sanders |
| 3 - 4 p.m. // Poetry Panel - (Ballroom B) - Gillian Conoley, Brian Teare, Julie Carr |
| 4 - 5 p.m. // Editing and Publishing Q & A - (Ballroom B) - Anne Goldman, Noelle Oxenhalder, Brian Teare, Talena Sanders |
| 5 - 6 p.m. // Wine & Food Reception - (Ballroom B) - Overlook Restuarant, Student Center |
| 6 - 7:30 p.m. // Reading with Juvenal Acosta and Julie Carr - (Ballroom B) - Overlook Restuarant, Student Center |
Workshops (sold separatley)
| Saturday, April 20 |
| 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Nonfiction Workshop - (Valley Conference Rooms) - Amy Leach |
| 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. // Lunch |
| 1 - 3 p.m. // Poetry Workshop - (Valley Conference Rooms) - Brian Teare and Julie Carr |
| 3 - 5 p.m. // Fiction Workshop - (Valley Conference Rooms) - Juvenal Acosta |