Annual Writers Conference
Columbus State will hold its 20th annual Writers Conference on Saturday, April 15.
The event will feature a keynote by author Siaara Freeman, with additional workshops for writers. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. with the first session
starting at 9 a.m. Our event will feature expert writers from multiple genres and
will include a book and community resource fair. The day will wrap up with sharing
our work in an open mic style forum facilitated by The Poetry Cauldron, one of Columbus'
newest poetry open mic nights.
April 15, 2023
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Center for Workforce Development
Conference and Events Center Ballroom
FREE and open to the public
No registration required
Siaara Freeman
Bringing Myths into the Modern World
In this workshop writers will explore cryptids and the myths that surround them. Writers will use different methods and prompts to create a new cryptid or modernize an old one. This workshop aims to use poetic devices as a vehicle to character and narrative building.
Jordidge
In this workshop we will analyze, what I like to call, Post-Lou Reed lyricists: lyricists that take in the scenery and explicate on the emotions of moments in time like journalists. We will discuss just what makes songwriters such as Julian Casablancas (The Strokes), Brandon Flowers (The Killers), and Annie Clark (St. Vincent) so potent and how fly-on-the-wall perspective makes for great inspiration. We will even write some lyrics of our own!
Mindy McGinnis
Join Edgar-Award winning author Mindy McGinnis for a workshop that covers writing tough topics for teens. Young Adult Literature is read by teens in the unique stage of life between youth and adulthood. The real world happens to everyone; find out how to write about violence, sex, drugs, language, and more for teens in a way that connects with your audience
Travis McClerking
Getting Rich With Description
At my workshop we will be sharpening our ability to create captivating imagery. We will take a look at contemporary poets such as Hanif Abdurraquib and Phil Kaye who have mastered the craft of producing beautiful spaces in their work that transport you out of your seat. This is an interactive workshop so come ready to contribute to the group and have lots of fun making your own poems!
Su Flatt
Make Space
In this workshop / unworkshop / “make space,” Su Flatt invites you to explore a number of self-directed generation-stations set up around the room. The stations are designed to guide you through ideas and concepts for making and to encourage you to play and experiment with those concepts -- individually or with others. Use this space to rest, to think, to reflect, to write, to read, to make. Make this space what you need it to be. For you. For now. Su hopes that this room will leave you with new work and new ideas.
Louise Robertson
Getting to a Good First Draft and Beyond
I'll provide tips, tricks, and strategies for generating and revising creative work, writing hacks, as well as more rigorous techniques. This workshop will use poetry as a way to talk about writing and editing but will be presented for all who write creatively.
Kevin Cordi
Walk in with an Idea, Play with that Idea, Walk out with a New Story Direction
This active workshop uses proven playful strategies to help you build story direction. Using the power of the imagination, you will see models of story crafting in the present time. You will also engage in playful practices with others that allow you to see and experience your story in a new way. All you need is to have an idea and to give yourself permission to play. You will walk out with not only new story direction for a current story but ideas on how to work on future work.
Bianca Moore
Have a Laugh, Write a Laugh
Take a journey with Bianca Moore as she leads a workshop that will result in you giving a polite chuckle and an understanding on how to construct a joke for yourself. She promises to make the treacherous world of comedy writing a little more tolerable. The road to making your very own tight five is right within reach!
Rachel Miller
From graphic memoirs to personal zines, there is a rich history of autobiographical storytelling in media that blends text and image. This workshop will look at the history of life writing in text and image with a special emphasis on artists who have a DIY (or Do-It-Yourself) ethos. Students will then be invited to create a comic and/or minizine about themselves.