Iowa Summer Writing Festival


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Workshop Descriptions & Instructors Marilyn Abildskov Mary Allen Kate Aspengren Thomas Fox Averill Nancy K.Barry Timothy Bascom Kyle Beachy Karen Bender Linda Bendorf Maudy Benz Venise Berry Bruce Bond David Bouchier Michael Dennis Browne Maggie Conroy Mary Cross Thomas K. Dean Amber Dermont Janet Desaulniers Kelly Dwyer Hope Edelman Josh Emmons Jill Esbaum Sarah Fay Hugh Ferrer Katie Ford Geoffrey Forsyth Cecile Goding Douglas Goetsch Sands Hall Christine Hemp Jim Heynen Rick Hillis Charles Holdefer Richard Jackson Rebecca Johns Cheryl Fusco Johnson Wayne Johnson Daniel Khalastchi Carolyn Lieberg BK Loren Peter Markus Fritz Mc Donald James McKean Gordon Mennenga Sharelle Byars Moranville Michael Morse Barbara Robinette Moss Marc Nieson Shannon Olson Diana Ossana Lon Otto Juliet Patterson Kiki Petrosino Mark Jude Poirier Leslie Carol Roberts Anjali Sachdeva Sarah Saffian Sam Samuels Sandra Scofield Mary Kay Shanley Robert Anthony Siegel Carol Spindel Karen Subach Mary Vermillion Kris Vervaecke Ashley Warlick Michelle Wildgen Bart Yates	Carolyn Lieberg Word Play Weekend Workshop June 13–14 10,000 Words One-Week Workshop June 14–19 29 Points of Departure Weekend Workshop June 20–21 Biography Word Play Weekend Workshop June 13–14 Words. We all know that we actually end up “writing” quite a bit during a long walk or in the shower or while chopping an onion. Somehow, when we’re busy with one project, our mind sets the writing neurons sparkling. So let’s get busy with a word we love or one we need or an arch nemesis and see what it does for us. This weekend is about making art, both two- and three-dimensional. No “artistic skills” required. Shall I repeat that? No “artistic skills” required. To get juices flowing, we’ll begin by making a writer’s block. Who doesn’t need one of those to throw around? We’ll move on to pull and push clay, and sketch, draw, paint, snip, fold, and glue—all for the goal of taking a word, or more than one, and creating a symbol or two for inspiration, companionship, amusement, or revelation. Oh yes—bring that word inside a sentence or paragraph so we can bask in its light or give it a good going-over. 10,000 Words One-Week Workshop June 14–19 How many words would you like to write in a week? During the five days of classes, you will be invited to respond to a wide range of writing prompts, which will focus on different aspects of character, background, and plot. Some of these will be imaginative and some will be from the rich mine of memory. You will write about various settings, stories, people, and in unlikely voices and from fresh perspectives. We’ll take occasional breaks to read from what’s being created—optional, of course. Out-of-class assignments will focus on further development of in-class writings. If you are considering writing a novel, the week might serve as an opportunity to write background material. If you would like to develop a new range of imaginative pieces, this class will give you a chance to discover new ideas and uncover some of the solemn, the outrageous, and the beautiful lurking in your imagination. If you have wanted to venture into the world of writing but did not know where to begin, this class is for you, too. Writers of all levels are welcome. 29 Points of Departure Weekend Workshop June 20–21 Would you like to plump your files for new projects or add to background material for current ones? In this intense session, you’ll be invited to mine your memory and experiences and to exercise your imagination. By the end of the weekend, you’ll have twenty-nine (or more) fresh ideas/starts/chunks for stories, characters, viewpoints, or scenes. Exercises will include inventing back-stories, writing dialogues, riffing on single words or ideas, adopting unexpected viewpoints, and rediscovering some memories. What you produce may set you off in new directions or give you direction for stalled projects. We’ll take an occasional break to share some of your writing. Past participants have found the session to be exhausting and satisfying. Bring your favorite writing pens and lots of paper—or laptops. Biography Carolyn Lieberg is the author, most recently, of Teaching Your First College Class. She’s also the author of West with Hopeless, Little Sisters—The Last But Not the Least,and Calling the Midwest Home. A novel, “Gone,” is making the rounds, and she has just completed “Inside Millie.” She has edited two magazines and published short stories and essays. Her graduate degree is in nonfiction from The University of Iowa. She lives in Washington, DC.

	Site Map \| Welcome \| Workshops by Session Date \| Workshops by Instructor Workshops by Genre \| Registration & Housing Information \| Registration Form Sponsored by the Division of Continuing Education Iowa Summer Writing Festival C215 Seashore Hall The University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242 Phone 319-335-4160 FAX 319-335-4743 iswfestival@uiowa.edu Last updated on February 10, 2009