Writing Master Class and Writers’ Workshop Offered at A-State’s Delta Symposium
JONESBORO – In conjunction with “Delta Blues Symposium XX: Diversity in the Delta,” Arkansas State University’s English and Philosophy Department will welcome noted writers Janis F. Kearney and C. D. Mitchell to campus, April 3-5.
Both writers will make presentations about their work throughout the Symposium, according to Dr. Gregory Hansen, symposium co-chair.
Kearney will offer a master class on memoir writing on Friday, April 4, at 1 in the Pine Tree Room of the Reng Student Union.
Mitchell will offer a creative writing workshop on Saturday, April 5, at 9 a.m. at The Edge Coffeehouse, 1900 Aggie Road.
All Delta Symposium events are free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required for the master class and the workshop.
Janis F. Kearney
Kearney served as the first presidential diarist, under the Clinton administration, and she is the author of non-fiction works as well as her new novel “Once Upon a Time There Was a Girl: A Murder at Mobile Bay.” Her recent book, “Sundays with TJ,” is a story of her centenarian father’s life.
In 2004, she founded Writing Our World Press, and she has recently relocated to Little Rock. She has completed fellowships and guest lectureships at Harvard University, Chicago City Colleges, DePaul University, and Arkansas State.
Her master class will be an interactive discussion on memoir writing as she shares her own writing journey, and she’ll provide fool-proof tips on writing memorable life stories. Master class participants will be encouraged to share their own life stories.
Participants can learn more about Janis F. Kearney at www.writingourworldpress.com/wowp.php.
C. D. Mitchell
Mitchell is the author of two story collections released within the past year: “God’s Naked Will” was published by Burnt Bridge Press and released in September 2013 and “Alligator Stew” from Southern Yellow Pine Publishing was released in January 2014. His work appears in several anthologies and literary journals, both print and online.
He has a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing with concentrations in fiction and creative nonfiction and has taught creative writing at conferences and at the University of Memphis and the University of Alabama. He was born and raised in northeast Arkansas, where most of his writing is set. His workshop will include critiques of participants’ writing.
Participants can learn more about C.D. Mitchell at his website, www.cdmitchell.net.
Participants in Mitchell’s workshop must pre-enroll by submitting a manuscript of fiction or other creative writing. Entries are limited to 5,000 words, and the workshop is limited to 20 participants.
Entries must be sent by March 25 to workshop coordinator Dr. Jason Barrett-Fox, assistant professor of English, at Arkansas State University. Entries can be emailed to jbarrett-fox@astate.edu. Applicants should include “Delta Symposium Submission” in the subject line.
Participants also must contact Dr. Barrett-Fox to register for the master class and/or the workshop.
The complete schedule of Delta Symposium events is available at http://altweb.astate.edu/blues.
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