May 21, 2007
Aspiring writers are invited to hone their fiction skills June 15-17 as part of the University of Mississippi’s Yoknapatawpha Summer Writers’ Workshop.
“There are a lot of local folks who are interested in writing, but usually because of full-time jobs they can't take a semester-long writing class,” said poet and workshop staff member Beth Ann Fennelly. “The Yoknapatawpha workshop is well suited to their needs.”
Attendees will engage in various creative writing exercises under the instruction of local authors and University faculty. The three-day intensive workshop will include panel lectures, readings, and creative discussion.
“The workshop leader will be using the samples submitted but also assigning some short exercises, so there is something for everyone,” said David Galef, workshop director, fiction writer, and UM English professor.
“Besides the workshop leader, we should have two other writers and a storyteller. We've also got a tour of Faulkner's home, a catfish dinner, a look at the Library's rare manuscript room, and two open-mike nights. These three days should be instructive but also a lot of fun.”
Workshop staff includes workshop leader Neal Walsh, storyteller Rebecca Jernigan, Fennelly, and Galef.
The Yoknapatawpha Summer Writers’ Workshop requires participants to submit a writing sample before the workshop begins. Fennelly says that all forms of creative writing are welcome, though the focus is primarily on fiction. Writers who submit complete works will be guided with revisions and critiques throughout the workshop, and writers with works in the initial stages will be primed with advice and direction for their compositions.
“Both Oxford and The University of Mississippi have a long and distinguished writerly tradition, so it's a great place for nurturing budding authors,” said Galef. “We're looking for writers who want to improve their technique with an intensive workshop over the course of three days. This is our fourth summer, and we're proud of the work we do.”
Daily workshop sessions will take place at the Depot and additional activities will be held at Oxford landmarks such as Rowan Oak and the J.D. Williams Library’s Archives and Special Collections. The schedule begins at 9 a.m. each day and ends at approximately 10 p.m. The workshop will wrap up around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Tuition for the workshop is $325 per person, which includes workshop, panels, readings, discussions and a catfish dinner. The fee does not include transportation, lodging, or meals. Full-time students who seek financial assistance should contact Barbara Thompson at bthompso@olemiss.edu for information on reduced fees. The deadline for registration is Friday, June 1, and pre-registration is required.
All writing samples must be submitted by June 1 in order for the workshop leader to familiarize himself with each participant’s style and subject matter. Samples should be no longer than 10 double-spaced pages. The workshop format is informal, and participants are asked to dress comfortably and casually.
For additional information on transportation, lodging and scheduled events visit http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/summer/yokna_writers/, or contact Barbara Thompson at 662-915-5811 or bthompso@olemiss.edu
