Awp conference & Bookfair 2018 Tentative Accepted Events

Imagining Others: Writing Fiction in English about non-English Speaking Communities (Subramanian Shankar, Samrat Upadhyay, Peter Kimani, Stephanie Han, David Odhiambo)

How is the non-English speaking world represented in English-language novels? What does it mean to write dialogue, imagine thoughts, and in general create interiority and community in English when the characters being represented are not English speaking (at all or primarily)? This question—which may be thought of as one of translation or of writing from the margins of the English language—will be responded to by the five panelists broadly and with examples from their own work.

Immigrant Publishing: International Literary Publishers on Coming to America (Richard Nash, Emily Cook, Alana Wilcox, Bibi Bakare-Yusuf)

Representatives of leading international independent literary publishers from Australia, Canada, the UK, and Africa discuss the joys and tribulations of bringing their countries' literatures to the U.S. This dialogue opens a window into both local and global book culture, mirroring, refracting and challenging our understanding of our current literary culture. We'll learn that it is not just languages that are translated, but entire publishing systems and habits.

In Search of Our Essays’ Mother(s): Women and the History of the Essay (Jenny Spinner, Marcia Aldrich, Kyoko Mori, Angela Morales, Mary Cappello)

While we celebrate this “Golden Age for Women Essayists,” we note that women essayists other than Woolf, Didion and Dillard are largely absent from historical/critical studies of the essay. Our panelists argue for a more inclusive tradition, taking into account how women essayists have successfully handled the special demands of essaying over the centuries. We will offer perspectives on a diversity of women essayists who have shaped the essay’s history and charted the way to our golden present.

In Their Own Words: Institutions, Community Writing, and Civic Engagement (Rose Gorman, Aaron Zimmerman, Stephen Henderson, Leah Falk)

For community-based writing organizations, engagement is paramount. But on whose terms – those of the community or the institution? This panel, featuring representatives from three different community-oriented writing organizations, explores the challenges of reconciling organizational mandates with the adaptive strategies required of working closely with diverse communities, and considers potential artistic and social outcomes of different kinds of engagement.

Indigenous-Aboriginal American Writers Caucus (LeAnne Howe, Toni Jensen, Erika Wurth, Michael Wasson)

Indigenous writers & scholars participate fluidly in AWP, teaching & directing affiliated programs, or working as independent writers/scholars, &/or in language revitalization & community programing. Annually imparting field-related craft, pedagogy, celebrations & concerns as understood by Indigenous-Native writers from the Americas and surrounding island nations is necessary. AWP Conferences began representative caucus discussions 2010-2013. Program development continues in 2018.

Innocence and Experience on the Poetry Stage: Beyond Baroque at 50 and Get Lit (Gail Wronsky, Diane Luby Lane, Mariano Zaro, Karen Kevorkian)

Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Venue in Venice, California, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018. It has been a place where poetry is written and performed. Get Lit, a much newer organization, focuses on the writing and performance of original poetry and classical poetry by high school students. Together, Beyond Baroque and Get Lit have energized thousands of poets with their renowned workshops and performances. The panel includes reading and discussion of how these two venues work.

Instructions Not Included: A Roundtable on Collaborative Translation (Derek Mong, Anne Fisher, Aviva Kana, Eleanor Goodman, Elisabeth Jaquette)

Collaborative translation occurs in many combinations of native speaker, non-native speaker, poet/writer, and translatee. Our roundtable offers insights into four different configurations and three different genres: poetry, fiction, and graphic novels. We’ll share best practices, bestow nuggets of hard-won wisdom, and cover practicalities such as how to communicate, manage expectations, and divide the labor of collaborative translation. Languages include Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic.

Instructor, Agent, Editor: Mentors in Service of the Emerging Writer (Fred Leebron, Jeff Kleinman, Barbara Jones, Megan Lynch, Rob Spillman)

This panel brings together the three most important types of mentors in the emerging writer's career: the instructor, the agent, and the editor. Panelists from these three fields will discuss how they see their distinct roles and how they see opportunities for collaboration to serve emerging writers. They will also discuss how their roles complement and sometimes contradict each other, and what they see are the best approaches and strategies for the emerging writer to get the most out of them.

The Interrogative Self and the Narrative Line: The Craft of Research in Creative Nonfiction (Erin Pushman, James McKean, Laura Julier, Will Jennings, Kelly Grey Carlisle)

When should writers of creative nonfiction turn to research? When does personal experience demand the interrogative self and the investigative work of research? What challenges—such as fact-checking and citation—does research pose for publication? Writers and journal editors at various stages of their careers will discuss the creative potential of research in books and essays, and address the craft of using research in compelling and generative ways.

Intersectional South: New Perspectives in Southern Poetry (Chad Abushanab, John Poch, T.J. Jarrett, Adam Vines, Juliana Gray )

In the 21st century, there exists a multitude of Southern poetics defined not by location, but by the variable experiences of the American South. This panel seeks to explore “Southerness” in terms of individual experience in order to highlight new identities and perspectives in contemporary Southern poetry. It brings together a diverse group of poets who will speak to the idea of “Southerness” in literature, and how they see this operating in (or against) their own work.

Into English: The Case for Multiple Translations (Kevin Prufer, Cole Swensen, Ellen Doré Watson, Danielle Georges)

To mark the publication of Into English (Graywolf Press), an anthology of multiple translations and accompanying essays on the art of translation, three panelists and a moderator will discuss the intricacies of literary translation and the value of considering multiple translations—that is, parallel translations of the same poems by different translators. This panel brings together experienced translators of French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and German.

Into the Expanse: Reinventing the Contemporary Long Poem (Sumita Chakraborty, Robin Beth Schaer, Don Share, Marianne Boruch, Deborah Landau)

The revolutionary space in contemporary long poems can sustain innovative explorations of gender, race, family, ecology, and the tradition of poetry itself. Inspired by the recent resurgence of long and book-length poems, this panel asks how the form advances experimental voices and unlocks multifarious possibilities. How are contemporary writers forging a new, expansive epic that is both intimate and universal? When is the wild and impractical venture of a long poem exactly right for the job?

Into the Modern Woods: Exploring Fairy Tales in the Contemporary World (Christine Heppermann, Diane Gilliam, Ron Koertge)

Steeped in tradition, fairy tales have graced the pages of books and the ballads of bards for centuries; yet this medium of storytelling is far from antiquated. In this panel, modern-day fairytale writers unite to uncover the secrets of this long-loved form of writing. How do contemporary authors build on classic favorites to create something new entirely? How do different cultural aesthetics play out in the magic realm? Join us, climb the beanstalk, uncover the answers.

It’s (Not) All about Me: Personal Writing in an Age of Narcissism (Krista Bremer, Sy Safransky, Jaquira Diaz, Heather Sellers, Ross Gay)

People who write about themselves are often accused of being self-absorbed, but is that true? Five contributors to The Sun talk about the perils and potential of personal writing. How do you construct a narrative about yourself that touches other people’s lives? We’ll explore the craft of personal essays as well as issues related to class, gender, and race. We’ll also ask: in these fraught times, should the personal also be political?

Jewish Writing Versus Writing by Jews (Goldie Goldbloom, Sarah Stone, Yehoshua November, Matthue Roth, Riva Lehrer)

Many of the great writers of the 20th century, from Kafka to Proust to Roth, were Jewish, but they rarely dealt with Judaism in their writing or work lives. In the fraught environment on campus today, it can be hard to come out as a religious minority. How do Jewish writers honour the human spirit whilst writing about religion and culture and what role does Judaism play in their work lives? Secular Humanists and Ultra-Orthodox Jews discuss their experiences as minority writers in today's world.

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! The Unconventional Writing Career (Michele Kotler, Martin Rock, Abby Travis, Thomas Calder, Giuseppe Taurino)

While the tenure-track teaching job is often the dream of creative writers, the academic market has become increasingly competitive, calling for much more than an M.F.A or a Ph.D. Here are exciting careers you can build outside of the ivory tower, where your mastery of language and critical thinking skills can make a real difference in communities. From the creative to the nonprofit sectors, listen in as our panelists share how you can craft a meaningful living.

Kenyon Review Translates! (Elizabeth Lowe, Catherine Dent, Rachel Galvin, Katherine Hedeen, Lynn Palermo)

Join Kenyon Review Translation Editors along with translators of both poetry and prose to showcase the journal’s latest publications in translation. The panel will include discussion on translation as creative writing and as authorship. We will look at what editors are seeking when choosing texts to publish and what translators do when submitting, as well as comment on the translation process and end with a brief reading of some of the accepted work.

Kitchen Table Translation: Migration, Diaspora, Contexts (Madhu H. Kaza, Katrina Dodson, Gabrielle Civil, Sawako Nakayasu)

How might immigrant or diasporic translators bring a particular set of concerns to the task of translation distinct from the mainstream of literary translation in the U.S.? The Kitchen Table Translation panel creates an opportunity to hear from a diverse group writers and translators who can speak about personal, cultural and political dimensions of translation in relation to the technical, aesthetic and literary aspects of the work.

Knowing Your Place: Identity and Space in Young Adult Fiction (Andrew Boryga, Lilliam Rivera, Nova Ren Suma, Samantha Mabry, Ibi Zoboi)

Whether it’s a landscape, a building or a city, space is never just a physical thing in fiction nor is it an entirely blank canvas. In this panel, young adult authors of various publishing experiences will explore how physical spaces can impact identity and influence characterization. Discussions will include how places can become barriers or aspirations for characters and explore when setting fails to go beyond racist tropes. Authors will offer tips on how setting can become a rich character.

The Last Life-Boat Off the Titanic: Writers Offer Insight on Pivoting from Teaching in Higher Ed. to Teaching in High S (Rosalie Moffett, Jacques Rancourt, Keith Leonard, John Harkey, Lily Brown)

With the future of higher education increasingly uncertain, many writers with college-level teaching credentials are looking for positions in independent high schools as a viable alternative career path. Six writers who have pivoted from the college-level teaching track will present on their experiences, provide insight into the benefits and realities of teaching in these schools, discuss how they’ve maintained their writing, and offer advice on how to prepare and market yourself for these jobs.

Latino Caucus (Ruben Quesada, Alexandra Lytton Regalado, Suzi F. Garcia, Raina J. Léon, Ahimsa Timoteo Bodhran)

Latino writers are becoming increasingly visible in literary spaces. However, there is still work to be done to address inequalities in access & visibility. A Latino Caucus creates space to network with new, emerging, & established writers of varied Latino identities, to discuss issues around the obstacles to publication (e.g. active oppression & the cultural marginalization of Latinos), and to discuss panel & event planning to increase Latino participation at AWP.

Leap: Disjunction, Disconnection, and Useful Dissonance in Contemporary Poetics (Laura Minor, Mark Bibbins, Josh Bell, Jillian Weise, Carmen Gimenez-Smith)

We leap because we want to jumpstart a traditional narrative, and take it up and out in a metaphorical rocket, adding lyrical and meditative weight to an otherwise predictable poem. We leap because it is a way to violently birth the poem, then lift it to the world as a gesture of greatness, a 360 degree display of the deep unconscious. The panel will discuss the origins of leaping, from the deep image poets of the 1960's to our contemporary poets.

Learning Curve: The Challenge of Building Inclusive Communities (Lynn Melnick, Amy King, Katherine Sullivan, Hector Ramirez, Hafizah Geter)

In recent years, the greater literary community has begun to confront its microcosm of social ills, including privilege, sexual assault, and appropriation. Affecting writers, editors, and educators, many of these incidents incited immediate calls for resolution and repair, but often brought thorny issues to the fore. VIDA: Women in Literary Arts hosts this panel of activists and writers on identifying and addressing wrongs with transparency, shaping protocol, and managing the learning curve.

Let the Games Begin: Translating Word Play in World Literatures (Nancy Naomi Carlson, Jeanne Garane, Ron Salutsky, Marcela Sulak, Russell Scott Valentino)

Writers around the globe love to employ word play, such as puns and neologisms. Translating word play presents unique challenges and a certain amount of risk taking. This panel of poets and scholars, translating from such languages as Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, French, Hebrew, and Spanish, will share creative strategies for keeping the word play alive in their translations.

LGBTQ Caucus (Tiff Ferentini, Miguel M. Morales, Jay McCoy, Samantha Tetangco, Sean Patrick Mulroy)

The LGBTQ Writers Caucus provides a space for writers who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer to network and discuss common issues and challenges, such as representation and visibility on and off the literary page; and how to incorporate one’s personal identity into their professional and academic lives. The Caucus also strives to discuss, develop, and increase queer representation for future AWP conferences, and serve as a supportive community and resource for its members.

Lies, Damned Lies, and Stall Tactics: How “Truth” Reveals Character Via Dialogue (Kekla Magoon, Will Alexander, Cynthia Leitich Smith, David Macinnis Gill)

Everyone loves brilliant dialogue, snappy patter that amuses, informs, & entertains the reader while revealing character at the same time. It’s common to hear writers described as having “an ear for dialogue,” but great dialogue is more than just sounds and speech patterns. Language reveals multiple aspects of the character’s place in society—status, values, norms, education & gender. Four middle grade and YA novelists dissect the sociolinguist underpinnings of character interaction.

The Life and Work of Lucille Clifton (Crystal Simone Smith, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Jonathan Farmer, Tara Betts, Sidney Clifton)

There are many ways we honor the poets of our lifetimes. We memorialize them in collected volumes, establish contests, and we continue the discourse on their various works. Although she has amassed all fore-mentioned, if there is one poet worthy of more praise, it is Lucille Clifton. Seven years ago cancer claimed the body she often celebrated in poems. Our panel will honor this poet great through a rousing homage of personal words, readings, and community conversation.

A Life of Crime: Writing at the Dark End of the Street (Bill Beverly, Vu Tran, Steph Post, Megan E. Abbott, Stephen Jay Schwartz)

If the academy is opening to genre fiction, the MFA world has been less immediately inclusive. Capital-L literature is the stock and trade of top writing programs. Few identifying as crime writers teach in the more established programs. This despite Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman, Attica Locke, Don Winslow, and other writers known for craft--and sales. Five accomplished crime writers talk about the label, the marketplace, the devoted readership, and crime's place among today's best fiction.

Literary Innovation: Staying Solvent and Relevant in a Changing Publishing Landscape (Yi Shun Lai, Jane Friedman, Hattie Fletcher, Joseph Ponepinto)

Changes in funding and technology present challenges for many literary journal and independent book publishers. Particularly in light of possible reductions in support of the arts, innovative business models may be the key to survival. In this panel, editors with experience at a variety of small and mid-sized publications discuss the outlook for publishers, and strategies they’ve explored to ensure continued solvency and cultural relevance.

Literary Journal Circulation in the Internet Age (Dani Hedlund, Andrew Jimenez, Justin Alvarez, Jeff Gleaves, Kevin Larimer)

Despite predictions about the end of the printed magazine, the past few years have seen literary journals increase in number. Rather than killing print, the internet has provided myriad options to connect with readers. How can teams translate likes, impressions, and followers into sales and subscribers? Panelists who’ve worked for The Paris Review, Harpers, and F(r)iction, discuss tactics for using web content and social media to get onto shelves and into readers' hands.

Literary Late Bloomers: The Joys and Challenges of Being a Later-in-Life Poet (Lisa Dordal, Pablo Miguel Martinez, Celeste Gainey, Michelle Bitting, Mary Moore Easter)

In many ways the poetry world favors younger poets, especially through age-limited contests and "under 30" lists. Poets who don’t discover their calling until later in life face challenges as they navigate career options and paths to publication. Literary late bloomers can be encouraged, though, by what a later-in-life career brings as far as richness of experience—our scars, triumphs, and intricately wrought stories. Five poets share the challenges and joys of being a later-in-life poet.

Literary Publishing at the Community College: Preparing a New Generation of Writers and Curators (Jo Scott-Coe, James Ducat, Lloyd Aquino, Michael Torres, Michaelsun Knapp)

Riverside City College's Muse and Mount San Antonio College's Creepy Gnome together have decades of experience providing highly diverse student staff with opportunities to design, edit, curate, and promote nationally recognized literary magazines. Panelists will outline best practices of applied learning and mentorship in literary publishing, with emphasis on empowering students at HSI (Hispanic Serving Institutions) to contribute to the literary marketplace and develop their artistic vision.

Literary Translation in the Creative Writing Classroom (Evan Fallenberg, Geoffrey Brock, Liz Harris, Susan Bernofsky, Roger Sedarat)

Literary translation, one of the fastest growing genres in creative writing programs these days, is a natural option for people who love literature and languages and writing and who wish to train themselves for satisfying careers in the book world. The panelists in this session are all translators and writers who teach literary translation courses and workshops that are part of creative writing programs and will share their experiences and teaching methods with participants.

The Literary Twitterati (Analicia Sotelo, Dorothea Lasky, Ruben Quesada, Lisa Lucas, Kaveh Akbar)

Meet some of the most important minds in the Twitterverse as they share experiences as literary citizens in 140 characters or less. Whether advocating for increased visibility or enjamb-ing your horoscope, these panelists will talk about their approach to digital communication and how you can create a platform of your own.

The Lives of Others: Biography as Creative Nonfiction (Terese Svoboda, Michael N. McGregor, Joanne B. Mulcahy)

Amid the explosion of memoir, attention to biography as creative nonfiction has been scant. Few MFA programs teach the genre, and reviewers often summarize the life at the expense of the writing. Panelists will discuss biographical research; ways to create historical context, including issues of race and gender; and how to face gaps in the record and ethical quandaries. The panel will explore recent innovations in literary structure, and generic boundaries with history, fiction, and poetry.

Living the Writing Life: How to Be a Full-Time Writer (Erik Deckers, Cathy Day, Ryan Brock, Racquel Henry, Janna Benge)

This is an Artistic & Professional Stewardship panel. Many would-be writers enter a writing program with dreams of living the writing life, only to learn full-time novelists exist only in the movies. But there are so many other options for creative writers who want to "make good words" for a living. This panel will focus on how to live a life of letters through freelance writing, marketing and advertising, owning your own business, or even ghostwriting.

Living, Reading, and Writing the Multilingual Poem (Amanda Galvan Huynh, Mai Der Vang, Luisa Igloria, Hari Alluri, Chris Santiago)

As multilingual poets proliferate, so does the need for a new form of expression. In turn, such poems create new reading and writing communities, and require us to reexamine practices of incorporating non-English words into English text. This panel brings together poets who work with Hmong, Vietnamese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Hindi to discuss challenges: incorporating a second language, reading, audience, and the future of such poems in the literary and publishing community.

Loud Because We Have to Be: Literary Advocacy in Today’s World (Tina Cane, Diane Lane, Erin Belieu, Britt Udesen, Nina Ozlu Tunceli)

Words have the power to change lives, but how can we work together to ensure our words are heard? Panelists will discuss how they became deeply invested in the communities they live in and serve, and what you can do to team up with others for quick, effective advocacy. They will also discuss best practices for managing your professional career and writing life alongside community efforts.

Low-Residency MFA Directors Caucus (Steve Kistulentz)

A meeting to provide the opportunity for networking for Directors of Low-Residency MFA's, as well as the opportunity for these directors to discuss shared issues and challenges.

The Lyric Graphic: Thinking “Outside the Panel” in Comics, Graphic Memoir, Twine, and the Captioned Photo and Video (Merrill Feitell, Ariel Kahn, Kevin Haworth, Threasa Meads, Elizabeth Kadetsky)

Sideways thinking doesn’t fit neatly into text, says comics author Nick Sousanis. Image acts as a vehicle for fragmented thinking, disrupted memory, and explorations in experimental form. Lynda Barry writes, The image is alive in the way thinking is not, but experiencing is. Our panelists’ work in and about comics, graphic memoir, Twine video games, and captioned image and video illuminate the move outside the box (and panel) to ask readers to infer the unspoken through suggestive juxtaposition.