Timeline for Panel and Workshop Instructor Proposals:
October, 2019, panel proposal application process begins
Feb. 15, 2020, 11:59pm, panel and workshop instructor proposal application process
closes
April 30th, Proposal and Workshop acceptance notifications
May 1, Conference and hotel registration opens,
May 31st, Confirmation of attendance for panelists and workshop instructors required
October 24th, 2020, conference date
Panel Chair and Moderator:
This is the individual who proposes the panel to the CSU Creative Writers Conference,
and this person will coordinate the panel with the conference director and staff.
The moderator and chair can participate, and there must be four other participants
for each proposed panel.
Workshop Instructor:
This is the individual who proposes the workshop to the CSU Creative Writers Conference,
and this person will coordinate the panel with the conference director and staff.
The instructor must be a participant, can be the sole participant, and there can be
one to two other participants for each proposed young writers or high school writers
workshop.
Limits on Proposals:
Individuals can only be included on one panel proposal since this is a smaller conference.
Without repeat acceptances, we can have more participants at the conference. Individuals
can be included on one panel proposal, and submit a workshop proposal.
Once an event has been accepted, the panel chair and moderator is responsible for
making sure there are four other confirmed participants for the panel. If this turns
out not to be the case, the panel chair and moderator will not be allowed to submit
proposals for the conference in the future. Participants confirm their intent to attend
by registering by May 30th. Substitutions can be made if participants learn that they are unable to attend.
Panelist Biographies:
The Panel Chair and Moderator will be asked to upload all of the brief participant
biographies (limit, 350 characters). Please note: the conference program and proceedings will be made available online.
Please Note:
We do not provide pre-advising on panel proposals.
Panel Categories
Readings:
There will be ongoing small readings in one room. Readings should have four participants
who read for 10-15 minutes, sharing either short complete works or excerpts. Solo
and dual proposed readings will not be accepted. The categories for readings include
fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and drama.
The Business of Writing:
This is to help serve our aspiring local Columbus writers.
The categories for this area include working with or how to find an agent, small press
versus larger commercial publishers, publicity advice, organizing book tours, publishing
advice for beginning writers, etc… Panel chairs are encouraged to submit proposals
that help both beginning and established writers.
Literary Craft: Panel Chairs are encouraged to submit proposals that are specific to craft or thematic
issues for fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or drama. Panels should focus on
discussions of published work not by the participants; it would be better to show
less of an interest in self-promotion, and a greater appreciation for the literary
world at large.
Memorials or Tributes:
These are for renowned living authors or writers of national significance who have
passed away. Readings can certainly be included, as well as testimonials and time
for the sharing of memories and anecdotes. If the writer being honored can be present,
of course there should be time scheduled for the writer to read and offer remarks.
Graduate Student Panels:
We are quite aware that it is often difficult for graduate students to become part
of a panel with more established writers, so we welcome proposals that are composed
of graduate students only. There will be an entirely separate category for these panels,
while proposals with mostly graduate students or some graduate students should be
submitted under the other categories at large. Graduate student only panels should
follow the same category guidelines listed above.
Workshop Categories:
Young Writers:
We will have six students each for these two-hour workshops, coordinating with local
Columbus elementary and junior high schools. Instructors can propose elementary or
junior-high level workshops in cnf, poetry, fiction, or a combination of genres. There
should obviously be a fun aspect to the lesson plans. There should obviously be prompts,
drafting, sharing, and encouragement.
High School Writers:
We will have five students each for these two-hour workshops, coordinating with local
Columbus high schools. Instructors can propose workshops in cnf, poetry, fiction,
or a combination of genres. Materials should be engaging for older students. There
should obviously be prompts, drafting, sharing, and encouragement.
Note: the young writers and high school writers workshops are thought of as a service
activity.
Adult Craft Workshops:
We will have four students for these two-hour workshops, so that half an hour can
be devoted to feedback, and writing samples will be provided well beforehand. We will
be coordinating participation with local writers' groups. Instructors can propose
workshops in cnf, poetry, or fiction. This includes various genres of commercial fiction.
We do welcome generative workshop proposals, but we are mainly interested in sessions
to provide feedback for our local working writers.
Note: There will be a stipend (amount TBD) for teaching these workshops, because advance
reading will be required, and providing ample commentary is expected.
