Schedule of Events / June 26, 27, 28, 2009

New Letters Weekend Writers Conference

Except for Abreakout sessions,@ all students attend all events.

Friday, June 26 B Evening at UMKC’s University Center

  5:30 p.m.       Registration & Reception:  Staff

   6:00 p.m.      Orientation & Introductions:  Robert Stewart, Conference Director

   7:00 p.m.      Welcoming Remarks:  Dr. Margaret Brommelsiek, Chief of Staff for the Chancellor

                        Keynote Lecture:  Robert Olen Butler, “How to Be a Literary Artist”

Saturday, June 27 B Diastole House (in the Kiva unless otherwise noted)

   8:00 - 8:50 a.m.     Light breakfast option, with coffee & juice (Sun Room).

   9:00 - 9:15 a.m.     Robert Stewart, “Take This Joy Seriously.”

   9:15 - 10:00 a.m.   Trish Reeves, “Metaphor as Hod Carrier.”

* short break *

   10:10 – 10:50 p.m.  Matthew Eck, “Can You Make It Weirder?”

   11:00 – 12:00 p.m.  Robert Olen Butler, Your Chance for Q&A, and more.

                                      12:00 - 12:55  p.m., Lunch provided, conversation, conferences.

   1:00 - 2:15 p.m.    Loring Leifer, “The Architecture of Information: Building to Engage Readers”; and

                  Debra Di Blasi, “Having a Great Time. Wish You Were Here.”

   2:30 - 3:10 p.m.   Stanley E. Banks, “Dysfunctioning in the World as a Poet.”                  

   3:20 - 4:20 p.m.   Stage & Screen Writing: Frank Higgins & Mitch Brian, “No Structure, No Story”

                                    and “Emotional Centers – Inside and Out.”

   4:20 - 5:00 p.m.   Breakout Sessions:  “Making the Work” –

Fiction:  Browder & Eck (Khayyam Room)

Poetry:  Banks & Reeves (Captain’s Room)

Nonfiction:  Di Blasi & Leifer (Upstairs Library)

Stage/Screen:  Brian & Higgins (Kiva)

   5:00 - 5:45 p.m.    Manuscript conferences & conversation.

Sunday, June 28 B Diastole House (in the Kiva unless otherwise noted)

  9:00 - 9:50 a.m.     Light breakfast option, with coffee & juice (Sun Room).

  10:00 - 10:40 a.m.  Hadara Bar-Nadav, “How to Make a Book Sing: Reviewing the Book”

  10:50 - 12:00 a.m.  Faculty Group, “Habits of Mind: Tactics for Facing Fears, Making Work.”

12:00 – 12:50 p.m., Luncheon provided, conversation and conferences.

  1:00 – 1:40 p.m.    Catherine Browder, “The Wayfaring Imagination: Writing What You Don’t Know

About What You Do.”

  1:40 – 2:20 p.m.    Robert Trussell, “Finding the Context: Challenge of Deadline Reviewing.”

  2:30 – 3:10 p.m.    The Entire Faculty: “The Writer/Editor Connection -- Placing Your

Work for Publication: Advice and Answers.”

* short break

  3:20 – 4:10 p.m.    Mitch Brian & Frank Higgins:  “Dramatic Road Maps – On Track or Off Road?”

and “Word & Image for the Stage and Screen.”

  4:10 – 5:00 p.m.     Workshop Sessions: 

            Stage/Screen:  Higgins & Brian (Kiva);

            Fiction:  Browder & Eck (the Khayyam Room);

            Poetry:  Banks & Reeves (Captain’s Room);

            Nonfiction:  Leifer & Di Blasi (Upstairs Library).

   5:00 - 5:45 p.m.   Consultations and conversations.