Summer Writers’ Conference Hosts Record Number of Attendees
The 13th annual Northwestern University Summer Writers’ Conference, which took place from August 17-19 on Northwestern’s Chicago campus, hosted a record number of attendees. The three-day festivities boasted an all-star lineup of faculty who led a series of workshops, panels, keynotes, and literary readings.
Northwestern Distinguished Writer in Residence Stuart Dybek kicked off the conference with Thursday’s keynote address, “A Kiss Crosses the City,” in which he discussed writing about place, the esotericism of Chicago literature, and how to bring life to everyday settings. Dybek answered questions from a packed crowd before attendees dispersed for afternoon workshops. While responding to a question about interpreting literature, Dybek told the audience, “There is no closer collaboration in the arts than between a writer and reader.”
Thursday’s afternoon panels included discussions on digital storytelling and strategies for finding grants, fellowships, and residencies. After a lively cocktail reception, the University’s MA/MFA in Creative Writing program hosted an evening reading with distinguished faculty members Ed Roberson and Megan Stielstra, along with recent graduates Ignatius Aloysius, Alex Higley, Patricia Crisafulli, Cara Suglich, and Jeremy Wilson.
Friday workshops included craft lessons from Whiting Award winner Vu Tran, Eric Charles May, S.L. Wisenberg, Krista Franklin, and Laurie Lawlor, among others. The keynote was an animated and humorous conversation between three of Chicago’s live lit legends: Ines Bellina, Parneshia Jones, and Megan Stielstra. The trio discussed writing across genres, performing for various audiences, and how live lit has contributed to their artistic careers.
Northwestern’s prestigious literary journal, TriQuarterly, hosted an evening reading with past contributors Bonnie Nadzam, Paula Carter, Ruben Quesada, Kelley Clink, Jorge Sanchez, Allain Daigle, A.D. Naumann, and Angela Jackson. A Poetry Society of America’s Shelley Memorial Award and American Book Award winner, Jackson’s reading, a section of a novel prologue originally published in Issue 151 of TriQuarterly, in particular left the crowd in awe.
The conference’s final day included workshops from Jac Jemc, Kathleen Rooney, and Kevin Coval, and panel discussions on the rise of indie presses and travel writing. You’re Being Ridiculous, a Chicago-based live lit series in which writers tell true stories, was performed as Saturday’s keynote performance, and included host Jeremy Owens with writers Ines Bellina, Adrienne Gunn, Andrew Marikis, and Ashley Ray-Harris.
The conference concluded with readings from acclaimed local poet Kevin Coval and guests Antwon “Lord” Funches, Patricia Frazier, and E’mon Lauren. Coval, who is the artistic director of Young Chicago Authors, read from his new collection, A People’s History of Chicago.