Registration opens:
for continuing students, April 6; for visiting students,
April 27; for noncredit students, call 235-2736. Summer Writing Conferences
2009
Writing
for Love, Money, & Immortality
-- June 26 - 28, 2009
--
The New
LettersWeekend
Writers Conference
WHAT
TO EXPECT
You’ll experience a whirlwind weekend of writing, coached
by true professionals, conducted in a gorgeous city venue.
This conference focuses on your writing--the craft and
magic of writing well. You will be exposed to many genres of writing, as well as
attend workshops in your chosen genre. You’ll hear about
marketing your work and the opportunities and obstacles of
a successful writing career.
ENROLL IN YOUR CHOICE:
(Details below)
one credit hour
(English 438, section 0001)
two or three
credit hours (English 438, section 0002)
The conference begins at 5:30 p.m., Friday,
June 26, 2009, with a welcoming reception in room 106 of the
University Center on the UMKC campus (confees and spouses
only, 5000 Holmes, Kansas
City, Mo.) and keynote lecture in nearby Pierson Auditorium
(lecture open to the public, free).
On Saturday morning, the conference will continue at Diastole,
2501 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo., the beautiful UMKC
scholars center donated by Mary Clark and Dr. E. Grey Dimond.
2009 Keynote Speaker & Guest Writer
Robert Olen Butler
Pulitzer
Prize for Fiction,
two National Magazine Awards, &
author of acclaimed text on the art of writing.
recent faculty
Frank Higgins (stage) & Mitch Brian (screen)
Loring Leifer & Debra Di Blasi (articles)
Trish Reeves & Stanley
E. Banks (poetry)
Catherine Browder & Christie Hodgen (fiction)
Steve Paul (publishing)
Donna Martin (editing) Robert Stewart
(director & nonfiction)
"Thank you for a wonderful
conference. I appre-ciated the mix of
discussion about writing as a craft, along with
writing as a business. The Diastole was a
perfect location. I look forward to
attending another New Letters
conference."
--Attendee from out of town,
2008.
Detailed conference schedules for Saturday (9 a.m. to 5:30
p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) will
be available closer to the conference dates. Please check back then.
A Continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be served on both
Saturday and Sunday. A detailed schedule and map to Diastole will be
provided upon registration.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Out-of-town participants can request a
list of the many hotels convenient to Diastole.
One credit students register for
English 438,
section 0001, class #33857
Two to three
credit-hour option is available in English 438, section 0002,
class #33858, by consent of instructor. Consent required.
Click here.
To register, print and mail the attached
form or fax
to (816) 235-5279; or register by phone at
(816) 235-2736. Speech or hearing-impaired people can use
Relay Missouri (800) 753-2966 (TT) or (800) 753-2466
(voice). On-site check-in begins at 6 p.m. Friday,
June 26, in room 106 of UMKC's University Center (5000
Holmes, Kansas City, Mo.), prior to Robert Olen Butler's
keynote lecture in Pierson Auditorium. Non-credit students may also
check in at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, June 27, at Diastole.
FEES (Credit) for
2008
(Fees could change slightly
for 2009.) Regular summer fees will be assessed: $245.60 per hour for
undergraduates, $298.70 per hour for graduates. Students
selecting two or more credit hours will arrange a
supplemental tutorial with the conference director. Credit
registration and fees must be received before the
conference begins.
Out-of-state tuition is waved. Credit
students receive grades based on participation, plus
submitted and revised manuscripts and other assignments. Students must prepare
manuscripts prior to the conference (see below).
FEES (Non-credit) for
2008
Non-credit conference cost is $149.00 for attendance at
all sessions, readings and receptions. Non-credit students
electing the optional manuscript evaluation pay an
additional $50 per manuscript.
INCIDENTAL (all participants)
A $35 incidental fee must be paid by all participants, in addition to credit
fees; this defrays the cost of instructional materials and
helps cover miscellaneous restorative amenities for all
enrollees.
REFUND/CANCELLATION
You will receive a full refund if we’re notified by
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009. After that, a $50 charge is retained. No refunds after
the conference begins. The sponsors reserve the right to
cancel the program if enrollment is insufficient, in which
case all paid registrants will receive a full refund. For
information, call (816) 235-2736.
MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION
Professional, private consultation on manuscripts is
required for one, two, or three credit-hour students.
This private evaluation is included in the tuition fee
for credit students. Noncredit students can elect
to have a private manuscript consultation for an
optional $50 fee.
Manuscripts should be either six to eight pages of poems
(no more than one poem per page), one short story, one essay, one novel
chapter, or one act of a stage or screenplay--choose one
genre only; do not mix them up. This
initial manuscript must be
received by Tuesday,
June 16th, to
assure a consultation during
the conference. Manuscripts received
later will be handled as expeditiously as possible.
Send or deliver clear copies, in hardcopy (no e-mails or
faxes), clearly marked to New Letters Conference, University House, 5101 Rockhill Road, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas
City,
MO 64110-2499.
STRUCTURE AND CHECKLIST
A checklist of conveniently listed required work and texts
will be provided to paid registrants prior to the
conference, from the Arts and Sciences office of
Continuing Education. Two and three credit
students receive required, post-conference tutorials,
arranged by the conference director.
The 30th-Annual
Mark Twain Creative Writing Workshop
3 hours a day, 3 weeks, 3 credit
hours
June
8 - 26, 2009
ENROLL TWO WAYS:
●
The course number of your choice, in fiction or
poetry (see below), or
● noncredit (contact A&S
Continuing Education, (816) 235-2736).
INTENSIVE INSTRUCTION IN
GUEST SPEAKERS FOR 2008
Writing poetry, fiction, nonfiction
● Laura
Moriarty ● Mitch Brian
●
Clancy Martin ●
Christie Hodgen
●
Hadara Bar-Nadav ● Michelle Boisseau
● Jack Fuller ● Angela Elam
● Greg Michalson ●
AND MORE.
Keeping a journal
Television & movie scriptwriting
Teaching creative writing
Submitting & placing your work
THE FACULTY
Your instructors at the 30th-annual Mark Twain Creative
Writing Workshop will be Robert Stewart, assistant
research professor of English, editor of New Letters, an
international literary magazine, and a professional writer,
and Michael Pritchett, assistant professor of English. The supplemental guest faculty includes published poets,
fiction writers, essayists, script writers and
journalists—all professional writers and experienced
writing coaches.
SCHEDULE & LOCATION
The workshop runs
from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. daily, in room 104
Cockefair Hall (Rockhill Road and 52nd Street).
Usually the first session includes the entire group for
faculty and guest presentations, the second session
breakout workshops, and the third session question and
answers. The full schedule will become available
at the workshop. Sample
Workshop Schedule.
COURSE OPTIONS
The Workshop may be taken for noncredit or for three hours
of undergraduate or graduate credit. Regular tuition rates apply
for credit students; those students can choose from any
of the following course/reference numbers:
FICTION:
POETRY:
Eng 312 - Creative Writing
Eng 432 - Advanced Creative Writing
Eng 5550K- Graduate Seminar
Eng 5591 - TBA
Eng 315 - Creative Writing
Eng 435 - Advanced Creative Writing
Eng 5555K - Graduate Seminar
Eng 5591 - TBA
A non-credit option ($424.49
same as in 2008) for 2009 is available and encouraged,
and is easily arranged by calling Continuing Education
at (816) 235-2736. All
students do some work in all genres—poetry, fiction,
nonfiction, TV/movie scriptwriting.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Regular attendance of lectures, workshops, and appropriate
individual conferences; and the successful preparation of
a portfolio of work. The portfolio is due approximately
two weeks after the end of the workshop.
FINANCIAL AID
Limited financial aid is available.
Students receiving financial aid may include the Workshop
in their credit load. Contact Robert Stewart at New Letters,
816-235-1168.
Details of financial
aid.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
about registration, accommodations &
cost, call the New Letters office at
816-235-1168, or the English Department at 235-1305.
about course content, call Robert Stewart at 235-2610,
Michael Pritchett at 235-2765, or
Betsy Beasley at 235-1168.
KCUR-FM co-sponsor
