Writers Conference

The Writers Conference
at the
AJC Decatur Book Festival
September 1 – 2, 2007

Presented by The Duck & Herring Co. and Agnes Scott College
Schedule of Events

 

* All panels and workshops are free. However, for WORKSHOPS ONLY please email jamie@decaturbookfestival.com to reserve your place. Space is limited.

** All panels and workshop check-in will be held on the Terrace Level of Evans Dining Hall at the Agnes Scott College campus in Decatur. 

 

GRAND OPENING:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Letitia Pate Evans Hall (Evans Dining Hall) Terrace Level Lobby

8:30 – 9a
Meet & Greet and Opening of Writers Conference @ the Decatur Book Festival

 

CONFERENCE PANELS:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Letitia Pate Evans Hall (Evans Dining Hall) Terrace Level, Room ABC

9 – 9:50a
After the Writing
In which we discuss the journey of your finished manuscript, from editor to publicist to best-seller list, and what new responsibilities writers will encounter along the way.
Hollis Gillespie
Sarah Reidy, Soho Press

10 – 10:50a
The Sort of Famous Me
Writers and editors talk about the alter ego they are generating through their blogs, MySpace pages, and traditional publicity. A primer on how to build your fame and your audience.
Hollis Gillespie
Sheri Joseph
Amanda Stern

11 – 11:50a
How to Break into Hollywood Screenwriting
Jeffrey Stepakoff, a writer and producer for shoes like “The Wonder Years” and “Dawson’s Creek” and the author of Billion Dollar Kiss, talks about writing for the Hollywood screen – from a home base in the Atlanta area.
Jeffrey Stepakoff

11 – 11:50p
Poetry and Performance
In which poets examine the relationship between writing and performing, and discuss aspects of taking work from the page to the stage, from knowing when –– or if –– a poem is ready to perform, to finding potential venues and dealing with stage fright.
Kodac Harrison
Chelsea Rathburn
Patricia Smith

∞

12 – 1p
Lunch, with Banjo Entertainment in the Courtyard (Woodruff Quadrangle)

∞

1 – 1:50p
The New New New New Thing in Short Fiction
In which editors and writers talk about the short story marketplace, whether or not there really is a "new" thing going on, post-postmodern styles, online fiction vs. academic journals, favorite stories and writers, and anything else they can think of.
James Iredell
Marc Smirnoff
John Warner
Megan Sexton
Aaron Petrovich

2 – 2:50p
House Party
In which Lain Shakespeare of the Wren’s Nest and Julie Bookman of the Margaret Mitchell House talk about some of the crazy promotional events and readings they’ve put on at their museums – a noble effort to compete against short-attention-span media, invigorate Atlanta’s literary community, and draw attention to their historical, nonprofit landmarks.
Lain Shakespeare
Julie Bookman

5 – 6p
Writing, The Game Show
In which writers and editors share their wisdom on the topic through the completely awkward vehicle of a “Hollywood Squares”-like game show.
John Warner
Jeffrey Stepakoff
Hollis Gillespie
Amanda Stern

 

ADULT WORKSHOPS:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Letitia Pate Evans Hall (Evans Dining Hall)

Meeting Room 4

1 – 2:50p
How to Get Started in Comics
In which TopShelf Comix’s Robert Venditti, author of the critically acclaimed graphic novel The Surrogates, talks about the artistry, production, and business of comics and tells his own story of how he got started.
Robert Venditti

3 – 4:50p

How to Lie Effectively

In which novelist David L. Robbins tells workshoppers how (and why) they should bend the truth in historical fiction.
David L. Robbins

Meeting Room 3

3 – 4:50p
Humor Writing
In which John Warner, the editor of McSweeneys.net and founder of TOW Books, reveals the inside secrets to making people laugh, guffaw, chuckle, giggle and crack up at the written word.
John Warner

 

Meeting Room 1-2

3 – 4:50p
Shocking Real-Life Writing
In which Hollis Gillespie, Atlanta’s best-selling memoirist (Bleachy-Haired Honky Bitch), brings her Shocking Real-Life Writing Academy to shocked and awed workshoppers at the Writers Conference.
Hollis Gillespie

 

South Dining Room (upstairs on Main Floor near servery)

3 – 4:50p
Happy Ending
In which novelist Amanda Stern (The Long Haul), curator of the Happy Ending Reading and Music Series in Brooklyn, coaches workshoppers to write something, then present it, then do something they’ve never done before in front of a crowd. A great primer on getting comfortable with readings and performances.
Amanda Stern

 

TEEN WORKSHOPS:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Alston Campus Center,

Room 205

10 – 11:50a
Poetry Workshop
A poetry workshop tag-teamed by real poets, for the teenage Shakespeare in your family.
Travis Denton
Katie Chaple

1 – 2:50p
Writing for Digital Media
In which Jeffrey Stepakoff, writer for shows like “Dawson’s Creek” and “The Wonder Years,” as well as the author of Billion Dollar Kiss, talks to teens about the brave new world of digital media, and how to write for it.
Jeffrey Stepakoff

Room 206

10 – 11:50a
Magic Journalism
In which author Chuck Rosenthal (The Heart of Mars, Loop’s Progress), who has stalked the Yeti in India and aliens in California, talks to teens about making unbelievable stories believable.
Chuck Rosenthal

 

1:30 – 3:20p
Conflict Resolution
In which the South Carolina author of Drowning in Gruel and These People Are Us, who has won the Scholastic National Writing Portfolio Teacher of the Year four times, teaches teens how to build conflict in their story, and do it right off the bat, or else. Pen and paper should be brought by all attendees.
George Singleton

 

EXTRAS:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Twain’s – Downtown Decatur

8p – ?
Writers Conference Free-For-All
In which attendees witness the sure-to-be-legendary debut performance of the Alt-Rock Bottom Remainders – a direct response to the popular Rock Bottom Remainders that often play book festivals and conferences. Also, Table Shuffleboard Championship, and a Beer-Naming Contest sponsored by Twain’s.

FREE ENTRY

 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Wahoo – A Decatur Grill

10:30a – Noon
Sunday Brunch With … Sonny Brewer
Sonny Brewer, editor of the anthology Stories From the Blue Moon Cafe, out each fall from MacAdam/Cage, and author of The Poet of Tolstoy Park, chats about writing, editing, the South, and more.
$15
RESERVATION REQUIRED