A National Book Award finalist and a poet credited with inventing the demi-sonnet headline this summer’s West Virginia Writers’ Workshop. The workshop, in its 25th year, will be held in person on WVU’s downtown campus and via Zoom from July 21-24.
Novelist Patricia Henley, a finalist for both the National Book Award and The New Yorker Fiction Prize for her novel Hummingbird House, and Erin Murphy, who has published ten collections of poetry, will give craft talks and readings and facilitate discussions of participants’ work. Henley is also the author of In the River Sweet, a novel, and four collections of stories; Murphy’s demi-sonnet features seven lines of various lengths and ends with an internal full or slant rhyme. Her fourth book of poems, Word Problems, is a collection of demi-sonnets.
The workshop’s director, Mark Brazaitis is a WVU professor of English and coordinator of the university’s Creative Writing Program, will also be on the faculty. He is the author of two novels, a book of poems, and five collections of short stories, including The Incurables, winner of the 2012 Richard Sullivan Prize and the 2013 Devil’s Kitchen Reading Award in Prose.
Registration is now available for writers at any stage of their career who are interested in the opportunity to improve their craft in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
“This is a great opportunity for writers in our community—and from all over the country—to work with outstanding professional writers,” Brazaitis said. “Anyone with an interest in creative writing—poetry, fiction, and nonfiction—is encouraged to sign up. No experience necessary. Beginners are welcome.”
Participants work with nationally and internationally acclaimed authors in classes of no more than 14 students. In addition, the workshop features readings, craft talks, writing exercises, and a publishing panel. The workshop’s tuition is priced to be affordable.
For more information, contact Mark Brazaitis at 304-276-8846 or Mark.Brazaitis@mail.wvu.edu or go to the West Virginia Writers’ Workshop website.