The 5th Annual Lewes Creative Artists’Conference

Saturday, August 18, 2012  at the

Lewes Public Library 

Sponsored by:

 The Lewes Public Library, The National League of American Pen Women, Diamond State Branch, The Delaware Division of Libraries, The Delaware Division of the Arts, and The Rehoboth Beach Writers Guild.

This conference is FREE, but if you would like to make a donation to help defray conference expenses, click on the "Donate Now" button below and type "Conference" in the designation block. Thank You!

Please click the following  links for: 

Registration Form

Workshop Presenter Biographies 

Schedule

SESSION I - Select One

9:00 – 10:55 a.m.

A. “Finding the Real Story Behind the Person”

      Victor Greto (Room 1)

In this workshop we will examine various techniques journalists use to discover the person behind the persona in a profile or a good feature story; how one decides where to begin, and how to use "color" or details to illustrate the life of the person.  You may use these techniques on yourself: discover anew what your dreams were and are now, why they may have changed, and what this says about your mature self.  What was the turning point in your life or in another person's life and how did this determine who you are and shift your understanding of the world?  We will go over interview techniques (self or other) to understand that the role of writing, regardless of genre, is to communicate the truth or reality of the subject - not showcase the writer's style.  In fact, just as we do when we relate a story orally, it's about the story, not the teller, the craft not the celebrity.

B. “Collage: Visualizing Words as Art”

     Trina Gardner  (Room 2)

Participants in the workshop will use a phrase or even a single word to create a one-of-a-kind original collage.  Led by nationally known visual artist and author, Trina Gardner, participants will receive step-by-step instructions that will have them exploring connections and seeing art in a whole new and exciting way.  Please bring scissors, glue stick, and two magazines or more.  Additional materials will be supplied.  For any questions about the workshop, please email Trina Gardner trinag2@verizon.net.

C. “The Art of Non-Fiction”  

      Richard Peabody  (Delaware Room)

 Prospective participants are asked to submit one non-fiction essay or story, maximum 1,500 words, double-spaced, by July 15, rchrdpeabody9@gmail.com.  Notification of acceptance into the workshop will arrive via email August 1, or before.  If accepted, participants will be asked to email their essay to fellow workshop members for courteous and (hopefully) helpful comments that point to revision and, ultimately, publication.  *Workshop is limited to eight participants.

SESSION II

11:00 – 12:50

A. “What Writers of All Kinds can Learn From Tomas Transtromer, Nobel Laureate in Poetry, 2011”

      Jeanne Walker (Room 2)     

This is an introduction to the master poet, Tomas Transtromer.  Through his work, we will examine the importance of looking at the world with wide-open eyes to make connections in often unique and often surprising ways.  To him, "Poetry is the intent to make a sudden connection between aspects of reality that conventional languages and outlooks ordinarily keep apart.  Large and small details of landscape meet, decided cultures and people flow together in a work of art....What looks like a confrontation turns out to be a connection." This workshop is for emerging and professional poets as well as anyone who loves the art of writing at its best.

B. “Shattering Time: Alternate Structures for the Memoir, Personal Essay, and Journal Writing”

      Maribeth Fischer (Room 2)

One of the biggest difficulties for those writing memoir or personal essays is how to structure the enormous wealth of material.  Typically writers "begin at the beginning" and move chronologically through time, adhering to the order of events as they happened.  Often, though, this chronological time line creates the organizational problems that so overwhelm the writer.  It is also this "sticking to chronology" that often makes it difficult for those who journal to take their writing to the next level, developing their raw emotions, insights and experiences into compelling prose designed for a more public audience.  In this discussion, award winning essayist, Maribeth Fischer, will present a number of unique, fun, alternatives to the chronological time line -along with examples - that will infuse new life - and structure - into the traditional essay or memoir.

C. "Feature Writing Workshop"

      Victor Greto  (Delaware Room)

This workshop builds off the notion that every good story is grounded in good reporting, fact-finding, and storytelling.  Prospective participants are asked to submit one feature story, maximum 1,500 words, double-spaced, by July 15, to vgreto@verizon.net.  Notification of acceptance into the workshop will arrive via email August 1, or before.  If accepted, participants will be asked to email their story to fellow workshop members for courteous, and (hopefully) helpful comments that point to revision, and, ultimately, publication.

* Workshop is limited to eight participants.

 LUNCHTIME:  See Registration Form for lunchtime options

1:00- 1:55 PM  

 “Division Grants and Opportunities for Artists - Step by Step”

Kristin Pleasanton, Art & Artist Services Coordinator, DE Division of the Arts  (Room 1)

A short session full of useful information about The Delaware Division of the Arts funding opportunities available to help Delaware artists create, share and grow.  The Division is the one-stop resource to do all these things and more.  This session will provide an overview of the services available to artists, including who's eligible and what's involved in the application processes.  All services are free, and there is no application fee for any grants and marketing vehicles.  Learn how much the Division has to offer you and how easy it is to participate.

Division Arts Roster - What Is It and What Can it Do For You?

Terry Plummer, a Program Manager, Delaware Division of the Arts (Room 1)

Part two of the DDOA session provides more useful information from the Delaware Division of the Arts.  This time the focus is on everything every creative artist needs to know about the Delaware Arts Roster.

Going Local: The Broadkill Review, Dogfish Head Poetry Prize, and John Milton Poetry Festival, plus more.

Linda Blaskey, poetry editor, The Broadkill Review (Room 2)

An information session that answers the frequently asked question: When does submitting work locally make good sense?

SESSION III – Select One

2:00 – 3:55 p.m.

A. "Non-fiction"

     Richard Peabody (Room 1)

In this session we will discuss how to use some of the elements of poetry (for instance, incantation, extended metaphor, and lyricism) in the crafting of non-fiction - from satire to personal and literary essays.  We will also examine a few classic non-fiction pieces to pinpoint what about the content or writing makes them "history worthy," as well as do a few writing exercises guaranteed to help you enhance the poetry of your prose.

B. "Nature Writing”

     McKay Jenkins (Room 2)

  In this workshop we will explore some of the ways we have come to understand our relationship with the natural world.  How we have honored, cherished, degraded and exploited the land around us and the cultures and creatures that live there.  How we have used mythology and science and religion for insight into animals and people and landscapes we have often only poorly understood.  Participants will be encouraged to think about ways to write about their own relationships to the land in rich and meaningful ways.  Workshop includes a brief writing exercise based on a place you find particularly indelible.

C. "Poetry Writing"

      Jeanne Walker (Delaware Room)

This will be run as a writing workshop in which we read and comment on the poetry of workshop participants.  Prospective participants are asked to submit two poems by July 15 to Jeanne Walker, jwalker@udel.edu.  Notificiation of acceptance into the workshop will arrive via email August 1, or before.  If accepted, participants will be asked to email one of their poems to fellow workshop members for comments that point to revision and, ultimately, publication. * Workshop is limited to eight participants

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This program is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.