IU Writers' Conference takes place this weekend

Twelve nationally celebrated writers will congregate in Bloomington June 21 for a week of readings, classes and workshops. The IU Writers' Conference is the second oldest writers conference in the United States, created to support and promote the advancement of creative writing in the Midwest. \nIn past years, renowned authors such as Gwendolyn Brooks, John Crowe Ransom, Madeleine L'Engle and Raymond Carver have attended the conference. The conference is held in high respect by much of the literary community, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr. has been quoted as describing it as "the most respectable writers' conference that I know of." \nThe conference attracts distinguished writers who are capable teachers as well. This year's guests are writers of fiction, poetry, plays, prose and creative nonfiction, including Aimee Bender, Marilyn Chin, Alison Hawthorne Deming, A. Loudermilk, Achy Obejas, Elizabeth Dewberry, Amy Locklin, David Wright, Kevin Young, Clint McCown, Brenda Hillman and Robert Olen Butler.\nLocklin, director of the conference, said that when selecting faculty for the conference they try to "balance old and new voices, look for a range of writing styles and create a diverse group."\nWright, who is participating as a faculty member for the first time this year, said he is excited about the upcoming program. \n"It is this sort of interaction with peers that is so rewarding and happens too infrequently," he said.\nApproximately 100 participants attend the conference, in which writers of all levels are invited to apply. "We value discovering writers as much as established or experienced writers," Locklin said. \nRobin Becht, a participant in last year's conference, said it was "definitely the best week of my summer. The participants were really excited about being there and learning from each other. The writers' enthusiasm was actually infectious, just to try new things."\nDuring the day, workshops and classes will take place. Poetry workshops will be taught by Chin, Hillman and Young, Ruth Lilly Professor of Poetry at IU. Fiction workshops will be taught by Bender, Butler and Obejas. The creative nonfiction workshop will be taught by Deming. \nFive different classes will be offered during the course of the week. For the first time, Dewberry will teach a class entitled "Writing the Ten-Minute Play: A Workshop, with Insights on Writing Longer Plays." "Point of View Across Genres" will be taught by Locklin. "Everyday Poetry: Daily Life in Poetry and Poetry in Our Daily Lives" will be taught by Loudermilk. "Setting as a Central Character" will be taught by McCown. David Wright will teach "'Inventing the Truth': Discussions About the Creation of Creative Nonfiction." \nBoth the playwriting and the creative nonfiction classes are being offered between 4 and 6 p.m. so they may be available to people with daytime commitments.\nFree public readings will be offered every night between Sunday and June 26. These readings begin at 8 p.m. in the Whittenberger Auditorium in the IMU and will be followed with a reception in the University Club.\nApplications for the conference still are being accepted. Visit www.indiana.edu/~writecon for further information as well as information on registration.