Last month, we welcomed several local authors, as well as all of the emerging writers in our community, for a series of outdoor, socially distanced events. It was wonderful to gather in person to discuss the craft of writing and to meet some tremendous authors. We are so grateful to our partners at Carlyle House, and we look forward to more safe in-person events in the new year! Our October Emerging Writers Festival Fall Mini-Series featured in-depth writing conversation from engaging authors across various genres.

How to Write: Real People | Amy Argetsinger kicked the series off with a discussion of her new book There She Was: The Secret History of Miss America. At the event, Amy discussed the research and reporting process for her book, as well as what she learned about the ethics, complications, and rewards of telling real life history.

How to Write: About Love | Local romance novelist Charis Michaels shared all of her tips and tricks for writing a romance novel—and getting it published. The interactive workshop covered everything from the high-concept idea, to plotting outline, to a daily writing schedule.

How to Write: Your First Book | Two debut novelists, Vera Kurian and Eric Nguyen, discussed their very different paths toward creating, building and publishing their first novels. Vera also read from Never Saw Me Coming, while Eric shared from Things We Lost to the Water. 

How to Write: Through Grief | In conversation with fellow journalist Wesley Lowery, Kat Chow discussed her memoir Seeing Ghosts. She talked about how she approached writing her family history, the hardest part of turning the lens toward herself for the first time, and why she doesn’t think of the book as a “grief memoir.”

Please note: the series concludes with one more bonus event: How to Write: About Pop Culture with Nichole Perkins will take place virtually on November 10th at 7 pm EST.

Lastly, we also took advantage of the perfect weather for a fall gathering of Prompts in the Park. Writers, book lovers, and local publishers met for coffee, cider donuts, and a morning of writing, creativity, and conversation. Stay connected with the latest news and event updates by signing up for our email list below.

Blog contribution by Hannah Oppermann
Edited by Jackie Brekke