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Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing
Conference Schedule, Friday, Feb 21, 2020
Featuring over 50 craft talks, workshops, panels, and presentations, the Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference is eclectic, balanced, and diverse, providing comprehensive coverage of the creative writing field.
To find sessions on Friday, keep reading.
You can also find conference sessions on Saturday, find advanced workshops on Thursday, or view the full schedule for this year.
To learn more about the conference, you can meet our faculty or register for the conference today!
Find Sessions on Friday, February 21
Friday, February 21, 2020, 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., Carson Ballroom, Old Main
Ceremony, Social;
Ceremony, Social;
Creative Writing is Queer
Cathy Linh Che, Piper J Daniels, Kay Ulanday Barrett, Raquel Gutiérrez
Cathy Linh Che, Piper J Daniels, Kay Ulanday Barrett, Raquel Gutiérrez
Friday, February 21, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Carson Ballroom, Old Main
Panel; LGBTQIA, Mixed Genre, Sexuality
Panel; LGBTQIA, Mixed Genre, Sexuality
Friday, February 21, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Heritage, University Club
Generative Workshop, Presentation; Creative Nonfiction, Memoir
Generative Workshop, Presentation; Creative Nonfiction, Memoir
Friday, February 21, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Traditions, University Club
Generative Workshop, Workshop; Fiction, Short Stories
Generative Workshop, Workshop; Fiction, Short Stories
Poetry and its Translation: Tiawanaku’s Approach to Pluricultural Poetics
Ilana Luna, Judith Santopietro
Ilana Luna, Judith Santopietro
Friday, February 21, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Thoren, University Club
Conversation, Discussion, Panel, Presentation, Reading, Talk; Feminism, Latin American, Latinx, Poetry, Translation, Women's Studies, World Literature
Conversation, Discussion, Panel, Presentation, Reading, Talk; Feminism, Latin American, Latinx, Poetry, Translation, Women's Studies, World Literature
Magical Realism
Alberto Álvaro Ríos
Alberto Álvaro Ríos
Friday, February 21, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Basha, Old Main
Craft Talk, Presentation; Mixed Genre
Craft Talk, Presentation; Mixed Genre
Friday, February 21, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Tooker, Old Main
Presentation; Fiction, Romance
Presentation; Fiction, Romance
Friday, February 21, 2020, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., Tooker, Old Main
Lecture, Presentation, Seminar; Business of Writing, Creative Practice, Professional Development
Lecture, Presentation, Seminar; Business of Writing, Creative Practice, Professional Development
Panel: Making a Mystery
Shannon Baker, Dianne Freeman, Denise Ganley, Deborah J. Ledford, Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths
Shannon Baker, Dianne Freeman, Denise Ganley, Deborah J. Ledford, Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths
Friday, February 22, 2020, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., Thoren, University Club
Panel; Crime Fiction, Fiction, Mixed Genre, Mystery
Panel; Crime Fiction, Fiction, Mixed Genre, Mystery
Worldbuilding
Tracey Baptiste
Tracey Baptiste
Friday, February 21, 2020, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., Carson Ballroom, Old Main
Craft Talk, Presentation, Seminar; Fantasy, Fiction, Genre Fiction, Mixed Genre, Science Fiction
Craft Talk, Presentation, Seminar; Fantasy, Fiction, Genre Fiction, Mixed Genre, Science Fiction
Friday, February 21, 2020, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., Heritage, University Club
Craft Talk, Presentation; Poetry, Social Practice, Therapeutic Practice
Craft Talk, Presentation; Poetry, Social Practice, Therapeutic Practice
Suspending Damage in Fiction
Rogelio Juárez
Rogelio Juárez
Friday, February 21, 2020, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., Basha, Old Main
Conversation, Craft Talk, Discussion, Presentation; Fiction, Race, Sexuality
Conversation, Craft Talk, Discussion, Presentation; Fiction, Race, Sexuality
On Making the Sad Funny
Natalie Lima
Natalie Lima
Friday, February 21, 2020, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., Traditions, University Club
Craft Talk, Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Creative Nonfiction, Essays, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Personal Essays
Craft Talk, Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Creative Nonfiction, Essays, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Personal Essays
Friday, February 21, 2020, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Carson Ballroom, Old Main
Reading; Mixed Genre, Students
Reading; Mixed Genre, Students
Veterans Reading
Office for Veteran and Military and Academic Engagement
Office for Veteran and Military and Academic Engagement
Friday, February 21, 2020, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Heritage, University Club
Reading; Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Mixed Genre, Poetry
Reading; Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Mixed Genre, Poetry
Friday, February 21, 2020, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Carson Ballroom, Old Main
Reading; Mixed Genre
Reading; Mixed Genre
Friday, February 21, 2020, 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Basha, Old Main
Presentation; Business of Writing, Children's Books, Creative Nonfiction, Marketing, Memoir, Middle Grade, Publishing, Young Adult Literature
Presentation; Business of Writing, Children's Books, Creative Nonfiction, Marketing, Memoir, Middle Grade, Publishing, Young Adult Literature
Trigger Warning: Writing Trauma
Bill Konigsberg
Bill Konigsberg
Friday, February 21, 2020, 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Traditions, University Club
Conversation, Discussion, Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Creative Practice, Mixed Genre, Therapeutic Practice, Writing Practice, Writing Process
Conversation, Discussion, Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Creative Practice, Mixed Genre, Therapeutic Practice, Writing Practice, Writing Process
From Bed-Time Stories to Flashlights Under the Covers: Writing and Publishing in the Kid-Lit Market
Michael Hale, Sara Fujimura, Sharon Skinner
Michael Hale, Sara Fujimura, Sharon Skinner
Friday, February 21, 2020, 1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m., Tooker, Old Main
Panel; Children's Books, Marketing, Middle Grade, Publishing, Submitting, Young Adult Literature
Panel; Children's Books, Marketing, Middle Grade, Publishing, Submitting, Young Adult Literature
Fund Your Writing Passion
Vanessa Hua
Vanessa Hua
Friday, February 21, 2020, 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Carson Ballroom, Old Main
Presentation; Business of Writing, Professional Development
Presentation; Business of Writing, Professional Development
Everything is in Motion
Laura Tohe
Laura Tohe
Friday, February 21, 2020, 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Heritage, University Club
Craft Talk, Presentation; American Indian, Creative Nonfiction, Indigenous, Poetry
Craft Talk, Presentation; American Indian, Creative Nonfiction, Indigenous, Poetry
Secrets from Agents and Editors: Here's What to Know in Today's Publishing World
Rosemarie Dombrowski, Sally Ball, Kirby Kim
Rosemarie Dombrowski, Sally Ball, Kirby Kim
Friday, February 21, 2020, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Carson Ballroom, Old Main
Panel; Agents, Business of Writing, Editing, Publishing, Submitting
Panel; Agents, Business of Writing, Editing, Publishing, Submitting
Aligning Structure on Ecopoetics
Sherwin Bitsui
Sherwin Bitsui
Friday, February 21, 2020, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Heritage, University Club
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Experimental, Nature Writing, Poetry
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Experimental, Nature Writing, Poetry
Media (Mis)representation
Sean Avery
Sean Avery
Friday, February 21, 2020, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Thoren, University Club
Generative Workshop, Workshop; Poetry
Generative Workshop, Workshop; Poetry
The Body as Hybrid Host
Piper J Daniels
Piper J Daniels
Friday, February 21, 2020, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Basha, University Club
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Experimental, Fiction, Hybrid, Mixed Genre, Short Stories
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Experimental, Fiction, Hybrid, Mixed Genre, Short Stories
Friday, February 21, 2020, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Traditions, University Club
Craft Talk, Presentation; Fiction, Mixed Genre
Craft Talk, Presentation; Fiction, Mixed Genre
Friday, February 21, 2020, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tooker, Old Main
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Experimental, Poetry
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Experimental, Poetry
Friday, February 21, 2020, 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Heritage, University Club
Craft Talk, Presentation; Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Memoir, Poetry
Craft Talk, Presentation; Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Memoir, Poetry
Hey, I Know You! Building Strong Characters
Michael A Stackpole, Tracey Baptiste, Sarah MacLean, Cristina García, Jonathan Danielson
Michael A Stackpole, Tracey Baptiste, Sarah MacLean, Cristina García, Jonathan Danielson
Friday, February 21, 2020, 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Carson Ballroom, Old Main
Panel; Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Mixed Genre
Panel; Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Mixed Genre
Haunted Memoir: What Ghosts Reveal about Life
Bruce Owens Grimm
Bruce Owens Grimm
Friday, February 21, 2020, 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Thoren, University Club
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Creative Nonfiction, Essays, Horror, Memoir, Personal Essays
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Creative Nonfiction, Essays, Horror, Memoir, Personal Essays
Writing through Food
Susan Nguyen
Susan Nguyen
Friday, February 21, 2020, 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Basha, Old Main
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Memoir, Mixed Genre, Poetry, Short Stories
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Memoir, Mixed Genre, Poetry, Short Stories
Writing while Scared
Ivelisse Rodriguez
Ivelisse Rodriguez
Friday, February 21, 2020, 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Traditions, University Club
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Creative Practice, Writing Life, Writing Practice, Writing Process
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Creative Practice, Writing Life, Writing Practice, Writing Process
Human/Nonhuman
E E Hussey
E E Hussey
Friday, February 21, 2020, 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Tooker, Old Main
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Mixed Genre, Nature Writing, Science Fiction
Generative Workshop, Presentation, Workshop; Mixed Genre, Nature Writing, Science Fiction
Friday, February 21, 2020, 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Carson Ballroom, Old Main
Reception;
Reception;
Conference Keynote: The Third Way
Ingrid Rojas Contreras
Ingrid Rojas Contreras
Friday, February 21, 2020, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Carson Ballroom, Old Main
Keynote; Feminism, Gender, Mixed Genre, Women's Studies
Keynote; Feminism, Gender, Mixed Genre, Women's Studies