The Writing and Media Center is holding a series of virtual forums this spring that offer aspiring writers a chance to connect with a variety of published authors.
It's the first author series hosted by the center, though the plan is to continue them in coming semesters, said director Joseph Cheatle. It's another way the center can serve students while also engaging faculty, staff and the community, a growing focus for the center.
"We see these events as important opportunities to expand the conversation of writing on campus through unique and innovative speakers," Cheatle said. "They introduce the Writing and Media Center to key stakeholders while also providing valuable learning and interactive experiences."
The series also helps highlight the work of Iowa State writers across various disciplines. ISU faculty and staff are represented in each of the sessions, which cover poetry, novels and nonfiction.
Register online for the events. Here's the schedule and details:
- Nonfiction publishing panel, March 22 (4-5:30 p.m.) The panel includes Reiman Gardens director Ed Lyon (author of "Growing the Midwest Garden"), Maryland-based freelance writer Dara T. Mathis and Katharine A. Burnett, associate professor of English at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. Panelists will discuss writing book proposals, negotiating contracts and securing freelance assignments.
- "Allison Boyd Justus: An Afternoon of Poetry," April 9 (2-3 p.m.) Justus is a student in Iowa State's master of fine arts program in creative writing and environment, a graduate communication consultant at the Writing and Media Center, and the author of "Solstice to Solstice to Solstice: A Year of Sunrises in Poetry."
- "'Hey! That's My Book': Taking Your Writing from Distant Dream to Shelves," April 22 (7-8:30 p.m.) Assistant director of multicultural student affairs Denise Williams ("How to Fail at Flirting") and associate teaching professor in English Rachel Mans McKenny ("The Butterfly Effect") have both published novels. They'll take questions about fiction writing, finding time to write with a full-time job and family, and balancing creativity and business.
