The University of Tennessee at Martin is opening its doors to young literary minds for the 19th iteration of the Young Writers Conference, as detailed by UTM News. Scheduled for November 7, from early morning at 8:30 a.m. until the afternoon at 3 p.m., the event will be held at the university's Boling University Center, welcoming students from grades 9-12 and their educators.
For those wishing to delve into the literary arts through this event, the clock is ticking. Registration closes Oct. 24, and each student participant is expected to contribute a $10 fee, while teachers are granted complimentary access. Interested parties can find payment options at the provided tinyurl link, and additional sign-up details can be secured by reaching out to the conference coordinator, Dr. Maari Carter, at her email [email protected] or via telephone at 731-881-7288.
Since its inception in 2006, with the one exception being the year 2020, this annual gathering has aimed to ignite a passion for reading and writing among young adults, a goal it continues to pursue through workshops and collaborative, creative experiences. The conference beams with a packed agenda that encompasses hands-on workshops in diverse writing forms, including but not limited to poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and songwriting, all under the guidance of the UT Martin faculty and guest literary figures.
James E. Cherry, a seasoned writer with an international publication portfolio and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at El Paso, will be offering his insights at the conference as the keynote speaker, according to the conference details, he boasts a rich background that includes founding the Jazz Foundation of West Tennessee, underpinning his commitment to Jazz and Blues music. For educators, there is the prospect of attending these sessions side by side with their students, enriching their own teaching methodologies with fresh, first-hand poetic and narrative techniques.
Further information about the UT Martin Department of English and Modern Foreign Languages, the entity behind this literary fest, can be found by visiting their website at www.utm.edu/emfl, or by contacting Dr. Jeffery Longacre at his email [email protected] or by phone at 731-881-7300. The Young Writers Conference continues to represent a valuable opportunity for budding writers to refine their craft and for teachers to discover innovative approaches to inspire the next generation of wordsmiths.
