“We Regret To Inform You: Dealing with Literary Rejection” with Laura Maylene Walter
Saturday, Nov. 15, 9-10:15am (Session C8)

Writers get rejected. It’s a fact of life, but it can still be difficult to swallow. In this session, we’ll examine literary rejection in all its glory by exploring actual rejections, including the famous, the funny, the crazy, and the bizarre. We’ll consider why literary rejection stings, break down the most common reasons for rejection, discuss the best ways to handle it, and develop strategies to turn that “no” into a “yes.” This session is led by a widely rejected (and published) writer and editor. No one will be rejected from this session! Presenter Laura Maylene Walter offers additional details below.

Who should attend?
Any writer who ever has or ever will be rejected.

What can attendees expect from your workshop?
The venting of frustrations. The sharing of ridiculous/heartbreaking/agonizing rejections. A behind-the-scenes look at rejection from the fiction editor of Mid-American Review. And, most of all, a practical look at why your work is being rejected.

Name one fun fact or bit of trivia about this session:
During this session, you’ll have the exclusive opportunity to take a peek at my rejection wall of shame, aka a display of years and years of my personal rejection documentation. Come and bask in the glory of my failure.

Quick! Summarize the benefits of this workshop in 10 words or fewer:
You can only prevent rejection if you stop submitting.

Any last words?
“I love my rejection slips. They show me I try.” – Sylvia Plath

Image: Caro Wallis
The countdown to Winter Wheat 2014 has officially begun! In these final weeks leading up to the event, we’re giving our presenters some space here on the blog to share additional details about their sessions, so be sure to check back for more previews. (Remember, this year’s Winter Wheat is bigger and better than ever — see this sessions list for proof.) For more information on the conference, which takes place Nov. 13-15 on the campus of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, visit the Winter Wheat site.

“Lines that Bind: Using Constraints and Experiments to Generate Poems” with Rochelle Hurt and Linwood Rumney
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2:30-3:45pm (Session F5)

In this session, we will explore experimental methods of writing poetry inherited from Oulipo and Surrealist practices. After an overview of formal exercises with erasures, centos, exquisite corpse, palindromes, univocalism, and homophonic translation, we will examine how these exercises can develop into meaningful poetry. Using published examples as guides, participants will then generate their own material from interactive experimental prompts.

Who should attend?
Anyone interested in learning about and trying out different approaches to writing poems.

What can attendees expect from your workshop?
We’ll introduce Oulipo and Surrealist techniques, manipulating texts to make new poems.

Name one fun fact or bit of trivia about this session:
We’ll compose a group cento!

Quick! Summarize the benefits of this workshop in 10 words or fewer:
We’ll investigate assumptions about what “writing” means.

Any last words?
“Beauty will be CONVULSIVE or will not be at all.” –from Surrealist André Breton’s novel Nadja

The countdown to Winter Wheat 2014 has officially begun! In these final weeks leading up to the event, we’re giving our presenters some space here on the blog to share additional details about their sessions, so be sure to check back for more previews. (Remember, this year’s Winter Wheat is bigger and better than ever — see this sessions list for proof.) For more information on the conference, which takes place Nov. 13-15 on the campus of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, visit the Winter Wheat site.

“Object Relations: A Workshop on Character Development” with Susan Streeter Carpenter
Friday, Nov. 14, 4:30-5:45pm (Session B1)

Storytellers have known for millennia what psychoanalysts say about the symbolic power of objects to stand for the relative menace or benevolence of the world. From the Security Blanket to the Wedding Ring, from the soccer ball named Wilson to Carel Fabritius’s painting of goldfinch, from Desdemona’s handkerchief to Harry Potter’s wand, objects have driven stories by revealing who the characters are in depth and breadth and in a flash of narrative. This session asks writers to use objects to develop their own fictional characters in a series of exercises involving real and imaginary objects. Presenter Susan Streeter Carpenter shares more info below:

Who should attend?
Fiction writers who want to give their characters more depth; writers who are trying out fiction and need to figure out what can be done with a character; writers with a partly-finished story and doubt about what to do next. People who are writing fiction for the first time and want to extend what they can DO.

What can attendees expect from your workshop?
Chances to write. Exercises in creating objects in scenes, using various points of view. Actual objects to write about.

Name one fun fact or bit of trivia about this session:
I’ve been re-reading Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoirs, Fun Home and Are You My Mother? HOW AMAZING to see her develop her story with objects, drawing them and making stories of them.

Quick! Summarize the benefits of this workshop in 10 words or fewer:
You’ve come to Winter Wheat to write, to talk with other writers, and to have a good time. That’s what my workshop is for.

Any last words?
I borrowed the title from psychoanalysts Melanie Klein and D.W. Winnicott whom I don’t know much about. But psychoanalysts have been borrowing from writers since Freud saw Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, so I’m being fair.

The countdown to Winter Wheat 2014 has officially begun! In these final weeks leading up to the event, we’re giving our presenters some space here on the blog to share additional details about their sessions, so be sure to check back for more previews. (Remember, this year’s Winter Wheat is bigger and better than ever — see this sessions list for proof.) For more information on the conference, which takes place Nov. 13-15 on the campus of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, visit the Winter Wheat site.

“Don’t Just Fill the Pail, Light the Fire: Continuing Your Writing Education” with Marissa Marangoni & Tobin F. Terry
Saturday, Nov. 15, 1-2:15pm (Session E5)

This workshop will discuss the many ways writers can continue educating themselves on writing after their formal education ends—or even without a formal education altogether. It is a challenge to obtain a writing education outside of an academic setting due to time constraints and life commitments, but continuing to learn and develop the craft of writing is essential to all writers’ success. This presentation will supply participants with an overview of resources and tools to continue (or start) their writing education.

Who should attend?
Commoners (and anyone interested in collecting some great writing resources to further their writing education and inspiration!).

What can attendees expect from your workshop?
Pure, 100%, unadulterated workshop.

Name one fun fact or bit of trivia about this session:
One of the presenters once ate 90 chicken wings in one sitting. And the other presenter would only be useful in the eating-gross-things part of Fear Factor.

Quick! Summarize the benefits of this workshop in 10 words or fewer:
Motivation! Resources! Exclamation points!

Any last words?

1. These aren’t the poisonous mushrooms.
2. Watch me lick this alligator.
3. Give me a fork so I can get this out of the toaster.
4. This bear is harmless.
5. My parachute and this backpack full of camping supplies look very similar.

The countdown to Winter Wheat 2014 has officially begun! In these final weeks leading up to the event, we’re giving our presenters some space here on the blog to share additional details about their sessions, so be sure to check back for more previews. (Remember, this year’s Winter Wheat is bigger and better than ever — see this sessions list for proof.) For more information on the conference, which takes place Nov. 13-15 on the campus of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, visit the Winter Wheat site.

“Lake Philadelphia’s Guide to Songwriting” with Olivia Buzzacco, A.J. Graber, Matt Warner, & Chris Johnston
Saturday, Nov. 15, 1:00-2:15pm (Session E3)

A presentation about songwriting and the craft of lyrics, with special guests from a local band who will talk about one of their own songs and perform it. Participants will discuss the musical side of creative writing, putting ideas together for songs. In an interactive experiment, the band will play a short melody and individuals will write down a couple of lyrics to go with the melody, and then share results. Olivia shares more info below:

Who should attend?
Anyone and everyone—especially those who are into the music scene, those who write their own lyrics, and those who like to be inspired musically when writing.

What can attendees expect from your workshop?
Music, for one—I have the local “budget rock” band Lake Philadelphia joining me, and they will be playing one of their own songs and explaining their writing process to attendees. They have an amazing sound, and their lyrics are well crafted. We’ll also spend some time letting attendees write some lyrics of their own, based on some music they hear.

Name one fun fact or bit of trivia about this session:
Lake Philadelphia has been featured on WBGU’s The Afternoon Rush several times, playing their songs live on the air. In addition, the band is going to be playing at LiveWire at Clazel on November 20^th, opening for the band Saintseneca.

Summarize the benefits of this workshop in 10 words or fewer:
Great music. Great tips. Cool kids. Come join us!

Any last words?
This is my first time (along with A.J., Matt, and Chris) attending Winter Wheat, so I look forward to leading this session with some of my best friends. This is a one-of-a-kind session at Winter Wheat, and I highly encourage everyone to stop by and hear the band and what we have to say!

The countdown to Winter Wheat 2014 has officially begun! In these final weeks leading up to the event, we’re giving our presenters some space here on the blog to share additional details about their sessions, so be sure to check back for more previews. (Remember, this year’s Winter Wheat is bigger and better than ever — see this sessions list for proof.) For more information on the conference, which takes place Nov. 13-15 on the campus of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, visit the Winter Wheat site.