Workshops are organized by genre: poetry, fiction, or mixed-genre. “Mixed-genre” can mean whatever the participants want, so there may be a variety of manuscripts in this category. In each category, there are two divisions:
Workshop: Participants share a limited selection of 8-10 poems or 10-20 pages of prose or the equivalent.
Manuscript review: This includes a complete manuscript collection of poems, short stories, or a novel that the author is ready for feedback on. It might be as ready for publication as the author can make it, or it might be a roughed-out collection and the author wants impressions from a first reading. Because of the size of such a work, it is important that participants share manuscripts in a timely manner. If you've written an 800-page epic, negotiate with your group how much to share and how much to summarize.
Other Guidelines:
Dates for sharing of manuscripts and how much to share should be decided by groups. Any suggestion made by the conference coordinator is just that: a suggestion.
It's all negotiable. Workshop members are responsible for contacting each other to agree on:
A method for sharing work (email, cloud drive, physical mail).
Workshop protocols (how to offer feedback).
A means and/or place to do the work. Each group will be responsible for finding a way to meet.
If there are issues with a group member (e.g. lack of response, aggression, etc.) please try to work them out within the group. If this does not succeed, contact the Conference Coordinator.
The schedule includes workshop time. How and how much of that time is used is up to each group. Be mindful to give each participant an equal amount of attention.
We try to limit the number of participants in a workshop to four or five, and for a manuscript review, three or four--but three is probably best and a priority.
Everyone who wants to be in a workshop will be in a workshop. You may, however, need to be flexible about what kind of workshop you’ll be in and how many individuals will be in your group. It is can be helpful for folks to be willing to read outside of their genre if needed, so consider being open to a “mixed workshop” as your second choice. The coordinator will do their best to honor your first choice.
Ultimately, in this amazing community, flexibility and humility abound. We can’t always get what we want. It is an acceptable risk we take for the sake of the experience of being together in this amazing way.
All classes are scheduled for ONE hour. Please stick to this guideline, unless you have made arrangements with the conference coordinator for some variation. Often, the next class takes place directly after the previous one, often in the same location, so please be mindful not to go over time. If you start late, you still need to end on time. Even if the next class is not sharing the same space, you'll want to close on time anyway so that Wallies can get to the next event promptly.
Lecture: Do you have a paper to read? A talk to give about a poem, story, novel? A craft lesson to deliver? A compelling story about your own adventures in writing and/or publishing? Lectures are typically structured as a talk given in 30 to 45 minutes, followed by an opportunity for Q&A.
Class: Perhaps a more engaging strategy might be to facilitate a whole class discussion after a shorter introductory spiel. The teachers among us likely have a whole slew of strategies to employ for a lively, interactive session. If you know who the teachers are amongst us, don't hesitate to reach out if you would like some tips about how to structure an engaging hour. Generally, give people opportunities to interact, participate, talk, discuss, write, share, draw, or dance. Topics for classes are as varied as the people who are willing to facilitate them. A good rule of thumb, though: don't require a ton of preparation from your attendees. Ask them to read a few poems, sure. A story, okay. A novel--probably not--unless you have convened a group of people for a Book Shop.
Book Shop: Some Wally or a pair of Wallies or even a small gaggle of Wallies might choose a complete book for some deep dive conversation and/or analysis. This is generally structured as a discussion, but there may be (probably should be) a person or a couple of people who will facilitate. Sometimes Book Shops, if the schedule permits, can be stretched out over more than one session. However, nothing prevents a group of especially committed participants from scheduling their own thing--in the way that workshops are primarily the responsibilty of the participants.
Panel: Three or more individuals have an item for discussion -- a particular writer or work, a writing dilemma, a publishing question, a need that requires addressing, or a big idea for which the panelists have expertise or relevant experiences to share. Panelists often give short takes in turn, and then a discussion is opened up for audience participation.
Caucus: Three or more individuals have an item for discussion, a writing dilemma, a publishing question, a need that requires addressing, or a big idea for which THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY EXPERTS -- but would nevertheless like to present to the group. These sessions are more like open-ended discussions where the assumption is that everyone in the room has potentially helpful and/or wise things to say about the subject. Caucus leaders my facilitate -- but it's also possible that they do nothing more than convene the session. It's sort of an organized conceptual food-fight.
If more people volunteer to teach a class than are spaces in the schedule, you may not be able to teach your class. This is a rarity, but nevertheless a possibility. In this case, the coordinator will make a call based on what they think might be most beneficial to the camp experience, or draw a name from a hat.
The alumni conference is designed to meet your current needs as a writer. Sometimes, the thing that is most needful is simply having the time to write — or to relax. None of the events on the calendar are mandatory. You don’t have to go to classes — although people volunteering to teach enormously appreciate your attendance!
There is only one very explicit participation requirement: if you sign up to give a reading, you must attend all the readings. Obviously short-stay people aren't expected to attend a reading for which they were not on campus, but otherwise, yeah, you gotta be there! And you should.
As noted above, you don't have to give a reading, but if you do, you're expected to attend all readings while you're attending the conference.
Each night immediately after dinner, we gather to hear five or six of our fellow writers read from their work. We try to include a mix of prosers and poets for variety. Depending how many people sign up to read, each reader gets about 8-10 minutes to read. Remember Ellen's rule: you shouldn't need to keep a stopwatch with you because you've rehearsed your reading enough to know how long it is. We highly recommend you rehearse your timing not only so your reading is smooth, but also as a courtesy to your audience and other readers. At any rate, if you go over time, the moderator will start to clear their throat, make hand gestures, and finally bring out the hook, and nobody wants to see you dragged off stage by a pink-haired goddess.
After readings many people retire to "the porch" and stay up way too late reminiscing, plotting, sharing, commisserating, and other jollity. Some people curl up in their beds with a good book, and some actually turn out the light and go to sleep so they can get up early and do crazy things like run in the woods or write.
If you would not otherwise be able to attend the conference, by all means apply for a scholarship. Every year there are a number of $500 scholarships and at least one full ride scholarship. Declaring a need for a scholarship is on the honor basis. No one is going to ask you for proof of need. A few caveats: Do not apply for a scholarship if you have been the recipient of one in the last two in-person conferences. And please try not to ask for a scholarship if you are not SURE you can attend.
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