Students learn tricks of the trade at Mountain Laurel writer’s conference
Posted by The Skyliner on October 7th, 2009
Dr. Deborah DeCiantis talks with students as they look over poplular literature duing The Mountain Laurel's writing and art conference. (Photo by Elizabeth Wood)
Every evening from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, student authors, poets, artists and literary enthusiasts were invited to attend a writer’s conference hosted by North Greenville University’s literary magazine, The Mountain Laurel.
Each session of the four-day conference featured an author from a different genre of literature. The final night of the conference also included a workshop for visual artists taught by NGU art professor Elena Sonbok Lee.
All four evenings began with a brief time to allow students to meet the featured authors and help themselves to coffee and refreshments provided by The Mountain Laurel. For the main part of the evening, the authors gave students instruction and advice on the various parts of their craft. Each evening ended with a workshop allowing students to present, discuss and critique their writing.
The writer’s conference began on Monday night with a session on nonfiction writing taught by Dr. Richard Blackaby, coauthor of Experiencing God and author of Unlimiting God, Putting a Face on Grace and many other Christian nonfiction works.
Blackaby emphasized the importance of finding a message and developing a unique and effective way of conveying that message. Blackaby also encouraged students to observe and write about everyday life with a fresh perspective.
“Life’s not always about just the really spectacular things that happen now and then. It’s…about how wonderful ordinary things in life are, we just don’t see it,” Blackaby said.
On Tuesday night Dr. Gregory Bruce, professor of English and poetry, led the conference session on poetry. Bruce used Psalm 49:3b-4 to inspire students to find their voices and to develop as Christian poets. He focused on the roles of music and praise in poetry and emphasized poetry as a means of giving understanding and expressing the poet’s heart.
Wednesday night’s workshop on fiction writing was led by Mandy Goff, author of two-soon-to-be-published inspirational romances. Goff gave students tips on writing successfully and on navigating the publishing world. She explained the aspects of a well-written novel and encouraged students to be persistent and disciplined in their writing.
The conference wrapped up on Thursday night with sessions on children’s fiction and visual art. Children’s author Samantha Bell gave students advice on how to polish and publish children’s literature. She encouraged aspiring authors to attend conferences and classes, to join critique groups and, most importantly, to write what they love and to never give up.
Lee shared her work and artistic expertise with students in the art session. She brought paint supplies to give students a hands-on experience during the workshop. Lee encouraged students to discuss the elements of art and pointed out that art was all around them, in fashion, in design and in everyday objects.
According to Mountain Laurel editor Christopher “Gia” Gianakas, senior interdisciplinary studies, the purpose of the conference was twofold.
“It’s first of all to improve your work, to be able to come here and talk to professionals, to get tips, to get ideas, or to be motivated,” he said. “Our second big objective though is for you to… take what these people have told you and submit….We’re out there to teach something, but we also want to pull something away for our magazine as well.”
The Mountain Laurel will be accepting student literature and art submissions until Nov. 20.
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 5