Workshop Description: An ekphrastic poem is a vivid description--an expansion, an elaboration, or a retelling--of
another work of art. The Poetry Foundation tells us that "through the imaginative
act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet
may amplify and expand its meaning.” Here, however, if you choose, you might respond
to a photo or even architecture. You might imagine what is happening outside the frame
of the work, what the artist had in mind, or use the piece as a launching pad to explore
the associations it conjures within you, the writer. Examples will be provided to
illuminate the possibilities in this increasingly popular genre. In our workshop,
you can write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, or any other form that presents itself
to you. elements.
Bio: BetsyMars is a prize-winning poet, photographer, and an assistant editor at Gyroscope Review. Recent poems can be found in One Art, Quartet, Sheila-Na-Gig, and Autumn Sky. Her photos have appeared online and in print, including one which was a Rattle Ekphrastic Challenge prompt in 2019. She has two books, Alinea, and her most recent, co-written with Alan Walowitz, In the Muddle of the Night. Betsy is currently working on a full-length manuscript titled Rue Obscure.
Lynda Daneliuk, “Cosplay is for Everyone, Right?: Gatekeeping in Cosplay”
Workshop Description: this is a presentation with questions and open discussion about the issues of "gatekeeping"
in cosplay. Gatekeeping is the idea that certain individuals may not be "allowed"
to participate in the same way as others within cosplay communities. "Gatekeepers"
are members of these communities that may feel that someone is too new, not the right
race or gender, or is not following the unwritten "rules" of that character or fandom.
This talk will discuss what this is, the issues within these communities of insider/outsider
status, and let folks talk about their own experiences with this, or questions they
may have regarding this darker side of cosplay community.
Bio: Lynda Daneliuk is a Folklorist still working on her PhD through Memorial University
of Newfoundland, and a University Instructor at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops,
British Columbia, Canada, Her work focuses on popular culture and community, especially
pertaining to issues of "geekdom" and fandom communities, tourism, the supernatural,
belief and ritual, personal experience narrative, and folktale, and is currently working
a thesis that focuses on the supernatural tourism of New Orleans, Louisiana. She's
taught at Thompson Rivers University for a decade, and previously taught at Cape Breton
University in Nova Scotia and Memorial University in Newfoundland. She is happy she
gets to study cool stuff for a living.
Workshop Description: I get it. I hate revision also with a fiery passion. But, there are some quick fixes
you can implement that are pretty much guaranteed to make your story/poem better.
Bring a couple of pieces that you need to revise and we’ll see how we can quickly
fix ‘em up.
Bio: Stephanie Barbé Hammer is a 7-time Pushcart Prize nominee in fiction, nonfiction,
and poetry and the author of 7 published books: 2 novels, 1 novelette, 1 novella,
and 3 collections of poetry. Wait, she lied! She also wrote a handbook on how to write
Magical Realism.
Workshop Description: On the heels of Halloween, you may not want to let go of that experience of stepping
into another's shoes. This time, figuratively, explore being someone or something
else: go dark, go deep, go silly, go inanimate. Persona poems allow you an opportunity
to imagine yourself as other, and that can be a powerful or reflective thing, or just
have fun with it and see where the writing takes you. Several examples will be provided
ahead of class to offer an idea of what others have done. We'll take a look at a few
to see what we notice about them. Use them or forge your own path.
Bio: BetsyMars is a prize-winning poet, photographer, and an assistant editor at Gyroscope Review. Recent poems can be found in One Art, Quartet, Sheila-Na-Gig, and Autumn Sky. Her photos have appeared online and in print, including one which was a Rattle Ekphrastic Challenge prompt in 2019. She has two books, Alinea, and her most recent, co-written with Alan Walowitz, In the Muddle of the Night. Betsy is currently working on a full-length manuscript titled Rue Obscure.
Workshop Description: In this session, we will explore a different approach to novella-length work. Not
everyone’s story is a narrative. Join us to find yours.
Bio: Andrew Turner writes queer literary and speculative fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.
In 2013, he founded East Jasmine Review- an electronic literary journal, with a focus
on publishing diverse writers. He was a semifinalist for the 2016 Liminaire Award
in poetry and his full-length poetry collection Heart, Mind, Blood, Skin is now available
from Finishing line Press. He also has a chapbook, "Gymlationship" from Arroyo Seco
Press. His work has also appeared in Chiron Review, Lummox, Carnival Literary, Sadie
Girl Press, Muse, Reshift, and other publications and anthologies. Find more at www.kandrewturner.com
or follow him on twitter/x, Instagram, or TikTok @kandrewturner.
