Pubslush Blog

Workshop Wednesday

Arkansas Literary Festival

Contact: Brad Mooy

http://www.arkansasliteraryfestival.org

Twitter: @ArkansasLitFest, program of @CALibrarySystem

What resources and/or programs do you offer writers?

The Arkansas Literary Festival offers sessions, workshops, activities and special events with bestselling and emerging authors. The festival also offers the WITS (Writers in the Schools) Initiative, placing some of the authors on the roster into area schools.

What do you think is the biggest struggle writers face when trying to get published?

My guess would be that many writers have trouble getting their book into the right editor’s/publisher’s/agent’s hands at the right moment.

What is your conference/workshop’s focus?

The focus/mission of the Festival is to encourage the development of a more literate populace.

Who is your target demographic?

The Festival strives to serve all levels of readers and writers.  

What purpose do you think workshops serve for authors trying to get published?

One would hope the panels help the author on their individual journey. Specific Festival workshops have included: Secrets to Getting Published,  Fact into Fiction, Developing Intriguing Characters, Local Color, Primary Source Research: where to find it and how to use it, Making Good Songs Better, History as Impetus, Personal Essays and workshops and/or panels on horror writing, publishing trends, turning a magazine article into a book, plus many more.

What is your advice for writers who have never attended the Arkansas Literary Festival?

First of all, please come and experience it. Most of the events are free and open to the public, so I’d say try to attend as many as possible. Sessions end with 10 to 15 minutes of Q&A with the audience. Writers should make use of that time.  Come to the author party too—where you can socialize with the authors.. Lastly, I’m a proponent of attending at least one session or workshop that doesn’t scream “Attend!” to you. Sometimes these are the ones that offer you the freshest insight or approach.