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written by Melanie Henterly, news and public information student intern
Notable writers Gail Carson Levine, author of Ella Enchanted, and Keorapetse Kgositsile, the poet laureate of South Africa, join students and community members this week for the Oxford Writing Festival at Miami University March 26-29.
Organized by Miami’s Students for the Promotion of Writing (SPW), the festival, free and open to the public, features workshops by guest writers from around the country, including Mary Fons, a poet who has been featured in more than 30 poetry slams. She will host the workshop, “Writing for the Stage.”
Other notable presenters at the festival include Terri Spahr Nelson, a writer and editor who will be hosting the workshop, “Everyone Has a Story to Tell: Finding Your Voice to Write Your Personal Story,” and Steven R. Cope, a lyricist who will be speaking at the festival and hosting the workshop, “Writing the Song Lyric.” The event schedule can be found at spw.mugroups.org.
All events are open to the public; there is no cost for admission. Unless otherwise noted, all events will take place in the multi-purpose room of Shriver Center.
“The festival is a chance for everyone to come together to share and celebrate writing,” said junior Megan Dincher, president of SPW. “It’s more than just a campus event; it’s a celebration of the role writing plays in each of our lives.”
The inspiration behind the festival came from Dincher’s experience with the Fremd High School's Writers Week. The event, hosted by her Illinois high school, invited professional writers to speak with students. Dincher wants to re-create the infectious spirit she experienced from that event, here at Miami.
Sponsors of the festival include the Howe Center for Writing Excellence, Miami University Professional Writing Major, National Council for Teachers of English - Student Affiliate Miami, Miami University Special Events Fund, Miami University women’s center, and the Petting Zoo Goat Collective (a writing workshop group).
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