Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia

Today I drive to St. Francis University in Loretto, PA for this year’s WCoNA, my first time at this conference and my first conference of 2025. I am facilitating a generative writing workshop, which focuses on the intersection of place and of witness in poetry, scheduled for Saturday afternoon:

Loretto is but 90 minutes away from Pittsburgh and driving through the late winter landscape will be a treat. The weatherman predicts precipitation that could manifest as either rain or snow, of which there has been plenty this year, but it’s not predicted to be much nor turn to ice. After the past six weeks of constant and escalating chaos, I welcome the opportunity to spend time with artists and writers focused on art and writing. With the exception of the pandemic, there has never been a more crucial time in life to create.

Here are brief descriptions of workshop sessions for which I’m registered:

Special Friday Night Session, The Spirit and Essence of Northern Appalachia: Exploring Our Literary Identity – 06:00 PM: Featuring PJ Piccirillo, Sarah Elaine Smith, and Book of the Year short list recipients; moderated by the 2025 WCoNA Book of the Year Committee.

Session One, Documenting the Places and People of Northern Appalachia – 10:10 AM: This panel features two poets from Central PA who have turned to writing documentary poetry, a deep tradition in American literature that combines the values of journalism with the techniques of creative writing to create work that tells truths through close attention to place and people. Julia Spicher Kasdorf will offer an introduction to the sub-genre and share examples of her own work in the fracking and farmer’s fields of Northern Appalachia. Abby Minor will share poems from her project that engages with the history and characters in her rural village. Participants will experiment with documentary exercises and discuss the pleasures and pitfalls of representing the places we come from.

Session Two, Finding Your Muse in Northern Appalachia – 11:10 AM: Part reading, part generative workshop, this session will begin with a brief reading of new poetry collections by Judith Sornberger (The Book of Muses) and Marjorie Maddox (Small Empty Space) that showcase the people, places, and creatures of Appalachia. The authors, two veteran creative writing professors, will then lead the class in writing exercises based on references to Appalachia. Open to writers of both prose and poetry, this class will encourage participants to recognize, claim, and respond in writing to their own muses of Northern Appalachia.

Session Three, Reading Writing, and Writing to Read – 01:15 PM: In this interactive workshop, you will begin to transform your written voice into something audible and embodied. We will begin by drawing lessons from writers who work in both performance and text. Then, we will focus on key elements of performance—such as time, vocal expression, and action-to understand how they can be instrumental in giving a dynamic, authentic reading. Group exercises will focus on: developing confidence as a speaker, responding to the environment, and practice strategies. Finally, we will cover tips for revising writing with reading / performance in mind.

Session Four, Skipping this session to prepare – 02:15 PM

Session Five, Landscapes of Witness: Poetry Writing in Northern Appalachia – 03:20 PM: This poetry workshop will focus on the intersection of place and witness in the context of Northern Appalachia, a region that is known for its deep history, complex landscapes, and multifaceted communities—each element contributing to a vibrant, rich story of resilience, memory, and identity. Through writing prompts, discussion, and close readings of relevant poetry, participants will explore how the land and its history shape—and are shaped by—observation and the act of witnessing. Participants will consider the environment around them, draw on personal experiences, and explore collective histories through the lens of poetry.