The Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) holds a national conference each year. This year it was held in late March in Philadelphia, and I had the privilege of attending. AWP provides support and resources for nearly 50,000 writers and 550 college and university creative writing programs. The mission of AWP is to amplify the voices of writers and academic programs, while championing diversity and excellence in creative writing.
So, why did I attend? The primary answer is I attended with my wife who is a board member of a local writing center, The Muse. The second answer is that I like to write and I wanted to learn something about writing from the distinguished professionals leading the classes.
I learned a lot at the conference, not as much about technique as about life. Writers, I’ve sensed, need to understand themselves and their audience in order to write well. I heard much from published authors about their lives and in turn how they approach writing.
I heard from Jewish writers committed to writing the stories of others’ past traumas, including the Holocaust. I learned from journalists and authors about the importance of writing the stories of people impacted by climate disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and wildfires, including the ethics of profiling children victims. I heard how writers of different races, religions, ethnicities, colors, and LGBTQ communities write for readers who do not look or think like them.
My takeaway was to write stories honestly, include meaningful information for the reader, and be confident you have conveyed something helpful. Our world is complicated. We need to recognize that unique thoughts and perspectives always exist. There will be times when written communication is not received well and the writer must be prepared to handle adversity.
One day I reflected on the conference as I walked the streets of Philadelphia. I saw people entertaining for donations, sleeping on the sidewalks and begging at the 7-Eleven – people different than me. I enjoyed the street music, felt compassion for the homeless, and helped a young person to a yogurt and orange juice from 7-Eleven. Although some writers disagree, writing is more than researching data- it needs to show your heart. Praying for your peace. Thanks for reading!
At Peace 