Young writers can spend a day learning from professional authors, poets, musicians and publishers when Pellissippi State Community College hosts its 12th annual Young Creative Writer’s Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 24.

The free workshop at Pellissippi State’s Strawberry Plains Campus, 7201 Strawberry Plains Pike, is designed for area high school and mature middle school students as well as Pellissippi State and other college-age students. The event is open to the community, and parents and teachers also are welcome.

This year’s theme, “Joined at the Roots,” explores the connections writers make between place and identity and between the human and natural worlds.

“We open our doors at 8:30 for coffee/snacks, and the first workshop — Doug Van Gundy’s featured workshop — starts at 9:00,” said Patty Ireland, Pellissippi State associate professor of English and director of the Young Creative Writer’s Workshop.

The day concludes with a 4 p.m. Showcase where participants can read or perform their original work for an audience of fellow writers, workshop leaders and invited family members.

“Attendees can come for all or part of the day,” Ireland said.

Nationally acclaimed writer leads the day

Featured workshop leader and keynote speaker Doug Van Gundy directs the Low-Residency MFA program in Creative Writing at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia.

His poems and essays have appeared in publications including The Guardian, Poets & Writers, Poetry, The Oxford American and Guernica. He is co-editor of Eyes Glowing at the Edge of the Woods: Contemporary Writing from West Virginia and author of the poetry collection A Life Above Water and the chapbook Pictures and Poems. His new poetry collection, Stones and Ghosts, is scheduled for publication in July 2027.

Van Gundy also is an Appalachian musician who has performed and taught nationally and internationally. The Folklife Program of the West Virginia Humanities Council recognized him as a Master Artist in 2017. For 27 years, he has performed on fiddle, guitar, mandolin, harmonica and banjo with Paul Gartner as the old-time string duo Born Old.

Van Gundy will lead the featured workshop from 9-10 a.m. and deliver the keynote address during lunch.

Writers, poets and publishers join workshops

Following Van Gundy’s opening session, participants will attend a 10:10-11:10 a.m. panel featuring the workshop leaders and professional writers from the area.

At 11:20 a.m., participants choose between two sessions:

  • Traditional Poetry with “Rhea Sunshine,” Rhea Carmon, former poet laureate of Knoxville.
  • Publication with Delonda and Tom Anderson of Appalachia Bare Journal.

Lunch runs from 12:30-1:45 p.m. and includes door prizes, live entertainment and Van Gundy’s keynote address.

The second round of writing workshops begins at 3 p.m. Participants may choose:

  • Performance Poetry with Black Atticus, former poet laureate of Knoxville.
  • Fiction with Susan O’Dell Underwood.

The workshop also gives young writers opportunities to interact with members of the Knoxville Writers’ Guild, Mossy Creek Writers and editors of Appalachia Bare Journal.

More than sitting in a classroom

From 1:45-2:50 p.m., Pellissippi State’s library and Appalachian Heritage Project space will become the workshop’s Writer’s Room and Appalachian Arts Space.

Professional writers will answer participants’ questions one-on-one in the Writer’s Room, while craftspeople and artisans help participants explore the “Joined at the Roots” theme through several hands-on stations.

At the “What Roots Connect YOU?” station, participants will consider what connects them to home and nature and contribute a word, saying, quote or line expressing that connection.

The Quilting Bee invites writers to create their own “story square,” while the Create Your Own Zine station gives participants an opportunity to make a miniature book combining their own narratives or poems with art.

There also will be a YCWW trivia station and additional games with prizes.

Door prizes will be awarded during lunch.

Young writers get the final word

At 4 p.m., attention shifts from the professional writers to the participants themselves.

The closing Showcase in the Career Magnet Academy cafeteria gives attendees an opportunity to read their writing or perform original songs before their peers, workshop leaders, parents and instructors.

The Young Creative Writer’s Workshop includes fiction, poetry, publication, songwriting, spoken-word poetry and other craft- and genre-focused writing opportunities. Pellissippi State says its purpose is particularly geared toward encouraging young writers while making the experience available to anyone interested in creative writing. Pellissippi State Community College

The workshop is sponsored by Pellissippi State Community College Libraries, Pellissippi State Foundation, the Appalachian Heritage Project and the James Agee Conference.

Registration

The workshop is free, but space is limited.

Check-in and refreshments begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, with Van Gundy’s opening workshop beginning at 9 a.m. The final Showcase starts at 4 p.m.

Register for the Young Creative Writer’s Workshop

Questions may be directed to Patty Ireland at paireland@pstcc.edu or 865-225-2340.

OUR TOWN. YOUR NEWS.
Stories that connect our community. Read. Respond. Share.

Follow KnoxTNToday on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and TikTok. Get all KnoxTNToday articles in one place with our free newsletter. Comments may be sent to news@knoxtntoday.com.