3 days 2 nights 1 good time

I’ve returned and recovered from a few days of fun at the Wilkes University MFA Residency. It was an absolute honor to have been invited to speak to alumni, students, faculty and guests about the literary life and getting connected with both the community and business sides of writing. In addition to my business plenary session “Literary Living: Developing a Creative Career,” I had the pleasure of sitting on two additional panels: Thursday’s agent/editor Q&A panel and then Saturday’s thesis pitch panel.

It was a great time. I adored the students and their incredible energy and passion for writing. The faculty were overwhelmingly welcoming and endearing. And, overall, the community that is developed between the MA and MFA students and faculty was so evident at all points of my stay, even the last remaining hours when no doubt everyone could have used a weeklong nap.

I’ve added a number of photos of my Wilkes weekend to facebook and these are publicly accessible here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=446151&id=871570696&l=4d3003b3e3

My thanks go out to all the wonderful folks I met who made me feel at home and I’d especially like to thank Bonnie Culver and Jim Warner for being generous, joyous hosts.