USU Writers' Workshop Invites Authors to Explore the Power of Personal Narratives on Oct. 21

TAYLORSVILLE — Aspiring writers and storytelling enthusiasts are invited to attend the 2023 Evans Writers' Workshop for Auto/Biography, Memoir and Family History. Utah State University’s Mountain West Center for Regional Studies will host its biennial writing event on Oct. 21 in connection with the Evans Biography Awards and as part of the Utah Humanities Book Festival.

This one-day workshop at the USU-Salt Lake Center is designed for individuals interested in crafting their biography, autobiography, memoir or family history and is open to seasoned writers and novices alike.

According to Mountain West Center Director Molly Cannon, “The workshop is an opportunity to connect the writing community with experienced, award-winning authors to inspire future Evans Award winners.”

Expert facilitators will guide participants through interactive sessions, providing insights, techniques and tips for effective storytelling in the realm of personal narratives. Attendees will also have the chance to connect with fellow writers, share experiences and build networks of like-minded individuals. Sessions will include presentations from Darren Parry, Glenda Cotter, Molly Cannon, and Robert Frey, with topics focused on gathering personal histories, writing hard history, connections to objects, and exploring publication. The keynote presentation from 2022 Evans Biography Award winner Terryl Givens will examine the moral responsibility that writers of biography face in trying to “chart a path between history and poetry, the particular and the universal.”

The 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. workshop is open to the community and offered as part of a series of monthlong events through the Utah Humanities Book Festival.

To register and for more information, please visit http://mountainwest.usu.edu/writersworkshop/info or contact mwc@usu.edu.