Overview of the Conference
Every day begins with a craft talk by one of our distinguished faculty. (Click here for examples of talks that have been delivered in the past.) Workshops meet every day from 10-noon, but the conversation often flows over into lunch in the cafeteria. Every afternoon, you can choose between one or more presentations by agents or editors, panel discussions on the conference theme, and an open-mic reading. Faculty readings in the evening are always followed by drinks and conversation on the Merrill House porch.
Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? If you need to get away, you can always head up to Colgate's extensive trail system above campus for a walk or run, or you can search out a comfortable armchair in the library for a quiet hour or two.
2022 Conference Schedule
| 12:00-5 p.m. | Arrival and registration |
| 5:00 p.m | Welcome reception at Merrill House |
| 6:00 p.m. | Dinner at Merrill House |
| 7:00 p.m. | Faculty reading: Peter Balakian, Dana Spiotta, Emily Bernard |
| 8:30 p.m. | Gathering at Merrill House |
| 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. | Craft talk: Carrie Brown - “Chekhov & Munro: Like Life Itself” |
| 10:00 a.m. | Workshops |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 2:30 p.m. | Panel discussion: In Times of Crisis, Where Is the Writer? (Peter Balakian, Chinelo Okparanta, Kyle Bass, Jonathan Dee, Marie Mutsuki Mockett) |
| 4 p.m. | Fellows reading |
| 5:30 p.m. | Dinner |
| 7:00 p.m. | Faculty reading: CJ Hauser, Naomi Jackson, Greg Bottoms |
| 8:30 p.m. | Gathering at Merrill House |
| 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. | Craft talk: CJ Hauser |
| 10:00 a.m. | Workshops |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 2:30 p.m. | Publishing panel: Pamela Cannon, Sarah Levitt, Soumeya Bendimerad Roberts, Andrea Barzvi |
| 4:00 p.m. | Participant reading |
| 5:30 p.m. | Dinner |
| 7:00 p.m. | Faculty reading: Carrie Brown, Greg Ames, Bruce Smith |
| 8:30 p.m. | Gathering at Merrill House, tarot card readings by CJ Hauser |
| 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. | Craft talk: John Gregory Brown - “I Me Mine: Where the ‘I’ is Calling From” |
| 10:00 a.m. | Workshops |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 7:00 p.m. | Faculty reading at Flour & Salt (37 Lebanon St.): Eleanor Henderson, John Gregory Brown, Marie Mutsuki Mockett |
| 8:30 p.m. | Post-reading gathering |
Choose one of the following options on Wednesday evening:
Option 1
| 3:15 p.m. | Shuttle departure for Syracuse |
| 4:30 p.m. | Talk by playwright Kyle Bass |
| 5:30 p.m. | Dinner in Syracuse (on your own, see this list of nearby restaurants for ideas) |
| 7:30 p.m. | salt/city/blues at Syracuse Stage |
| 10:30 p.m. (approx.) | Shuttle departure for Hamilton |
Option 2
| 5:30 p.m. | Dinner |
| 7:00 p.m. | Faculty reading: Eleanor Henderson, John Gregory Brown, Marie Mutsuki Mockett |
| 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. | Craft talk: Justin Torres - “The Vignette in Series” |
| 10:00 a.m. | Workshops |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 2:30 p.m. | Publishing panel: Bronwen Hruska, Halimah Marcus, Michael McGandy, Johnny Temple |
| 4:00 p.m. | Participant reading |
| 5:30 p.m. | Dinner |
| 7:00 p.m. | Faculty reading: Jonathan Dee, Jules Gibbs, Jennifer Brice |
| 8:30 p.m. | Gathering at Merrill House |
| 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. | Craft talk: Emily Bernard - “Writing Self Through Others: The Ethics of Personal Narrative” |
| 10:00 a.m. | Workshops |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 2:30 p.m. | Panel discussion: In Times of Crisis, Where Is the Writer? (Naomi Jackson, Dana Spiotta, Greg Bottoms, Bruce Smith, Jules Gibbs) |
| 5:00 p.m. | Gala dinner at Merrill House |
| 7:00 p.m. | Faculty reading: Justin Torres, Chinelo Okparanta |
| 8:30 p.m. | Gathering at Merrill House |
| 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:00 a.m. | Craft talk: Jennifer Brice - “Writing/Life” |
| 10:00 a.m. | Workshops |
| 12:00 p.m. | Bagged lunches available to take on the road; check-out & departure |