Brown Writers' Symposium

Brown Writers' Symposium offers an intensive, retreat-style environment designed for serious novice and experienced writers interested in intensive exploration of the craft and art of creative nonfiction. Small, interactive workshops led by Nonfiction Writing Program faculty from Brown's English Department give participants supportive and collegial venues to focus on their writing and to familiarize them with the range of possibilities within creative nonfiction. Writers experiment and collaboratively discuss their work; experienced faculty critique individual writers and guide peer reviews. The Symposium encourages participants to achieve a publishable standard of writing.

Through the intimate atmosphere of writers living and working together for  week, participants continue their dialogues begun in workshops to understand how different forms of creative nonfiction intersect and to inspire each other.

Guest Authors

• Wayne Koestenbaum
• Catherine Watson
     

The Symposium is not structurally confined to the classroom; out-of-classroom experience is as important to formal instruction as the workshops themselves. The program insures that participants learn throughout their stay on campus.

• Writing at Brown has a rich tradition of writing to demanding standards.
• Space in the workshops is limited to offer full access to faculty.
• Admission to the program is selective and participants are matched with other participants in precisely focused workshops.
• Guests have been invited to present on panels and roundtables so that participants can ask questions of a variety of professionals.

Reading will be a regular event. Time has been set aside for student as well as faculty readings to familiarize participants with a wide spectrum of writing styles and contemporary work.

Applicants should choose one workshop from the 4 (four) selections available, and pick two alternative choices.