Boston Book Festival 2019

For both readers and writers, so much of the value of books lies in their ability to act as a mirror. Yet while immigrants find themselves in the center of so much of today’s media, the question of whether or not these stories reflect our experiences is often more complicated than it seems. In this workshop created by and for immigrant and diaspora writers, moderators Frankie Concepcion (2019 Undocupoet Fellow, Sibling Rivalry Press) and Kayti Lahsaiezadeh (Kweli Journal, FreezeRay Poetry) will guide writers in a journey of self-reflection and empowerment as we re-engage with the stories we want the world to know, as told by our own voices. Through a series of prompts, guided discussion, and brave space practices, this workshop will be centered on community, craft, and celebrating our identities.

Flash fiction are usually stories between fifty and two thousand words. Distilling experience into a few pages or paragraphs forces us to pay close attention to every conversation, every action, every gesture, every word. In this session, writer Elan Barnehama (Finding Bluefield) will guide participants thought a fast-paced flash fiction workshop. The first draft of anything is a messy process, so the group will first discuss a few techniques for getting started. And then, they’ll write. Next, each participant will read their untidy draft, and the group will respond by pointing out what they liked, followed by a chance for revision and rereading. Participants will leave with a story that’s well on its way to being submission-ready!

Does the blank page taunt you? Do you feel like writers block might start charging you rent? Interested in a new approach to your craft? Using a new process Febo has developed called Slinging, this embodied workshop will get you up and moving and ready to write. All you need is a phone, something to write on and with, and a willingness to try something new. Sponsored by Mass Poetry.

The Surrealists used to pool their money and buy a one-way ticket to the furthest destination they could afford. They'd send one person off on an adventure and they'd have to make their way back somehow, and tell the others all about it when they returned. Along the way, they’d collect talismans that helped them navigate the dark places they encountered. In this workshop, we'll be sending each of you off on an adventure and when you get back, you'll have the outline of a new story. Lisa Lieberman (author of the Cara Walden historical noir mystery series) will be your tour guide, assisted by author and teacher Sharon Healy-Yang.