“Nimrod” conference coming to campus

The University of Tulsa will host 2017 “Nimrod International Journal” Conference for Readers and Writers in the Allan Chapman Student Union Oct. 20.
The journal’s office is housed within Zink Hall on campus, so the conference is especially intimate. From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the Student Union will be flush with editors and writers alike, all looking to spread and gain knowledge of the craft.
Over forty authors and editors of distinction will attend the event. Such names include American Book Award winner Jericho Brown; Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award Finalist Laura van de Berg; “New York Times”-bestselling authors Deborah Crombie and Tessa Dare; Alex Award winner Keija Parssinen (one of TU’s own); young adult fantasy writer Tessa Gratton; memoirist Sasha Martin and literary agent Alexa Stark of the Trident Media Group.
Each of these authors/editors will be hosting their own masterclass: periods of about one hour and 15 minutes in which the speaker discusses a certain topic as it relates to writing.
For example, Parssinen will host “The Art of Revision in Fiction” at 1:35 p.m. For a full list of masterclass times and speakers, you can visit nimrod.utulsa.edu/conference.html.
The conference interaction is not strictly related to the classes, however. It’s fully expected that participants can have candid interaction with the writers and editors between conferences, on the lunch break or on coffee breaks, etc.
The “Nimrod” Conference is unique for giving attendees an opportunity to have a workshop with an actual editor for the journal. By Oct. 14, participants can submit 2–3 pages of poetry or 4–5 pages of fiction for the opportunity of a hands-on one-on-one editing workshop.
In that same vein, the conference is hosting this year, for the first time, “Novel Pitch Critique Sessions,” in which participants can give their much-rehearsed pitch for their novel to literary agent Alexa Stark, who can help them fashion it into a more appealing pitch. These are held at 1:35 p.m.
In registration, participants can give their first and second choices for a panel lasting from 10–10:40 a.m. (between “Digging In: Writing Through the Hard Parts” and “Editing and Publishing: Q&A”), for the morning masterclasses lasting from 10:45 a.m. to noon and for the afternoon masterclasses lasting from 1:35–2:50 p.m.
The morning masterclasses host an editing workshop, but an additional one is hosted from 3–4 p.m., concurrent with the various readings that will be held on the tail-end of the conference.
From 4–4:30 p.m. the invited authors/editors will host book signings, and the Conference should then come to a conclusion.
In addition to the conference itself, “Nimrod” will host the “‘Nimrod’ Write Night” on Friday, Oct. 20, which entails an “Author Reception and Chat with Jericho Brown and Laura van den Berg.” This event is free and entirely open to the public, lasting from 6:30–8:30 p.m. at the Tulsa Garden Center and is held in conjunction with Booksmart Tulsa.
TU students can register to attend the “Nimrod” Conference for $10. Registrations must be submitted by Oct. 14 with the sample of poetry or fiction if the participant wants a one-on-one session. Otherwise, registration will continue up through late registration 9:30–10 a.m. on Oct. 21.
Participants can register online or by mailing a check with an included registration form to “Nimrod International Journal,” 800 S. Tucker Dr., Tulsa, OK 74104. Early registration is recommended for greater chance to get into the masterclasses/workshopping sessions that the participant desires.