#awp san antonio

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

I didn't take a picture today, and it's Leap Day, so I had to go back four years to find another February 29th photo. Mom worked that day in the morning -- before she was pulling twelve-hour shifts -- so Gus ran some errands with me and we walked around Argenta for a while, then went to the zoo, then had a late lunch at The Root. Afterward, I dropped him at Yiayia & Papou's house for the night so Mom and I could run Argenta Reading Series. It was our last event before the pandemic hit, and we were on such a high. We had over 100 people that night and so much momentum we were about to carry with us to San Antonio for an AWP off-site event. But then COVID brought all of that to a screeching halt.

I've mentioned this before, but one reason I like you two having birthdays so close together is that whenever I want to remember what Gus was like when he was Magnus's age, I can just go back four years and take a look.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.29.2020 - 11.34am.

[eamonnp]

Salmon Poetry at the AWP conference in Seattle 2023.

The Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) was back in business in March 2023 in the great city of Seattle with its yearly in-person conference, its first since San Antonio in 2020, which was itself heavily impacted by the Covid 19 pandemic. In the meantime, provision was made for a highly successful delivery of lectures and events online, but of course there is no getting around the…

[siennaswritings]

Was feeling cute heading to San Antonio for AWP20~

does this count as a face reveal gnfnamdmc

[kabillieu]

I’m turning 40 at the end of the month, so I just spent a half hour writing out a list of everything I’ve done in the past ten years. They have been years of extreme highs and lows. Everything significant I’ve accomplished artistically (so far) happened in my 30s. I’ve been extremely fortunate and have also had a lot of bad luck. I’ve worked hard to achieve a lot of my goals even under the most chaotic and upsetting conditions. Here’s a basic highlight reel:

I entered my 30s in a fog of postpartum depression and spent much of the first year and a half single-parenting our baby while Dominic was gone on deployments and work training trips. 

I bought another house (Dominic really managed this, but my name’s on the mortgage, so it counts).

I ran three half-marathons.

I lived in Omaha, Pensacola, Colorado Springs, Montgomery, and then in Omaha again.

I did adjunct work at two different colleges and writing center work at another college.

I started writing and publishing poetry again. All in all, I’ve published 70 poems in various literary journals over the past ten years.

I travelled to Mexico, Spain, Roatan, Belize, Portland, Tampa, San Antonio, New Orleans, Vermont, Boston, New York City, Cape Cod, and honestly several other places.

I euthanized one cat and adopted another.

I survived the first year after our kid was diagnosed with ADHD and autism. I learned how to be a better parent to him. Together with my spouse, various therapists, and teachers, we’ve worked with him on communication, impulse control, and managing his emotions. At ten he’s in such a better place than he was when he was diagnosed at six, but it’s a journey, and there are lots of ups and downs.

Speaking of ups and downs, we all survived a big regression my kid had at the beginning of the pandemic. It was scary and sad, but we made it through.

Also, ugh the pandemic the pandemic the pandemic.

I won a poetry prize through my press and published my first book of poems. I won a poetry prize through a literary journal. I won a poetry prize through my graduate department. One of my poems was anthologized in the 2019 Best American Nonrequired Reading.

I was awarded funding to attend the Sewanee Writers’ Conference and the Vermont Studio Center.

I started doing editing work for the literary journal I volunteer for.

I attended three AWP conferences.

I was accepted to a PhD program in Creative Writing after applying to it three times over the course of about ten years.

My IUD failed and I got pregnant. That pregnancy ended tragically, just three weeks short of viability. 

I’ve done a lot of therapy the past two years.

I did life drawing sessions briefly but regularly just before the pandemic hit.

I met so many people, mostly other poets and writers and artists. Before the pandemic, I felt happy with my social life. Now, I feel isolated and sad and lonely, but I’m hopeful that eventually I’ll find more equilibrium. 

I twirled batons twice as a Leijorette in Chewbacchus, which is a Mardi Gras parade.

I finished the coursework portion of my PhD program. I mostly excelled as both a student and a teacher even though each semester brought a new crisis and unimaginable difficulty. 

I have grown creatively and empathetically. I still like to run and draw and write. I still haven’t had much of any kind of professional career, though I’m trying to establish the beginning of one through this PhD. I’m not the best spouse, but I’m a good spouse to Dominic (most times.) I’m not the best mom, but I’m a good mom to my kid (most times.) I’m not the best poet, but I work hard and write and publish good poems sometimes. I’m lucky to have the life I have; I’m also frustrated by how difficult my life has been at times during these past ten years. I’ve navigated a lot of hard stuff, but I’m still here, about to enter the next decade. 

[irisbleufic]

Oh no I hope you didnt’t go to AWP with your immune system still compromised! San Antonio had a Covid 19 case confirmed earlier this week. Be careful.

Thanks for your concern, anon. I’m being careful, I promise. I’ve been in the hospital about 2 or 3 times a month since September last year, sometimes for a week, and sometimes for just a day or so. I had a flu shot in October as soon as I was told it would be preferable for me to do so. At this rate, I’m at more risk from my ongoing surgical complications than I am from COVID-19. I have a signing to do for my new poetry collection here at AWP, and I’m on a panel, too. Maybe cancer has made me blasé, but I know my preventative measures, and I stick to them. I’m not afraid of contracting the coronavirus. Too much has stopped me from living my life these past 12 months. I refuse to back down from things that ring me joy and let me connect with others.

[nyfacurrent]

Business of Art | Making it Work Outside of New York City

How to cultivate your creative practice and career where you live and beyond.

New York City has a wealth of resources for artists and creative consumers alike, yet there are also challenges associated with being a working artist here, including a high cost of living and limited opportunities for affordable workspace. As much as we love our city (New York Foundation for the Arts’ office is in Brooklyn, after all), for the purposes of this post, we’re focusing our lens outside of city limits to examine how you can best cultivate your creative practice and career.

Develop your goals as an artist.

We talked to three artists who have exhibited widely both within their local communities as well as internationally: Jan Harrison (Recharge Foundation Fellow ’19), who after living in Cincinnati for many years settled in Kingston, NY, two and a half hours away from Manhattan, and Kim Bishop (IAP Mentor ’19) and Luis Valderas (IAP Mentor ’19), who in addition to being artists, co-founded the 3rd Space Art Gallery in San Antonio, TX.

Bishop and Valderas emphasized that it is important for working artists to “have a clear vision of your goal as an artist, then be ready, and be professional.” Artist-centered professional development and entrepreneurial training programs can help you define your artistic vision as well as short and long term goals. In addition to reaching out to your regional or state arts councils for opportunities, several national organizations offer both in-person or remote learning options, including NYFA Learning and the nonprofit organization Creative Capital. Harrison also echoed the need for artists to be proactive about finding opportunities and cultivating their careers, “Find your own way; don’t just try and fit within an established art world. Be creative about how you are going to exhibit your work.”

Be involved in your local arts community.

As a working artist, be involved in your local arts community where you can find like-minded artists and creative professionals to share resources, exhibit work, and learn about new opportunities. Outside of New York City, arts communities tend to be smaller and tight-knit, yet they are often more accessible to new artists. Harrison suggested that artists “go to local openings and studio visits as much as possible, and find connections that aren’t necessarily in the arts, but that have shared passions.” As you discover artists and organizations nearby that you respect, sign up for their mailing lists, follow them on social media, and participate in their programming as much as possible.

“Be prepared to share your knowledge through mentorship or teaching because you have to show how art is valuable to your community,” emphasized Bishop and Valderas, “Be active in the development of art policy in your city.” Search Americans for the Arts’ Arts Service Directory to find your local arts agencies; Americans for the Arts also lists an advocacy toolkit for individuals and information about current legislation affecting the arts on their website.

Be part of the broader arts community, too.

Arts writers and collectors tend to be clustered around international arts centers, such as New York City and Los Angeles, so seek out opportunities to develop connections in those places while still living and being active in your local arts community. Stay up-to-date with industry-related news in your discipline, including reading local and international arts and culture publications and following artists you admire on social media. Develop a strong digital presence, including a website with professional-quality images of current work and previous projects, and maintain active social media accounts. Harrison explained that some of her exhibition opportunities in the United States and in Europe came from relationships that started through various forms of communication, including global environmental and animal activism, as well as social media. She also maintains many personal and professional relationships in New York City and beyond.

In addition to a strong digital presence, Bishop and Valderas recommended that artists develop relationships with academic institutions, join professional associations and participate in their conferences, and apply for residencies to make connections outside of their geographic region. They also advised that artists can “develop your network outside of the community by traveling as well as hosting.”

Find open calls online on NYFA’s Opportunities & Services page, NYFA Source, the Alliance for Artist Communities Residency Directory, and discipline-specific resources such as Common Field, Poets & Writers, and Theatre Communications Group. National visual, performing, and literary conferences that artists and industry professionals both attend include convenings by the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP), Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP), and the College Art Association (CAA).

As an artist, find opportunities to channel your creative energy both within and outside your local arts community to raise your visibility, learn from peers and mentors, and build lasting relationships across the diverse populations of arts enthusiasts in this country and abroad. “Think locally, regionally, and globally,” said Harrison, “You can do all three.”

- Maria Villafranca, NYFA Coach

You can find more articles on arts career topics by visiting the Business of Art section of NYFA’s website. Sign up for NYFA News and receive artist resources and upcoming events straight to your inbox.

Image: Jan Harrison (Recharge Foundation Fellow ’19), FOUNDLING, 2015, Photo Credit: Nancy Donskoj

[willowspringsbooks]

WS Books & WS Magazine at AWP

Willow Springs Books & WS Magazine will be in attendance in San Antonio, TX, March 5th. Sadly ,Cameron McGill won't be able to make it but copies of his chapbook, 'Meridians' will be available at our booth.

You can also purchase 'Meridians' by Cameron McGill on Sumittable.com

https://wse.submittable.com/submit/158116/order-meridians-by-cameron-mcgill-poetry-chapbook?fbclid=IwAR3sZT24shkKONfXL74XFBOHMw5sXdvu6jp8z8bWX0mRspyoBHoWs6ZVUYs

Also be sure to puchase for 'things we'll need for the coming difficulties' by Valerie Vogrin on Sumittable as well.

https://wse.submittable.com/submit/152379/pre-order-things-well-need-for-the-coming-difficulties-by-valerie-vogrin

(you must have a Sumittable account to order)

[lalobalives]

Writing the Mother Wound, A Reading at AWP 2020 in San Antonio

Writing the Mother Wound, A Reading at AWP 2020 in San Antonio

The Writing the Mother Wound Reading is coming to AWP on Saturday, March 7th, 9am – 10:15am, in Room 206A of the Henry B. González Convention Center, on the Meeting Room Level

EVENT DESCRIPTION:

We live in a culture that insists that we sacrifice ourselves at the altar of the mother, and are shamed when we refuse. How do we push back on the imposed silences, and what can we do to make work…

[i-write-shakespeare-not-disney]

So the AWP conference is hosted by the Association of Writers and Writing Programs. It’s starts March 5 at 9 am and goes until midnight on Saturday. It’s in San Antonio this year and I haven’t been but one of the organizers came to one of my classes today it sounded like something you might be interested in

Oooih I'd have to look into it!

[ericboyd]

Photos from AWP 19

Had a good time for AWP at the end of March. It was the first time I’d been to Portland since 2014, when I did a Tin House summer conference (however, I never left the conference and didn’t see any of the actual city). It was good to explore and meet with so many old and new friends. My panel went well and I hope to make it to San Antonio for AWP 2020!

[margaretemmainstagram]

we love a Lenten fish fry! (all to-go this year for safety. 😷) it'a absolutely crazy to remember that this time last year we went to the same KofC fish fry just before our trip to San Antonio for AWP... and then all hell broke loose. #fishfry #🐟 #Lent https://www.instagram.com/p/CLxr4LNB-zU/?igshid=d7c1vtvhk4mv

[godobe]

Good riddance, 2020! Still, you had your moments. In the before times: Celebrated radiant new bride @julianneloof in Hawaii. Met LAFCA’s rock-star 2020 scholarship winners @la_kristen_virgen and @alcirengifo. Debuted @expositionreview at AWP in San Antonio. During the pandemic: Wrote about small businesses navigating the coronavirus crisis. Visited the parents in Nipomo while the state shut down around us. Launched a column dedicated to films by women. Celebrated glowing mom-to-be @boomigotchyoman. Admired @writegirlla’s online pivot. Toasted to 25 years with @jeff.kloehn on Zoom. 🎊 #bestnine2020 #topnine2020 #ipickedmyown https://www.instagram.com/p/CJfWtMapblf/?igshid=16os2cp3bcmom

[phoenixwritings]

I’m missing #AWP due to the state of emergency in San Antonio. I’m bummed, but I may do catch up on writing and other things I’ve been putting off. This view each day, it takes my breath away. So many things are coming together, and I’ve not felt the greatest the past month, but I’m feeling my spirts lifting. Six weeks left in the semester. Four months off. I love my life. I love the challenges. I love the exploration that I’m in. #highereducation #instructorlife #writing #inspiration #piscesseason https://www.instagram.com/p/B9USTu8JCXr/?igshid=1dih24gwxh1p5

[siennaswritings]

Mine and my group’s hauls from AWP this year!!! It was a really good first experience, and we hope we can make it back next year 🎉🎉

[kabillieu]

I finally turned in the third round of edits for my manuscript to my publisher. I simultaneously hope that only copywriting edits are left and am grateful for the rigor of being put through three detailed full-manuscript edits. I didn’t necessarily expect that amount and intensity of editing, especially from a small independent press that specializes mainly in poetry.

I booked a venue for my release party! On my birthday! Months of teeth-gnashing, but I did it. Now I just have to do everything else, but the main thing holding me back was deciding on a date and booking a venue. So that. is. done.

I’ve been asked* to do one offsite reading at AWP for sure, and I’ve been approached to do a potential second reading. I am bringing my WHOLE family to San Antonio. My kid’s spring break miraculously coincides with the conference, so he and Dominic are coming, and my parents are also coming to help with babysitting so Dominic can tag along to some of the events. My mom has also expressed interest in coming to my readings. This is funny to me and sweet.

I’ve been asked to do a really fun reading series in an Omaha brewery in April.

I was also asked to perform at the Lit Fest here in August, and it’s a big deal because it will be by far the biggest and most legitimizing platform I’ve had.

For the summer, I’m trying to set up a small Southeastern book tour in New Orleans, Athens, Birmingham, and my hometown library. So far the library is refusing to call me back, and I’m a long way away from settling the other events, but if nothing else I feel like my friends will let me read my poems to them in their living rooms, so if it comes to that I would still count myself as lucky. 

All this is to say that literary people are some of the most generous, community-building people out there, and I’m so grateful for anyone who helps me amplify my voice. Writers can be wonderful. Also, it’s so helpful for me to write this list so I can see that I am trying to be professional, trying to treat my work as it is--worthy of being read. 

*asked after I emailed the journal asking if I could read at their event lol

[toriwestonwriterartist]

Just arrived from Boston to San Antonio. I know a lot of people have cancelled their #awp2020 #awp20 plans but if you are here for #awp and want someone to hang out with or still planning on having your event. Please DM me. Pic 2 is from my flight and the new drawing I finished. #writingcommunity #writingconference #whoisstillgoingtoawp #awpw2w @awpwriter #writersofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram #penandinkdrawing #femaleartist #femalewritersofinstagram #blackwritersofinstagram #blackprintmakers #blackartists (at Grand Hyatt San Antonio) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Sj-xShXwC/?igshid=100e1yiwl3k0u