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Writers' Weekend

April 18 & 19, 2026

Calling all writers and aspiring writers to Fayetteville Public Library’s first annual Writers’ Weekend!

Hear from published authors, journalists, editors and others in the literary field about their writing journeys and best practices for how to discover (and publish!) your best writing. Writers of all styles are invited to participate! 

Registration for sessions opens March 28 at 7 a.m.

2026 Presenters

David Scott Cunningham

David Scott Cunningham

Editor-in-Chief, University of Arkansas Press

Elizabeth Muscari

Elizabeth Muscari

Poet & Interdisciplinary Artist

Jane V. Blunschi

Jane V. Blunschi

Lambda Literary Emerging Voices fellow (2014)

Laura Lee Washburn

Laura Lee Washburn

Professor & Director of Creative Writing, Pittsburg State University

Kate Hart

Kate Hart

Author of After the Fall

Noelia Cerna

Noelia Cerna

Poet & author of Las Piedrecitas

Jane Elzey

Former journalist & editor turned novelist

Jeremy Billingsley

Author & Editor-in-Chief, Sley House Publishing

Vinita Hampton Wright

Author & Former Editor

About Writers' Weekend

Sessions will take place throughout the day on Saturday, and while you’re here we hope you’ll also take the time to connect with other fellow writers. The weekend will finish with an open mic event in which you can share some of your work or simply come support Northwest Arkansas’ writing community. Join us to learn, inspire, and be inspired.

Writers' Weekend Schedule

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Writers Weekend: Poetry Rx – A Wellness Workshop *
Sat, Apr 18, 9:30am - 11:00am
Fayetteville Public Library - Walker Community Room (3rd Floor)
Poetry Rx is a 90-minute generative workshop focused on wellness presented by Elizabeth Muscari.
Registration opens Saturday, March 28 2026 at 7:00am
Writers Weekend: Serious Nonfiction * - An Intro to University Presses & Academic Publishing
Sat, Apr 18, 9:30am - 11:00am
Fayetteville Public Library - Ann Henry Board Room (3rd Floor)
This interactive seminar led by David Scott Cunningham of the University of Arkansas Press will introduce you to the network of institutions that invented book publishing nearly 500 years ago.
Registration opens Saturday, March 28 2026 at 7:00am
Writers Weekend: Want/Need *
Sat, Apr 18, 9:30am - 11:00am
Fayetteville Public Library - First Security Bank Board Room (2nd Floor)
In this generative fiction writing workshop taught by Jane V. Blunschi, participants will learn, discuss, and practice techniques for identifying and writing characters through the lens of motivation.
Registration opens Saturday, March 28 2026 at 7:00am
Writers Weekend: Vision & Re-Vision for Reading Rizz *
Sat, Apr 18, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Fayetteville Public Library - Walker Community Room (3rd Floor)
In this 90-minute revision and performance workshop, participants will work on revising a poem in preparation for reading at an open mic or other event.
Registration opens Saturday, March 28 2026 at 7:00am
Writers Weekend: All About Literary Agents *
Sat, Apr 18, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Fayetteville Public Library - Ann Henry Board Room (3rd Floor)
Join Kate Hart for an introduction to working with literary agents for writers interested in pursuing traditional publishing.
Registration opens Saturday, March 28 2026 at 7:00am
Writers Weekend: Intuition & Common Sense * - The Landscape of a Writing Life
Sat, Apr 18, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Fayetteville Public Library - First Security Bank Board Room (2nd Floor)
This workshop led by Vinita Hampton Wright will explore how writing grows out of the multiple layers of a person's experiences, which is often an intuitive process.
Registration opens Saturday, March 28 2026 at 7:00am
Writers Weekend: The Writer’s World *
Sat, Apr 18, 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Fayetteville Public Library - Walker Community Room (3rd Floor)
In this workshop led by Noelia Cerna, participants will explore the definition of writing as a lifetime practice and write to prompts designed around this concept.
Registration opens Saturday, March 28 2026 at 7:00am
Writers Weekend: Publishing Horror & Southern Gothic *
Sat, Apr 18, 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Fayetteville Public Library - Ann Henry Board Room (3rd Floor)
This workshop led by Jeremy Billingsley of Sley House Publishing will define horror and the southern gothic and reflect on how these two genres work together.
Registration opens Saturday, March 28 2026 at 7:00am
Writers Weekend: Hide & Seek for Writers *
Sat, Apr 18, 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Fayetteville Public Library - First Security Bank Board Room (2nd Floor)
In this hands-on workshop, discover how writers plant clues, hide meaning in plain sight, and use red herrings to keep readers guessing about where the plot is headed.
Registration opens Saturday, March 28 2026 at 7:00am
Writers Weekend: Blackout Poetry
Sun, Apr 19, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Fayetteville Public Library - Art & Movement Room (2nd Floor)
Drop in any time during this open workshop to create blackout poetry using recycled books and magazines.
See all events