Daytona State College's People of the Pen: A Writers' Festival

Event Description

The People of the Pen, Daytona State's creative writing club, welcomes you to a world of writing. Join renowned faculty in Root Hall for a series of sessions aimed at improving your craft. Listen to local authors offer practical advice on publication, community, and getting started. Learn about the many organizations and opportunities for writers in our area. Most of all, have fun and express yourself. Whether you are a beginning writer or a lifelong wordsmith, this event will engage your creativity. The festival will conclude with an open mic session in the Root Family Auditorium to share and celebrate our collective voices. This festival is geared towards ages 12 and older. Food from a local food truck will be available for purchase. 

Admission: Free for members or with paid museum admission. $5.00 for Daytona State students with student ID. 

Session List

• David Axelrod, Volusia County Poet Laureate will give a talk showcasing local opportunities for writers of all ages
• Jessica Kester, poetry editor for the Journal of Florida Studies, will lead a poetry workshop titled, "Unlikely Inspiration"
• Sally McGhee, writing professor, will host a creative nonfiction workshop titled, "Telling Our Stories"
• David Finkle, author, educator, and cartoonist will host a fiction workshop titled, "Big Picture/Close Up Writing" 
• Elena Jarvis, senior professor and advisor for Aeolus, will offer an informative session titled, "Write Naked: Writer's Block, Final Drafts, and Finding Your Truth"
• Scott Velazco, spoken word poet and music production professor, will host a poetry workshop titled, "Performance-Based Poetry"
• Dr. Michelle Lee, author and creative writing professor, will lead a poetry workshop titled, "Finding the Small"
• Rachel Owens and Michael Flota, Daytona State faculty, will give a talk titled, "The Keys to Self Publishing" 
• M.B. McLatchey, Volusia County Poet Laureate, will moderate a panel discussion with other poets titled, "What is Poetry Anyway?" and lead a poetry workshop on Ekphrasis
• Racquel Henry, founder of the Orlando writing center, "Writers' Atelier, and Paige Lavoie, author and creator of the YouTube series, "Motivational Minute," will lead a motivational fiction workshop
• Valerie Willis and Laura E. Perez, novelists, will lead a fantasy writing workshop titled, "World Building"

Session Times

Session 1 (at 11:20 am)

• Table A - Poetry: "Unlikely Inspiration" with Jessica Kester 
• Table B - Prose: "Big Picture/Close Up Writing" with David Finkle 
• Table C - Poetry: "Ekphrasis" with M.B. McLatchey 
• Table D - Poetry: "Finding the Small" with Dr. Michelle Lee 
• Root Family Auditorium - Slam Poetry: "Performance-Based Poetry" with Scott Velazco 
• Root Family Museum - Advice: "The Keys to Self-Publishing" with Michael Flota and Rachel Owens 

Session 2 (at 12:00 pm)

• Table A - Poetry: "Unlikely Inspiration" with Jessica Kester 
• Table B - Prose: "Big Picture/Close Up Writing" with David Finkle 
• Table C - Poetry: "Ekphrasis" with M.B. McLatchey 
• Table D - Fiction: "World Building" with Valerie Willis and Lauren E. Perez 
• Root Family Auditorium - Slam Poetry: "Performace-Based Poetry" with Scott Velazco 
• Root Family Museum - Advice: "The Keys to Self-Publishing" with Michael Flota and Rachel Owens 

Session 3 (at 12:40 pm)

• Table A - Nonfiction: "Telling Our Stories" with Sally McGhee
• Table B - Advice: "Write Naked" with Elena Jarvis 
• Table C - Prose: "Motivational Minute" with Raquel Henry and Paige Lavoire 
• Table D - Fiction: "World Building" with Valerie Willis and Lauren E. Perez 
• Root Family Auditorium - Panel Discussion: "What is Poetry Anyway?" with M.B. McLatchey, Jessica Kester, and Dr. Michelle Lee
• Root Family Museum - Advice: "Getting Involved with Writing" with David Axelrod 

Session 4 (at 1:20 pm)

• Table A - Nonfiction: "Telling Our Stories" with Sally McGhee 
• Table B - Advice: "Write Naked" with Elena Jarvis
• Table C - Prose: "Motivational Minute" with Raquel Henry and Paige Lavoie
• Table D - Fiction: "World Building" with Valerie Willis and Lauren E. Perez 
• Root Family Auditorium - Panel Discussion: "What is Poetry Anyway?" with M.B. McLatchey, Jessica Krester, and Dr. Michelle Lee 
• Root Family Museum - Advice: "Getting Involved with Writing" with David Axelrod 

Closing Remarks (at 2:00 pm)

• Root Family Auditorium - Closing Remarks, readings, and open mic session hosted by The People of the Pen