| The Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation The Workshop Experience |
| Summer 2008 |
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| Arts Foundation (VONA) 1346 The Alameda, Suite 7-146 • San Jose, CA 95126 • (866) 202-6152 Contact VONA |
The VONA Voices workshop welcomed over 100 participating writers to the following workshops: Memoir with Faith Adiele, Fiction with Thomas Glave, Poetry with Ruth Forman, Political Content in Story, Poetry and Memoir with Elmaz Abinader, and a Masters Suite in Screenwriting with Gregory Allen Howard, in Week one, June 22-28, 2008 Novel with Chris Abani, Fiction with Mat Johnson, Poetry with Suheir Hammad, Residency with David Mura, and Memoir with Elmaz Abinader in Week two, June 29-July 3, 2008 |
Workshop Participants came from across the U.S., Canada and 3 countries. They ranged from students, to published writers, to serious writers and teachers--all writers-of-color. |
The workshops were held at the University of San Francisco and were co-sponsored by the MFA Program in Writing and the Department of English |
This year the Voices Workshop introduced a Masters Suite in Screenwriting with Gregory Allen Howard. True Story to Screen gave the writers the fundamentals of the screenplay and Mr. Howard shared his insights from the professional's perspective. |
| In terms of "nurturing" the new generation of writers, the faculty are awe inspiring. Just being able to freely was a life-changing experience. Each faculty was just as warm, and giving as the next. Participant, 2008 |
| Both Wednesdays of the VONA/Voices workshop weeks, the faculty shared their perspectives on publishing--providing wisdom, practical advice and personal stories. On Thursdays, the faculty reading was open to the public and the house was packed. Friday, the participating writers read their VONA masterpieces. |
| The publishing panel was wonderful. I loved how candidly the faculty spoke about their own writing processes and the journey each writer needs to individually undergo to reach his or her own goals. Participant 2008 |
| Was great to talk to people who understand why I write what I write and why race and politics figure so prominently in my work. ... I didn't feel the need o explain myself or have a rationale how I bring my experience as a Black woman to the page. . Participant 2008 |
| I found a group of extremely mature and talented writers who I truly respect as people. I've found that hard to come by in the writing circles I've been introduced into. Above all, VONA felt like home. |