OKOBOJI WRITERS’ RETREAT SPEAKER TOPICS

Speaker Name, Panel, Coaching Session Topics

Sunday, September 17, past participants are hosting a BYOB hot dog roast on the campus of Lakeside Labs. Bring a dish to share and your spirit of adventure. This is an informal and fun way for returning participants and newcomers to meet up.

September 18: Monday includes one all-group session, eight panels in one time block, three coaching sessions, and an all-group wrap-up. 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with optional evening dinner and film at the Lakes Art Center.

September 19, Tuesday schedule is repeated, starting at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. with the Sunset Lake cruise.

September 20, Wednesday, starting at 7:45 a.m., all-group, then a panel block and a coaching block, ending at 11:45 a.m.

If you are planning to attend OWR III, here is a survey form to let us know what is of most interest: Survey

AGENDA

NAME
* new OWR speaker
PANEL

COACHING SESSION I
COACHING SESSION II
COACHING SESSION III
Nichole BaartFictionNo such thing as writer’s block: Using brain science to get out of your head. Plot Fails and Pitfalls Repeat
Rekha BasuCommentary
Laura BelinNonfiction
Douglas BurnsLocal reporting master class
Maura Casey*Commentary“Problems in memoir writing (and how to solve them)“Problems in memoir writing (and how to solve them)
Rachelle ChaseStorytelling
Courtney Crowder*Storytelling
Memoir
Introduction to oral storytelling: How to tell an oral story + hands-on coaching with volunteers to help craft a story (Kim Norvell and Courtney Crowder)How to write stories that people want to read How two print journalists made a documentary (with Ty Rushing)
Art CullenNonfiction
John Dinges
NonfictionFinding secretsThe Dilemmas of Disinformation: Ethics and verification in the fight against Fake NewsWriting starts with reporting
Todd DormanCommentaryHow to structure opinion pieces, letting your voice come throughStructuring your opinion column, editorial or letter to the editorDon’t feed the trolls and other tips for dealing with critics
Allison EngelStorytellingTurning Real-Life Events Into PlaysSpeechwriting Isn’t Only for Politicians
Deb EngleMemoirWriting Your Life Through MemoirWriting to InspireSpiritual Fiction
Grant Faulkner*FictionThe Art of BrevityWriting with Abandon: A Crash Course in Writing Your NovelNaNoWriMo is all about getting your story on the page. If something has been holding you back from writing your novel—whether it be lack of time, lack of motivation, or just plain fear—then NaNoWriMo Executive Director Grant Faulkner will tell you how National Novel Writing Month can help
Arnold GarsonNonfiction
Memoir
How to write a family history that others will want to readFamily history research: The art of digging deepHow to make money with writing projects
Scott GarsonFictionThe Dilemmas of Disinformation: Ethics and Verification in the fight against Fake NewsSecrets of Writing the Very Short StoryYour Life in Miniature
Nik HeftmanStorytelling
Beth HoffmanMemoir
How to Write a Book, or How to Keep Going When You Are Sure You SuckWhy would anyone care about your memoirFood Writing
Phoebe Wall-HowardMasterclass reportingUsing emotional intensity in writing
Chris Jones*CommentaryGlacial History and Geology of Iowa Great LakesScientific writing for general audiencesIowa agriculture, water quality, and environment
Rachel JonesNonfictionHonoring your voice, Being Authentic.Notes From a Native Daughter—Finding My Way Back to My VoiceReclaiming My* Voice

*Your
Robert LeonardNonfiction
Substack
Getting published in the NY Times, Washington Post, and TIMEWhy not start a podcast?
Polly Letofsky*PublishingTop 25 Ways to Market Your umumnBookPublishing Scams, Pitfalls, and Biggest Boo-BoosOne-on-one coaching: After the intro to the oral storytelling course, Kim Norvell will work with interested tellers to coach their stories using traditional Des Moines Storytellers Project methods.
Kyle MunsonStorytellingInterviewing techniquesColumn WritingColumn Writing
Kim Norvell*Storytelling
Nonfiction
Introduction to oral storytelling: How to tell an oral story + hands-on coaching with volunteers to help craft a story (Kim Norvell and Courtney Crowder)One-on-one coaching: After the intro to the oral storytelling course, Kim Norvell will work with interested tellers to coach their stories using traditional Des Moines Storytellers Project methods.One-on-one coaching: After the intro to the oral storytelling course, Kim Norvell will work with interested tellers to coach their story using traditional Des Moines Storytellers Project methods.
Kathie Obradovich*Commentary
Master Class Local Reporting
How to get your commentary piece in print
Chuck OffenburgerStorytellingColumn WritingColumn WritingColumn Writing
Caleb RaineyStorytellingHook, Line, & Sinker: Using Spoken Word Techniques to Capture & Hold an AudienceProtest With Poetry: A Generative Spoken Word WorkshopRepeat
Lee RoodNonfictionDo your research: Why doing your homework matters in writing fiction, nonfiction, journalism or memoirsDo your research: Why doing your homework matters in writing fiction, nonfiction, journalism, or memoirsWhat to leave in and what to leave out
Andy RossPublishingFinding secrets,FINDING AND WORKING WITH AN AGENTQUERY LETTER WORKSHOP
Ty RushingStorytelling
Respecting Cultural Differences
Social media, community journalism, writing about cultural or social issues,How A Print Journalist Made a Movie: Using Your Writing Skills In New Ways (with Courtney Crowder)Repeat
Steve Semken*Publishing How to make your writing more powerfulWriting With the Elements: Fire, Water, Air, Ether, and Earth.How to make your writing more powerful
Mary Sharp*Nonfiction
Masterclass in local reporting
Telling Your Story: How to Write a Sterling Obituary, and WhyTelling Your Story: How to Write a Sterling Obituary, and WhyHow to make you writing more powerful
Carol Spaulding-Kruse*MemoirWRITING FROM YOUR ROOTS: How To Create Fiction from Family Lore
Mary SwanderHow to Write Great Description (and Enjoy It.)How to Write Great Description (and Enjoy It.)Writing about local history and making it universal
Cheryl Tevis*Substack
Commentary
Patricia TyrerYes, you can be a poet Bird by Bird: Tackling the Longer Forms of PoetryYes, But What Does It Mean