King’s College to host Creative Writing Conference

For Immediate Release
Further information: Contact Joseph Giomboni
Public Relations Office, (570) 208-5957

October 12, 2017 – King’s College will host diverse writing workshops, roundtable discussions, and open readings as part of the annual Creative Writing Conference on Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11, on the College’s campus in Wilkes-Barre. The conference is sponsored by the English Department and the Campion Society, a student organization dedicated to writing.

The event is open to the public and designed for writers of all experience levels to join as a community to discuss the craft. Writers will hone their skills in fiction and stand-up comedy workshops and learn methods to prepare works for public presentation and write query letters. Attendees will hear readings from King’s alumni and current students, attend workshops hosted by published authors, and participate in a reception and roundtable discussion with workshop hosts.

On Friday, current students will present workshops on creative writing fundamentals. Jacob Benkinney will discuss crafting a compelling query letter and targeting agents; Pat Corcoran and Sam Zavada will dissect the concept of “voice” and offer tips for an author’s personality and attitude to shine on the page; Sarah Gyle will highlight the basics of flash fiction and creative nonfiction; Amy Higgins will explore ways to dramatize description and differences between “show, don’t tell”; and Stephanie Zedolik will present the building blocks of an engaging plot.

Recent King’s graduates will host creative writing workshops. Genel Gronkowski will lead “Portraying Mental Health in Fiction,” focusing on setting, character, and environmental factors that can influence a reader’s perception of mental health. She is a contributing writer for “Mookychick,” where she has published over 27 published stories on a variety of topics including folklore and mental health.

Stand-up comedian Zack Hammond will exam the anatomy of a joke, including editing, storytelling, and comedy that ends with a punchline. He has performed in clubs and theaters around the United States. He has produced three comedy albums, "Sorrow Tree," "Appalling," and, most recently, “Utilitarian.” He has won multiple competitions and participated in numerous comedy festivals.

Brandon McNulty, author of horror and other dark fiction, will focus on plot structure with an analysis of “Star Wars” films and “Game of Throne.” His work has appeared in “Bastion Science Fiction,” “Sci Phi Journal,” and “Digital Horror Fiction.” A graduate of Taos Toolbox Sci-Fi/Fantasy Workshop, he was a Regional Finalist in a short story competition sponsored by the National Society of Arts & Letters in 2010.

Jess Rafalko will host the workshop on the nuances of story point-of-view, titled “Who’s Story Is It, Anyway? Finding the Right Point-of-View in Your Novel or Short Story.” Her fiction has appeared in “The Delta Epsilon Sigma Journal,” “The Apple Valley Review,” and “One Story.” She is currently an associate fiction editor for “The Journal.”

Karley Stasko will present a class on the best methods for preparing original works for public presentation, including vocal warm-ups, breathing exercises, and light yoga. She is studying screenwriting in the master’s degree program at Wilkes University. She presents much of her creative work at local conferences and readings. A production of her play “Committed” was performed at King's in 2014.

The deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 30. The conference is free for high school students. There is a $5 fee for all other participants, which includes lunch on Saturday. The conference will be held in the McGowan School of Business located on N. River Street. Parking will be available at on-campus lots.

For more information on the creative writing conference or to register, please Jennifer Yonkoski, instructor of English at King’s College, at (570) 208-5900, ext. 5487 or e-mail jenniferyonkoski@kings.edu.