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| Photo By Matt Borgerding |
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The masterminds: Intank's Kathy Holwadel (left) and Jeff Syroney
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InkTank commanders-in-chief Kathy Holwadel and Jeff Syroney like to talk about their plan to turn Cincinnati into a "literary mecca," or a "place that respects every voice." If they succeed, then that turns the second annual Writer's Weekend (Friday-Sunday) into the high holy days of the year for writers across the region.
The writer's conference, which is free and open to the public, takes place mostly in downtown Cincinnati at the Main Branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, with other events available offsite. The weekend includes panel discussions on various aspects of the writing craft and business, open mic performances and a keynote address by novelist Diana Abu-Jaber.
According to Holwadel, who founded InkTank in early 2004, Writer's Weekend is the only event in the U.S. where writers, editors and publishers appear for free to support local writers.
"It's amazing what people will do if you follow it up with 'Please say yes,' " says Syroney, InkTank's executive director.
What's more, other people working locally in the trade approached Holwadel after the panels were set to say that they should have been included, too.
"Some of the people were kind of angry," she says, grinning.
Laura Dell, programs and exhibitions coordinator for the library, reports that people have called from Dayton and elsewhere to ask about hotels for the weekend. Last year's event, which ran for a single day after only two months of preparation, attracted approximately 400 people. This year, the goal is to double attendance.
The diverse audience has been a high point for the library, with people of different ages and backgrounds represented at Writer's Day 2004.
"I love seeing high school kids come to something at 10 in the morning on a Saturday," Dell says.
"This whole thing has been set up to connect people who wouldn't otherwise be connected, so the invitation is open," explains Holwadel.
As for how effective the event is in getting local writers published, Holwadel isn't sure, because publication isn't the major goal. "It's to create a sense of community," she says.
Dell agrees. "This conference isn't just about getting published," she says. "It's about helping people grow in their writing skills. I think we're trying to be a resource for both of those groups."
Writer's Weekend kicks off with opening ceremonies and a playwrights' panel on Friday evening at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati (ETC). The panel will feature Luther Goins, Thom Atkinson, Joseph McDonough and others. As with the panelists on other subjects, all of these writers maintain a local presence as they find opportunities elsewhere.
"Cincinnati affords a life that other cities don't," observes D. Lynn Meyers, ETC's producing artistic director. Writers here can own a home and raise a family, both of which are harder to support in places like New York on a writer's salary, she says.
Saturday's events will run all day, with 13 different 90-minute panels split into three sessions.
Cincinnati-area columnists, children's book writers, Latino poets and other local writers and publishers are slated for panel discussions. Abu-Jaber speaks at 4 p.m.
Impromptu readings have been officially scheduled into the day. Holwadel says that's to accommodate poets and writers who last year found themselves standing on tables at lunch, inspired by the morning's offerings to share their work.
Sunday's schedule includes a three-hour afternoon session with four workshops. The conference ends with a "Moveable Feast" open mic poetry event at InkTank headquarters.
The expansion of the conference into a full weekend has increased the workload for InkTank, but both Holwadel and Syroney are enthusiastic about what Writer's Weekend can become.
"We joke that next year it's going to be 'Writer's Fortnight,' " says Syroney.
WRITER'S WEEKEND happens Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For a complete list of events: www.inktank.org or 513-542-0195.
