A Day in the Life of IUWC 2022: what to expect!

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We look forward to your arrival for the annual Indiana University Writers’ Conference. Each day will be packed with exciting and inspirational events. 

On the first day, Thursday, June 2nd, you will check in at Maxwell Hall. if you are participating in a workshop, check-in starts at 8:30 a.m. If you are checking in for classes you can do so starting at 12:00 p.m. You’ll receive a swag bag and have a chance to enjoy coffee and pastries before jetting off to your first classroom. 

From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. June 2nd through 5th, Melissa Febos, Safiya Sinclair, and Shruti Swamy will conduct their workshops giving you a chance to develop and polish those pieces you’ve been working on. 

Then there will be a quick break from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch where you can venture to Kirkwood Avenue for local favorites and Fourth Street for a range of world cuisine.

We will reconvene for a panel discussion each day at 1 p.m. On June 2nd, the panel is on creative nonfiction with Melissa Febos, José Vadi, and special guest Ashley C. Ford; June 3rd is a panel about poetry with Safiya Sinclair and Nicky Beer; June 4th will feature a fiction panel with Shruti Swamy and Peter Kispert; and June 5 a panel with Michael Martone and the Indiana Review.

After the panels, it will be time to head to classes. From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on June 2nd through 5th is José Vadi’s class, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. will be Nicky Beer’s class, and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. is Peter Kispert’s class. 

Each day will conclude with refreshments and a reading at 7 p.m. On June 2nd, Ashley C. Ford will read in conjunction with the Granfalloon at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater (you will need to buy tickets for that Granfalloon-hosted event). Jose Vadi and Nicki Beer will read on Friday, Peter Kispert and Safiyda Sinclair will read Saturday and Shruti Swany and Melissa Febos will read on Sunday all in Maxwell Hall. 

During your time, there will be many other fun things you can do while in Bloomington, including all the events of the Granfalloon. Learn more and find a full calendar of events.

While some events may be happening at the same time as IUWC classes, there are many that you could still attend in your free time. On June 2nd Michael Martone will have a reading at the Orbit Room at 8:30 p.m. The Orbit Room and the Bishop Bar have live music starting at 5:30 and 9:30 respectively on June 3rd. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Bloomington Handmade Market will have booths set up selling art down Kirkwood Avenue. Also on June 4th, Michelle Zauner will give a reading at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater at noon. Finally, there will be concerts on the main stage starting at 5 p.m. featuring Car Seat Headrest, Japanese Breakfast, and NAMDI, with an after party starting at 11 p.m. at The Bishop Bar.

You will never be bored during your time at the Writers’ Conference, and it’s going to be a ton of fun! We can’t wait to see you all here! See a full schedule of our week.