WCU’s 20th Spring Literary Festival returns in person on Monday, March 14, after two years of being virtual.
The festival has a long tradition of bringing diverse writers to the university. It began as WCU’s Visiting Writers series, the oldest series in North Carolina.
“The festival tries to bring a diverse and robust offering of the literary world to a place that often gets passed for book tours,” said Jeremy Jones, festival director. “We try to get people from far away and people from the region.”
This year’s festival is much bigger, bragging 15 visiting writers. The festival features local writers and writers from across the country.
This year is also the first time that the festival will be back fully in-person.
“It’s nerve-racking and exciting,” said Jones.
The festival offers many events, all of which will take place in the AK Hinds University Center Theater. Writers will read their work, answer questions, and sign books.
According to Jones, writers will also visit the students in some form. Writers will typically visit classes to answer questions. Visiting writer, Aimee Nezhukumatahil, will take students on a nature walk to discuss writing about the natural world on Thursday, March 17.
The festival also offers six creative writing competitions for students. This is the festival’s third year of offering competitions for undergraduate students and the first year to offer a competition for graduate students. Winners of the competitions will read their work at noon on Wednesday, March 16. The winners will also receive a cash prize and get their work published. Undergraduate winners will be published in the Nomad and the graduate winners will be published in Yonder.
Students will be more involved with this year’s festival. Jones is looking for volunteers to help facilitate the execution of the festival. According to Jones, volunteers will help with “anything and everything.” Volunteers may help by escorting writers around campus, getting coffee, working tables in the UC, assisting with book-signings, and more. Volunteers can sign up here.
The festival ends on Thursday, March 17. All festival events are free and open to the public. A full schedule of the events can be seen here.
