Louisiana Writing Resources
Louisiana is next in our series of State Writing Resources. Known as the Creole State, the Pelican State and Sportsman’s Paradise (!), Louisiana was admitted to the Union in 1812, and in 1815 was the site of the closing battle of the War of 1812.
There, don’t say I never taught you any history on this here readin’ ‘n’ writin’ blog.
Louisiana writing boasts luminaries like Anne Rice, Arnaud Wendell Bontemps, Walker Percy (The Moviegoer) and Tyler Perry. John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces is surely one of the more well-known books to come out of the state. And it’s funny as hell. For a fascinating look at this book’s path to publication–after Toole committed suicide at age 31, his mother got the book into the hands of the aforementioned Percy–check out this piece.
Presented in no particular order, here are ten Louisiana writing resources, from conferences to local critique groups to literary magazines. If you live in that Sportsman’s/Sportswoman’s Paradise or are planning a move there, these are some organizations you might want to take a peek at.
Conference registration includes all workshops/sessions, a sit-down luncheon featuring the keynote speaker, access to book signings, and a sit-down dinner.
2) Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association
A nonprofit professional improvement organization for those with an interest in nature-based communications and outdoor activities.
3) Pen to Press Writers’ Retreat
Pen to Press Retreats are five intense, hands-on, inspiring days that teach participants how to shape and present a saleable manuscript.
4) Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society
This nationally recognized nonprofit arts organization’s two most ambitious annual projects are Words and Music, a literary feast in New Orleans, and The William Faulkner – William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition.
WGA is an organization made up of local writers, published and unpublished, who meet the last Tuesday of each month to share and gain knowledge in the craft of writing.
6) The Louisiana Sports Writers Association
Aims to foster and promote the dissemination of information on athletics and sports activities, to encourage the highest standards of sports journalism in the communications media, and to promote better working conditions for state sports writers and sportscasters.
Books column by journalist Chere Dastugue Coen, published on Sundays in The Daily Advertiser of Lafayette and Monroe News Star of Monroe.
8) Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival
The Festival’s mission is threefold: to serve the community through educational, theatrical, literary and musical programs; to nurture, support and showcase regional, national and international writers, actors, musicians and other artists; and to honor the creative genius of Tennessee Williams, who considered New Orleans his spiritual home.
One of the nation’s premiere literary journals, and hailed by Time as “superior to any other journal in the English language.” The Southern Review publishes a diverse array of fiction, nonfiction and poetry by the country’s—and the world’s—most respected contemporary writers.
10) The Festival of Words Cultural Arts Collective
This literary arts organization strives to promote the literary arts–and other arts as well–through open mics, writing groups and an annual festival.
Help us add to this list, Louisianans! Do you run a local writing group or a lit journal we should be aware of? Feel free to share info and links in the comments section below.
The Hammond Regional Arts Center cordially invites you to join us as we kick off our very first literary festival “A Celebration of the Written Word.” Come meet and hear 25 Louisianian authors, including former Louisiana Poet Laureate Julie Kane. Other guest authors include Jack Bedell, Alison Pelegrin, Donna Gay Anderson, David Armand, O’Neil De Noux and several others. The authors will host open panel discussions of their works as well as master classes for writers. The event will be on Saturday, March 15 in the Hammond Regional Arts Center starting at 8:00 a.m. Registration costs $35.00 to attend, which… Read more »