On the faculty at Ermapalooza! Registration opens tomorrow!

When humor goes, there goes civilization. –Erma Bombeck

I’m excited to announce that I’m on the faculty at the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop (April 10-12). I’ve been to the conference twice as an attendee, and it is definitely one of my favorite conferences. The conference made me better as a writer, led to some major assignments, a book blurb from Senator Sherrod Brown, and, the best part, I made some real life friends, who are hilarious. That’s the great thing about a humor conference, the people who attend it are typically pretty darn funny.

I’m teaching one section…

Writing Nonfiction: Connecting People Through Stories
Kelsey Timmerman

Writers of creative nonfiction explore truths through verifiable facts, shaping the narrative using the same tools as writers of fiction: scene, pacing, setting, characterization, etc. Students will be introduced to these elements and given the opportunity to use them in their own writing and share them in the class.

The rest of the time I’ll be hanging out eating food (hands down the best conference food I’ve ever had), attending sessions, and packing in as many laughs as possible into three days.

The conference sells out fast–like a matter of two days or so fast. Since registration opens tomorrow, you better jump on it. I’d love to see you there.

You register HERE tomorrow

The official conference pitch from the organizers:

Hello, writers!

Want to laugh for three solid days? Soak in advice and encouragement from other writers? Maybe hang out with a few celebrities in the hotel bar?

Online registration opens at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 4, for the 2014 Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop at the University of Dayton. We will post a registration link on the workshop’s website that day, plus on our Facebook page and via Twitter @ebww.

Is the workshop worth it? Here’s what writers told us after the last one:

* “When I came to EBWW in 2010, I had a blog and some dreams. I came to EBWW in 2012 having had several essays published and with a book contract. Did EBWW get me published? No. But did it make me believe I could do it? Absolutely.”

* “Truly, this was the best conference I’ve ever been to for writers. Not only were the classes very informative, but my smile muscles hurt each night. …And a unique thing at this conference was the overall feeling of warmth and unity I felt throughout with kindred souls who were out to support each other and not compete.”

* “The desserts rocked.” (Everyone agreed on that point.)

We hope you’ll join us April 10-12 for what’s shaping up to be an outstanding workshop. Check out the keynoters, faculty and workshop sessions here.

Erma Bombeck will be in the national spotlight when C-SPAN2 airs stories about Dayton’s literary life and history this month.The segment featuring Erma’s legacy will air at noon on Saturday, Dec. 21. Tune in!

Are the stars laughing behind your back? Chuckle at Beth Bartlett’s recent horoscope for Scorpio: “It is better to have loved and lost than to keep checking up on your exes via Facebook. If you drop the obsession, you’ll quickly find a new one, thanks to those ever-present Candy Crush invites.” She’s our Humor Writer of the Month for her “Wisecrack Zodiac” column. It’s so fun and irreverent that the National Society of Newspaper Columnists awarded Beth’s column second place for humor in its 2013 competition.

We wish you a holiday season filled with joy and laughter.

Keep writing!

Teri Rizvi

Founder, Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop

erma@udayton.edu 

P.S. You could drop a hint. A registration to the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop would make an excellent gift.

 
2 comments

I am sorry I can’t make this. It looks really good. Dark humor is sneaking into my series, The Bancroft Affairs, and I’d like to be able to control it better.

Let your voice be heard!