Zone 3 Writers Festival
Zone 3 Press and the Creative Writing Program at Austin Peay State University are pleased to announce the inaugural Zone 3 Writers Festival! This event is hosted on Austin Peay State University's Main Campus in Clarksville, TN.
HUMANITY is the theme of this year's festival. We invite proposals for individual papers, panels, workshops, and readings of creative work that investigate the human experience. This year, festival attendees have the opportunity to attend craft talks and readings led by professional writers, participate in generative writing workshops, attend informational panels on writing and the writing industry, and meet with APSU creative writing faculty.
Submit your proposal here.
| April 10, 2025 | ||
| 6:45 PM | Art + Design 120, Lobby | Reception and Refreshments |
| 7:00 PM | Art + Design 120 | The Zone 3 Visiting Writers Series Presents: Dustin M. Hoffman A Q&A will follow the reading. |
| 8:00 PM | Art + Design, Lobby | A Book Signing with Dustin M. Hoffman |
| April 11, 2025 | ||
| 9:00 AM | Morgan University Center, Lobby (Outside Einstein's Bagels) | Registration and Refreshments (All Day) |
| 9:30 AM | Morgan University Center, Plaza | Zone 3 Bookfair (All Day) |
| 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM | Morgan University Center, 307 | Opening Plenary: Bryn Agnew, Author of "Raptors in the Later Age": Zone 3 Editor Prize Winner in Fiction |
| 10:20 AM - 11:20 AM (A) | Morgan University Center, 306 | Red Mud Review Editor Prize Winners Presenters: Bo Hammond, Karolyn Ramirez, and Angela Heiser |
| 10:20 AM - 11:20 AM (B) | Morgan University Center, 307 | The Art of the Specific: Evolving Detail-Oriented to Detail-Obsessed Presenter: Dustin M. Hoffman |
| 10:20 AM - 11:20 AM (C) | Morgan University Center, 308 | The Kernel of Truth in Fiction (Virtual) Presenter: Sarah Layden |
| 10:20 AM - 11:20 AM (D) | Morgan University Center, 310 | A Gov and Beyond: Promoting First-Year Writing at APSU Presenters: Avery Hoang, Zoe Wolf, Dr. Keely Mohon-Doyle |
| 11:25 AM - 12:25 PM (A) | Morgan University Center, 306 | Finding Your Territory: Writing the Intersection of Body and Belonging Presenter: Heather Hawk |
| 11:25 AM - 12:25 PM (B) | Morgan University Center, 307 | The Publishing Industry (Virtual) Presenters: Justin Brouckaert, Literary Agent; Michael Welch, Editor; Laura Stanfill, Publisher |
| 11:25 AM - 12:25 PM (C) | Morgan University Center, 308 | The Role of Fictional Characters and Fiction’s Connection to Humanity Presenters: Cresta McGowan and Astro Phoenix |
| 11:25 AM - 12:25 PM (D) | Morgan University Center, 310 | Scott Shumate and D&D Presenters: Scott Shumate, Darren V. Michael, Sabrina Sanford, Ark Christian, Pierce Perry |
| 12:25 PM - 1:25 PM | Morgan University Center, 307 | Lunch |
| 12:40 PM - 1:25 PM | Morgan University Center, 307 | Lunchtime Plenary: Heather Hawk, Author of "A Forager's Guide to Love": Zone 3 Editor Prize Winner for Creative Nonfiction |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (A) | Morgan University Center, 306 | Writing Outside the Writing Industry Presenters: Dr. Jessica Johnston, Jonathan Kenner, Jonathan Gibson, Cody Mohon, Dee Sloss |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (B) | Morgan University Center, 307 | The Digital Art of Storytelling Presenter: Dr. Gwendolyn Paradice |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (C) | Morgan University Center, 308 | Taking the Words Right Out of Their Mouths: Poetics Workshop (Virtual) Presenter: Callie Jennings |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (D) | Morgan University Center, 310 | Embodying Grief: A Poetic Form Workshop Presenter: Bess Cooley |
| 2:35 PM - 3:20 PM | Morgan University Center, 307 | Afternoon Plenary: Calie Jennings, Author of “Seven of the Bonus Stages of Grief:” Zone 3 Editor Prize Winner in Poetry (Virtual) |
| 3:25 PM - 4:25 PM (A) | Morgan University Center, 306 | How to Incorporate Multiple Art Forms and Self Expression into Your Degree Presenters: Bo Hammond, Marcel Stowe, Griffin Bowie |
| 3:25 PM - 4:25 PM (B) | Morgan University Center, 307 | Professional and Technical Writing Professors Discuss AI Presenters: Dr. Mickey Wadia, Dr. Brandi Fuglsby, Dr. David Major |
| 3:25 PM - 4:25 PM (C) | Morgan University Center, 308 | The Writing Co-op: A Discussion on Maintaining Writing Connections Beyond the Workshop
(Virtual) Presenters: Dr. Stephanie Dugger & Ericka Arcadia |
| 3:25 PM - 4:25 PM (D) | Morgan University Center, 310 | Panel Four: A Workshop on Humor as Healing in Poetry Presenter: Bryanna Liccardi |
| 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Morgan University Center, 307 | Closing Plenary: Malcolm Glass, Co-Founder of Zone 3 |
| April 12, 2025 | ||
| 9:30 AM | Art + Design 120, Lobby | Reception and Refreshments |
| 10:00 AM | Art + Design 120 | Tennessee's Emerging Creative Writers Contest Ceremony Winners presented by Red Mud Review editors |
All attendees will receive lunch on Friday, April 11. This event is free to attend, though donations to the APSU SOS Food Pantry and the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts are gladly accepted.