GREENSBORO—The North Carolina Writers’ Network 2015 Spring Conference will be Saturday, April 18, in the MHRA Building and the Curry Auditorium on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Registration is now open at www.ncwriters.org.

This year’s faculty includes a multi-platinum songwriter, a 2014 inductee of the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame, an NEA grant recipient, and several longtime, distinguished instructors of creative writing. By creating a friendly, safe, and focused learning environment, Spring Conference offers attendees not only the chance to improve one’s writing but to learn how to successfully create a writing life—and flourish.

“You come to these conferences to learn how to comport yourself,” says Keith Flynn, founder and managing editor of the Asheville Poetry Review. “To develop the professionalism and humility that will allow you to make the connections and relationships necessary to build a vibrant literary career.”

Jaki Shelton Green, of Mebane, will give the keynote address. Green was inducted into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame in 2014, was the 2009 Piedmont Laureate, and in 2003 received the NC Award for Literature. Author of several poetry collections, she will also lead the poetry workshop “Conversations in the Lines.”

Joseph Mills, author of five poetry collections, will lead the Poetry Master Class, “Changing Stories.” Award-winning author Valerie Nieman, who teaches in the creative writing program at NC A&T State University, will lead the Fiction Master Class, “A Matter of Interpretation.” The Creative Nonfiction Master Class, “Creating Presence,” will be taught by Eric G. Wilson, author of four books including the forthcoming “Keep It Fake: Inventing an Authentic Life” (FSG, 2015).

Additional offerings include a poetry workshop with Rachel Richardson; fiction workshops with New York Times bestselling author Charlie Lovett and Jacob Paul; creative nonfiction with Marianne Gingher and Tom Maxwell (formerly of the Squirrel Nut Zippers); writing for children with award-winning author Eleanora E. Tate; and two workshops focused on the publishing industry: “Don’t Forget the Small Stuff: Building Your Career” with Press 53 publisher Kevin Morgan Watson and “The Art of Branding for Authors” with Faun Finley.

The network also will offer a brand-new program this year: “Slush Pile Live!”

Throughout the day, attendees will be encouraged to drop off either 300 words of prose or one page of poetry at the registration table. The author’s name should not appear on the manuscript. At 5 p.m., a panel of editors will listen as the submissions are read out loud, and raise their hand when they hear something that would make them stop reading if the piece were being submitted to their publication. The editors will discuss what they did and did not like about the sample, offering constructive feedback on the manuscript itself and the submission process.

“If you’ve never worked or volunteered for a publisher or literary magazine before, the submission process can seem kind of mysterious,” says NCWN Executive Director Ed Southern. “‘Slush Pile Live!’ will give attendees a peak into what goes through an editor’s mind as they read their way through a stack of unsolicited submissions, with the added bonus of giving feedback to anonymously submitted manuscripts in a non-threatening way.”

In addition to new programming, familiar features will remain, including faculty readings, an open mic for conference participants, an exhibit hall packed with publishers and literary organizations, and “Lunch with an Author,” where conference-goers can spend less time waiting in line and more time talking with the author of their choice. Spaces in “Lunch with an Author” are limited and are first-come, first-served. Pre-registration and an additional fee are required for this offering.

The NCWN 2015 Spring Conference is sponsored in part by 88.5 WFDD Public Radio, the Greensboro News & Record, and UNCG’s Creative Writing Program. Free parking for Spring Conference registrants will be available in the Oakland Avenue Parking Deck, across Forest Street from the MHRA Building (behind Yum Yum Better Ice Cream and Old Town Draught House).

The nonprofit North Carolina Writers’ Network is the state’s oldest and largest literary arts services organization devoted to writers at all stages of development. For additional information, and to register, visit www.ncwriters.org.

Book signing

Carrie Bolton, former professor at Livingstone College and retired pastor, has self-published a small book of vignettes on her experiences working with others.

This book, dedicated to the late Mattie T. Lakin, is interlaced with brief words of wisdom about what it means to serve and grow in ministry. Bolton’s book signing for “The Children Who Cried” will be on March 14 from 2-5 p.m. in the community room at 805 Newsome Road.

Books will be available for purchase at $10. For additional information on Bolton, please see Barry Yeomen’s article “Holy Spirit.” http://barryyeoman.com/1999/03/holy-spirit-carrie-bolton/