Hear from six Acre authors as they present at this year’s AWP conference in LA from 3/27-29:

Thurs, Mar 27 

9:00 AM – 10:15 AM PDT

Everybody Gets a Stage: Starting a Reading Series That Builds Community 

As so many essential and communal literary pillars fall, writers and readers seek ways to find each other, learn from each other, and hear new work. The emergence of national reading series in the last few years reveals a desire for art and connection that won’t be left unsatiated. Join us to learn how to start your own reading series or grow one you’ve already started, and hear from new and established series founders about how to build a community from scratch and keep it thriving. 

Presenter:  Jessica Johnson 

Location: Concourse Hall 150 ABC, Level One, Los Angeles Convention Center 

Session Code: T110 

Predictable Unpredictability: Celebrating the Poetry of Reginald Shepherd 

The Pitt Poetry Series is honored to celebrate the poetry of Reginald Shepherd with the recent publication of The Selected Shepherd, selected and with an introduction by Jericho Brown. Drawing from all six of his collections, The Selected Shepherd offers a new retrospective on the work of an important and sometimes controversial Black, gay poet. Five poets will read poems from the collection and share the impact Shepherd had on the poetry community. 

Presenter: Kevin Prufer  

Location: Room 408A, Level Two, Los Angeles Convention Center 

Session Code: T121 

Fri, Mar 28 

 10:35 AM – 11:50 AM PDT 

Going Indie: Why & How to Work with Independent Publishers & Bookstores 

How do independent presses and their authors collaborate throughout the process of publishing a book, from submission, acceptance, and editorial, to marketing, sales, and beyond? How do these publishers work with distributors and indie bookstores to raise the profile of their authors and maximize sales? Representatives of indie presses in the US and Canada, their authors, and an indie bookstore owner share their practices and elaborate on their methods to foster a writer’s work. 

Presenter: Corinna Vallianatos   

Location: Room 515A, Level Two, Los Angeles Convention Center 

Session Code: F161 

3:20 PM – 4:35 PM PDT 

 Sixty Years of Community at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program 

The UCLA Extension Writers’ Program begins its sixtieth year of operation in 2025. In that time, we have helped thousands of writers find their voices and reach their writing goals in every genre of literature and screenwriting. To celebrate this achievement, join us for a reading of works by our distinguished instructors. 

Presenter: Malia Marquez 

Location: Room 402AB, Level Two, Los Angeles Convention Center 

Session Code: F230 

Sat, Mar 29   

9:00 AM – 10:15 AM PDT  

Poets’ Debut Nonfiction: Poetics, Process & Things We Wish We’d Known 

Poets come to nonfiction with undeniable strengths, but a new genre—and a different publishing landscape—may ask poets to consider new approaches to craft and process. In this panel, poets will talk through the joys and growing pains of moving into nonfiction. How can poets unfold poetics across a book-length work of prose? What rewards and challenges come with writing and publishing autobiographical nonfiction? What do panelists wish they’d known at the beginning or middle of the process? 

Moderator: Jessica Johnson 

Location: Room 501ABC, Level Two, Los Angeles Convention Center 

Session Code: S126 

An Early Spark: Writing Poems with Young People 

Writing poems teaches children confidence in their own voices and imaginations, and is an early way for them to experience firsthand the joys of language. But what writing prompts will really engage young poets? How should we modify our teaching for different ages? How can we connect with and support our communities? Panelists who have written poetry with children from kindergartners through middle schoolers will share stories, prompts, and practical advice. 

Presenter: C.T. Salazar 

Location: Room 410, Level Two, Los Angeles Convention Center 

Session Code: S124 

10:35 AM – 11:50 AM PDT 

Book Tours: Wisdom & Warning from Those Who’ve Gone Before 

“Unless you’re selling out stadiums like Michelle Obama, presses don’t pay for book tours” is a common sentiment heard by new authors. But is it true? With wisdom won from experience, this panel will share mistakes, successes, and advice learned from our own in-person and virtual tours. We’ll talk money, travel choices, tactics for filling seats, what to do when only two people show up, tricky audience members, conversation partners, whether to bring family along, and how to not burn out. 

Presenter: Tomas Moniz 

Location: Room 515B, Level Two, Los Angeles Convention Center 

Session Code: S161