Wilson College Welcomes Community to the 2026 Creative Writing Colloquium

The annual Creative Writing Colloquium at Wilson College welcomes the community to a day of inspiring presentations, discussion, and insight into the creative writing process. Writers of all levels are welcome, ages 14 and up. The event will take place Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the auditorium of the Harry R. Brooks Complex for Science, Mathematics, and Technology at Wilson College. The event is free and includes lunch in the College dining hall. Those interested are required to register by March 7 at https://www.wilson.edu/CWC-registration

Image

At this year’s colloquium, the keynote will be a reading by The Quill and Ink Society, a local group of writers representing all stages of the writing craft. The Society holds monthly meetings at the Grove Family Library and discusses creative writing and critique.  

Workshops will focus on different topics in both fiction and poetry writing, including: 

• Beautifully Broken: The Power of Character Contradiction 
  Alicia Drumgoole, M.A., associate professor of English composition at Hagerstown Community College and published novelist and short story writer, discusses how to develop memorable characters in fiction.
• Documentary Poetry 
  Eric Bliman, Ph.D., assistant teaching professor of English composition at Penn State Harrisburg's School of Humanities, published poet, and recipient of the National Chapbook Fellowship from the Poetry Society, presents on contemporary poetry and the engagement of social and personal themes.
• The Plot Thickens: Free Your Story from Freytag and the Chains of Time  
  Neil Connelly, M.A., M.F.A., professor of English at Shippensburg University and published author, will lead a discussion on breaking out of chronological storytelling in fiction writing. Connelly has published eight fiction books and shorter works.
• Crafting Effective Imagery 
  Heather Hamilton, Ph.D., associate teaching professor of English composition at Penn State Harrisburg's School of Humanities, will guide attendees through the process of incorporating strong images in writing. 

The day will conclude with an open discussion for attendees to ask questions and share thoughts. Authors will be there to answer questions and give insight into the writing and publishing processes. 

The Wilson College Creative Writing Colloquium receives support from the Arts for All grant opportunity of the Greater Harrisburg Community Foundation, a regional foundation of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities. 

For more information, visit https://www.wilson.edu/CWC.