This summer, AAWW is thrilled to be presenting PAGE TURNER: The Asian American Writers’ Workshop Publishing Conference, a signature program that they’ll present in-person on Saturday, August 19, at The Peoples' Forum. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be available via YouTube livestream for a discounted ticket price.
AAWW's publishing conference will center the work and experiences of writers of color, and aims to demystify the often opaque business of publishing and writing, convening experts and authors across industries and genres to share candid insights, advice, and experiences. From the latest generation of literary debuts to queer voices in poetry, AAWW invites conference attendees to explore deeply the craft of writing and publishing with an incredible lineup of panels featuring highly sought-after industry insiders.
Check out the conference schedule below:
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Keynote Address by Mayukh Sen
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM: Literary Stars of 2023: Debut Authors
2023 debut authors Jade Song, Gina Chung, and Jinwoo Chong come together for a conversation moderated by Jai Chakraborti, discussing how their path towards a debut novel has manifested. From drafting in the midst of a global pandemic to launching their first book, writers will convene in a reflection on their journey to publication as well as what comes next.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: New Horizons for Digital Publishing: Asian American Voices Online
As the landscape of digital publishing shifts due to economic and artistic challenges, join this panel of Asian American pioneers in online publishing, Mianne Chan, Matt Ortile, and Shannon Lee for a discussion moderated by The Margins Editor-in-Chief Dana Isokawa, on the new horizons for creating work specifically for a digital community.
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM: Lunch Break [Provided by Postmates]
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Transcending Boundaries, Crafting Verses: Queer and Trans Narratives in Poetry
What can poetry do that other forms cannot? A panel of acclaimed queer and trans poets Wo Chan, Golden, and Ghinwa Jawhari come together in a conversation moderated by AAWW Deputy Director Devyn Mañibo to discuss the possibilities of allowing their narratives to exist in the poetic form.
3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Unmasking Cultural Criticism: Critics of Color
Cultural critics Frances Solá-Santiago, Jessica Jacolbe, Kovie Biakolo, Jennifer Wilson, Mira Dayal, and Ana Tuazon join us in conversation to discuss their craft, writing criticism of other people of color and navigating the newsroom and editorial process as a writer of color. Moderated by AAWW Director of Programs Vandana Pawa.
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Agents Networking Hour
Asian American literary agents DongWon Song, Annie Hwang, Wendy Gu, and Jade Wong-Baxter come together to connect with writers. This exclusive networking hour provides a space for aspiring authors to engage with industry professionals, discuss their work, and foster connections. Whether you have a manuscript ready or are still in the process of honing your craft, this is your opportunity to navigate the publishing world with guidance from experienced literary agents who are passionate about championing Asian American voices.
5:00 - 6:00 PM: Craft Lab with Benedict Nguyen [Additional ticket required]
This open genre workshop draws from performance strategies to consider how to tell narratives of the self. Writers will practice techniques for drawing from personal experiences that feel fruitful but not exhibitionist. This session will consider how thinking about creative writing and professional writing in tandem can be generative, and even fun. Illuminating where the personal seeps into writing as well as the meta/self-reflexive writing about the writing can sharpen a vision for work that is both more particular and more compelling. Writers will generate new frames of inquiry for considering the scope of current projects as well as draft language for new artist and/or project statements.