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MTSU Write

MTSU Write

Fall 2025 Conference: Weaving Hope

Each Fall, MTSU Write celebrates its mission by hosting the Creative Writing Conference on the MTSU campus.  The Conference brings together students, mentors, alumni, and members of the community for learning, networking, and recognizing program graduates.

Register here! (coming Fall, 2025)

Conference Theme

The 2025 conference theme is Weaving Hope and will feature classes and presentations that will invite you to write both toward hope. This year’s conference will take place Friday, November 7 (virtual) and Saturday, November 8 (on MTSU’s campus).

Keynote Speaker

Our Fall 2025 Keynote Speaker will be announced soon!

Our 2024 Keynote Speaker was Darnell Arnoult

Darnell Arnoult is author of the novel Sufficient Grace, poetry collections What Travels With Us, Galaxie Wagon, and most recently Incantations: Poems. Her shorter works have appeared in a variety of journals and anthologies. She holds an MFA from University of Memphis and MA from North Carolina State University and offers a constellation of workshops and services for writers and writing communities. She is the recipient of the SIBA Poetry Book of the Year Prize, Weatherford Award, Chaffin Award, and Hobson Award in Arts and Letters. A former resident of Tennessee, she now lives with her family in Mebane, NC. For more about Darnell, visit darnellarnoult.net.

Conference Schedule

Noon-1:00pm (CT): Readings from MTSU Write Community

1:00pm-3:00pm (CT): For our afternoon virtual programming, you will be able to choose from among the three following sessions:

TBD.

Friday, November 7 Kick-off Gathering & Reading 

Please join us for a kick-off reading! This reading, cosponsored by Poetry in the Boro, will feature work by some of our conference presenters. More information and location details coming soon!

8:00am-9:00am: Continental Breakfast, Registration, & Welcome from MTSU Write Director Mary Leoson

Session 1 Options: 9:00am-10:30am

TBD

TBD

TBD

Session 2: 10:45am-12:15pm

TBD

TBD

TBD

12:15-2:30pm: Lunch & Keynote Address

We will have lunch in ACB 106, followed by readings from MTSU Write mentees who have earned their certificates and a keynote address from the keynote speaker. There will be time to buy books (and get them signed) after the keynote!

Session 3: 2:30pm-4:00pm

TBD

TBD

Roundtable Discussion & Networking: Option to network with other attendees in a more formal setting.

Registration: 

Access Conference Registration here.

Registration is FREE for MTSU Write mentees and mentors. Limited free registration will be offered to MTSU students through 10/11/25.

Registration includes pastries and coffee in the morning and a buffet style lunch.

MTSU Write mentees, mentors, and MTSU students can use the following links to register:

  • Coming soon!

Questions? Email mary.leoson@mtsu.edu.

Questions or Comments

Please send an email to mtsuwrite@mtsu.edu.