Featured Keynote Speech, The Writer and Social Responsibility, by Barry Lopez

"Arguably the nation's premier nature writer."
San Francisco Chronicle

This year’s Interlochen Symposium featured award-winning writer Barry Lopez and was designed to offer valuable experience to both teachers and writers, with a special focus on nonfiction.  Using the work of nonfiction writer Barry Lopez as a springboard, we offered sessions on the teaching of the personal essay, asking the right questions, ways nonfiction might work in classroom and the how of fiction, creative nonfiction and blurred genres.  

Workshop demonstrations were included in the events as well as a Q & A session with Barry Lopez and Interlochen Arts Academy instructors.  The symposium consisted of a day and half  (Friday morning to Saturday afternoon) with eight teaching writers, craft talks, participatory sessions with several readings and signings  Two sequential sessions by Dr. Ruth Nathan included strategies for teaching nonfiction in the upper elementary and middle school grades. 

Who attended the symposium?  Readers, writers, educators and participants who were engaged by prolific and dynamic discussions about writing.  What was gained?  Participants had the opportunity to interact with developing and established writers, to share in their ideas about writing, reading, teaching and collaborating.  Michigan educators were able to register to receive SB-CEU’s for attending both days of the conference.

Interlochen Symposium Schedule
Interlochen Symposium Faculty Information
Interlochen Symposium Descriptive Schedule
Interlochen Symposium Facilities 
Receive Interlochen College of Creative Arts' Program Information

The 2008 Interlochen Literary Symposium is sponsored by: 
Interlochen College of Creative Arts
Interlochen Arts Academy Creative Writing Division
Interlochen Arts Academy Math-Science Division
Interlochen Alumni Organization