This in-person roundtable invites creative writing instructors to reflect on current challenges and opportunities in teaching the art and craft of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and drama.

At a time when the humanities face increasing scrutiny, creative writing courses remain spaces where students actively engage in imaginative thinking, narrative experimentation, and the articulation of personal and collective experiences. But how do we design workshops and other course structures that are inclusive, innovative, and responsive to our students' needs and voices?

Participants are encouraged to consider pedagogical questions such as: What does a creative writing “workshop” look like in 2025 and beyond? How do we address equity, identity, and authorship issues in peer critique? How does digital technology—from collaborative platforms to generative AI—reshape how students write, share, and revise their work? What does it mean to prepare students for publication, whether through class-run literary journals, public-facing writing, or traditional literary venues? How are individual classes or creative writing curricula structured today? How might instructors invite students from across the campus into creative writing classes? Insights from instructors who bridge creative and critical practices or who teach in interdisciplinary programs are also welcome.

This conversation aims to bring together various perspectives—from early-career instructors to experienced faculty—across institutions and course formats. The aim is to foster an exchange of practical approaches, evolving philosophies, and classroom experiences that can inform how we teach writing as both a craft and a form of inquiry. As a roundtable, short presentations that will lead to conversation and sharing ideas are most welcome.

Submit abstracts for a 5-10 minute presentation here: https://cfplist.com/nemla/Home/S/21610

2026 NeMLA Annual Convention

March 5-8, 2026

Wyndham Grand Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA