Virginia Butts Sturm Writer-in-Residence Workshop

The Virginia Butts Sturm Writer-in-Residence program brings a writer to campus each fall for a week of workshops and individual conferences with students. Students at West Virginia University are given the unique opportunity to study for one week with a nationally renowned visiting writer in a workshop setting. Past writers in residence have included Maggie Anderson, JoAnn Beard, Lynn Emanuel, Patricia Hampl, Robin Hemley, Patricia Henley, Craig Lesley, Margot Livesey, Reginald McKnight, Brenda Miller, David St. John, Elizabeth Spires, Dean Young, Nancy Zafaris, and Kathy Fagan.

William Olsen is the writer selected to lead the 2008 Virginia Butts Sturm Writer in Residence Workshop, which is scheduled for October 20-24, 2008.

The Sturm Residency provides for the writer to give a public reading, which will be held on Monday, October 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Gold Ballroom Room of the WVU Mountainlair.

Students interested in being considered for the Sturm Residency should submit a typed sample of poetry (5-8 typed poems) to the Department of English by Monday, September 22, 2008. When the entry is submitted, students will be asked to complete a Manuscript Submission Form which will list name, address, telephone number and other information.

  • Please note: anyone enrolled as a student at WVU is eligible to participate in the Sturm Writer-in-Residence Workshop.

The 12 students selected for the workshop will be notified by telephone or e-mail the week of October 8. If selected, students are expected to attend the Monday, October 20, evening public reading by William Olsen. She will then meet Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. with the group of students. A closing luncheon, which is optional, is held on Friday at noon. Students who complete the workshop will receive one hour of English credit.

Submit entries by Monday, September 22, at 4:00 p.m., to:

Marsha Bissett Department of English 102 Colson Hall

Department Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Tel: 304-293-9699