Call for Papers

The Playful Paradox: Creative Writing on Campus
A mini-festival of imagination in practice

Sat 23rd May 2009: Univ. Bedfordshire, Park Square, Luton LU1 3JU

Following the success of the 2008 Postgraduate Creative Writing
Conference, 
this new event will explore further the timely issues that increasingly
concern 
all who study or teach creative writing in an academic environment.
Papers 
and/or presentations of creative work are warmly invited that address
(but are 
by no means limited to) such - advisedly provocative - issues as:

* What utility is there in an MA or PhD programme in creative writing
(CW)? 
Should this question be asked?

* Are CW programmes, in their confluence with theory, unwittingly
fashioning 
new literary genres (eg. the 'PhD novel')? Is this desirable or
disturbing?

* Do tensions emerge, in the process or outcome of a CW programme, 
between pedagogy and practice? If so, are they productive or perilous?

Plus... whatsoever topics that delegates might wish to present or
discuss that 
are relevant to their personal experience of creative writing on campus.

The conference presents a 'once-in-a-year' opportunity for delegates to
pose, 
among their peers, questions rarely asked and to hear answers rarely
given. 
And to showcase their work and meet fellow students, staff and lecturers
from 
throughout the UK and Europe. And to hear - and network with - authors, 
scriptwriters, poets, and other practitioners, distinguished both within
and 
beyond the pale of academia.

Contributions are invited in the form of papers or presentations of
creative 
work of 30 minutes max., to be followed by an additional 10 minutes of 
questions and discussion. Submissions will be peer-reviewed and selected

papers will be considered for publication in the proceedings of the
conference. 
For reference, the programme and papers from the prior (2008) conference

can be found at: cwparadox.wikidot.com

Abstracts should be no more than 300 words in length. Please include
name, 
contact address (preferably e-mail), and university affiliation, along
with the 
title or topic, and any audio-visual requirements. The deadline for the 
submission of abstracts is Sat 18th April 2009. E-mailed attachments
should 
be in Microsoft Word format. A brief 100-word max. biography should also
be 
included for the conference programme. Abstracts can be e-mailed or
posted 
to:


2009 Creative Writing Conference: the Playful Paradox
C/o Dr Gavin Stewart, Rm C101
School of Media, Art & Design
University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton LU1 3JU

E-mail: [log in to unmask]

The conference is part of BFest, a showcase for new and emerging
artistic 
talent, to be held in Luton throughout May 2009 in association with 
Waterstones.