My oh my, this Kansas heat can only mean one thing: it’s almost time for another Young Writers’ Workshop at Kansas State University! This year’s staff has been hard at work planning another fun-filled week at the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art. The director, instructors, and I are so excited to meet all the young writers on Monday. But before we begin our fourth year of the Young Writers’ Workshop, let’s formally introduce this year’s crew!
Kira Frank, Instructor
Kira Frank graduated from K-State with a Master of Arts in English (Creative Writing) in May of 2017. In addition to writing stories, she writes jokes and songs (and sometimes performs them onstage). In August, she’ll move to Alabama to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing (Roll Tide!). She is absolutely stoked to be an instructor for the Young Writers’ Workshop!
What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
All writing is rewriting. Sometimes what you think is a bad story is really just a first draft waiting to become a great story.
What’s the best single day on the calendar?
April 25, because it’s not too hot, and not too cold. All you need is a light jacket!
What movie title best describes your life?
Stranger Than Fiction
Brian McCarty, Instructor
Brian McCarty is very excited to serve as an instructor for the Young Writers’ Workshop for the third consecutive year. He has taught at K-State since 2011, when he moved to Manhattan to pursue his Master’s Degree in English. In July, he will be moving with his wife, infant daughter, dog, bird, and rabbit in what amounts to a modern-day wagon train to Carbondale, Illinois, to pursue his Ph.D. in literature at Southern Illinois University.
What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
Writing can be a lot of fun. However, when rejections from literary journals start piling up, it can be easy to forget what you enjoy about writing. I had such an experience a couple of years ago when, after weeks of stressing over why my poems weren’t working (which is the wrong attitude to have), I began to regard writing as a chore. My wife reminded me that the whole reason I write poetry is because I enjoy it. Her advice made a lot of difference.
What’s the best single day on the calendar?
The best day on the calendar would be any Saturday in the Fall. I grew up in
Mississippi, where college football is practically a religion.
What movie title best describes your life?
The movie title that best describes my life is probably Michael Clayton. A close second would have to be Life of Brian, for obvious reasons. If I want to be really profound and abstract, I suppose I’ll go with Identity instead.
Dylan Pyles, Instructor
Dylan Pyles graduated with his Master of Arts in English (Creative Writing) from K-State in May of 2017. He is originally from Kansas City and will be moving back there in the Fall to begin his MFA in fiction at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. When he’s not writing, he loves listening to and playing all types of music. This is his first year working with the Young Writers’ Workshop.
What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
Write something every day. As long as you’ve written that day, you can call yourself a writer.
What’s the best single day on the calendar?
Opening Day for Major League Baseball. It means winter’s over and the Royals will be playing pretty much every day for the next six months.
What movie title best describes your life?
True Grit
Katy Karlin, Director
Katy Karlin is an Associate Professor of English at K-State and has directed the Young Writers’ Workshop for four years. She writes fiction and loves movies.
What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t worry about whether your first draft is good. Writing it is the only way you’ll get to a second draft!
What’s the best single day on the calendar?
Summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
What movie title best describes your life?
Must Love Dogs
Kirsten Hermreck, Program Assistant
Kirsten is a recent graduate of the Master’s program at K-State, and she worked as an instructor at last summer’s Young Writers’ Workshop. She is very excited to be returning to this year’s workshop and cannot wait to meet all the young writers!
What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
Revise. Revise. Revise.
What’s the best single day on the calendar?
July 4th. I always loved spending time with my family during July 4th and being out of school!
What movie title best describes your life?
Up
Keep checking in with us as the week progress and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter (@YoungWritersKSU) and like our Facebook page, Young Writers’ Workshop at Kansas State University!
-Kirsten Hermreck, Program Assistant
K-State Young Writers' Workshop 