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Testimonials of Past SpeakersI could be forgiven perhaps for once thinking of Dallas and its environs as a type of literary wasteland, a void that would suck you in on book tours and release your numb self after a twenty-four-hour taste of cruel uncaring oblivion, a venue championing a seemingly aggressive disregard for fine books, writing, and the writing life. But all that was before Mayborn existed--the most compelling, remarkable writers' conference I've attended in more than twenty years of writers' conferences around the nation. And now, thanks and ever thanks to the Mayborn tribe of storytellers, I have to think of Dallas as a preferred destination, a center of literary gravity, perhaps the very heart of the universe these days for nonfiction writers in America. On the shuttle bus back to the airport the day the conference ended, I listened to well-known east coast authors squirming in their seats with unexpected energy and inspiration, testifying to Mayborn's abundance of seductions, confessing they had simply planned to attend their own panels or lectures or readings and then slip away to their rooms to indulge in room service or get back to writing or catch up on sleep, all fantasies deferred to some other post-Mayborn time, since they instead found the conference's program, event after spellbinding event, to be irresistible, dawn to dusk and beyond. I never imagined, they said, when they weren't shaking their heads with happy disbelief and saying, Wow. My contribution to the shameless rapture of the conversation was this: The narrative-obsessed motley crew at the University of North Texas responsible for the conference had skyrocketed to my A-list of great American educators. What, you haven't been to Mayborn!? is destined to be one of those slightly snobby, faux-sympathetic things writers say to one another. Poor you, and rightly so. Bob Shacochis
Thanks for inviting me to the Mayborn Conference. I had an incredible time….I was deeply honored to be included among such an accomplished and talented group of writers. I couldn’t believe how much I learned about writing in that one weekend. I was also extremely impressed with the organization of the conference, which was absolutely seamless, and the writers and aspiring writers who not only attended the talks but enthusiastically participated in the discussions and added valuable insight. I got much more out of the conference than I could have hoped to contribute. Many thanks, and warmest wishes,
I go to a fair number of writers conferences around the nation but none better organized and none as keenly focused on the bread-and-butter of narrative non-fiction than the Mayborn. You muster a compelling roster of speakers across a spectrum of interests and I find myself learning something new and useful every year. Beyond that, it’s fun and sociable because you recognize the principle that a goodly amount of knowledge and advice about our craft is passed on after hours in convivial sessions around beer and grub. Keep up the good work and I’ll keep coming until you stop inviting me. Ken Wells,
It was truly a pleasure--a world-class conference with speakers who had a lot to say, and said it in the most interesting ways imaginable. I loved the atmosphere, casual and professional, and the way each speaker brought his or her unique experience to the table. You've created something wonderful and (from the point of view of a diehard nonfiction writer and editor) indispensable. Thanks again for inviting me. Cathy Medwick
The art and practice of narrative non-fiction writing in American newspapers is under assault. This is partly because of the economic turbulence affecting publishers, and partly thanks to the usual idiocy in an industry that too often prefers bland normalcy to anything that might get a rise out of people. As a result, it was both inspiring and reassuring to attend the Mayborn Conference. Bite-size blogs and truncated story treatments may be the overall trend these days, but the wise observer knows that thoughtful storytelling will trump them in the end by providing the substance and sustenance that readers crave. To witness a gathering of people dedicated to the proposition that the reader "gets it" was, in all honesty, a bit of a relief. The Mayborn matters. And I'm glad it's in your capable hands. I'll come down and drink--and talk writing--with you guys anytime. Andy Van De Voorde
I had such an amazing time that weekend and was so flattered that you asked me to speak! It really was an incredible few days and I left with a notebook full of important and very useful reporting and writing tips. I just can't tell how much I enjoyed it and how many fascinating and inspiring people I met there. I loved being on the panel and thank you so much for giving me the opportunity. I'll definitely send back a testimonial and give the weekend my most enthusiastic stamp! Thanks,
I'd be proud to endorse Mayborn. I'd also be happy to hear any criticism of my talk, if there was a forum for that. The beauty of the Mayborn conference is its intimacy. That's where the others fail. At Mayborn, you're learning from banditos, clinking drinks with Heroes and talking about the trade past midnight with a pack of writers on the same mission. Mayborn feels old school, in a way that's welcome in an age of gadgetry and techni-crap. It's about roots truthtelling and dirty narrative and the spirit of writing stories, and it's pulled off without the elitism and hoopty-do present at so many J-gatherings. Yours,
There is so much to love about the Mayborn Conference--but especially the sense of creative community that evolves from the very first welcome dinner to the last yogurt-covered pretzel split between two attendees and a Pulitzer winner. The single-session schedule is a master stroke. At the Mayborn, we can hear every presentation; we don't have to choose. (And with the typical roster of Mayborn speakers, how could we?) This is truly a three-day conversation between aspiring writers and long-time professionals learning collaboratively. For the writer in the middle of a long, hot summer and the wilderness of a blank Word document, the Mayborn's a better jumpstart than a double shot of iced espresso: a right bump to the brain, without the tics and twitching afterward. Susannah Charleson
I just wanted to drop a brief note to all of you to let you know that the conference was terrific, and how grateful I was to be invited and pleased I am that I was able to attend. The caliber of attendee was so high, with such a fine and diverse gamut of writers at various stages in their careers; the speakers were so well-chosen and worth listening to; and the entire weekend was run so gracefully and with such hospitality. (I know this took a lot of work!) Expect that I will be telling some potentially appropriate writers whom I happen to be editing that they should consider trying to finagle an invitation to attend and address a future convention. In fact, I have already told a few! A chance to address such a large crowd of deeply interested fellow writers, and to mingle in such pleasant company, should be seized upon.... Will be talking up the Mayborn conference among others too, over the course of the next year, you may also expect. All the best,
David R. Patterson
Dear George, Fantastic conference…so much to say…you and everyone connected deserve a well-deserved standing ovation for another thought-provoking, insightful, down-to-earth and all-round wonderful conference. All the best, Dave Tarrant
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| Mayborn Graduate School of Journalism | 1155 Union Circle 311460 Denton, Texas 76203-1460 | PH (940) 565-4564 |