New Zealand’s top teachers of creative writing converge on Massey University’s Wellington campus in mid February for a conference that promises to offer new insights into a burgeoning industry.

The Professing Creativity: Teaching Creative Writing in Aotearoa Conference, which takes place from Wednesday February 12 till Friday February 14 is the first conference to focus exclusively on teaching creative writing in New Zealand.

It connects some of the profession’s foremost teachers and writers to discuss issues of biculturalism, the postgraduate experience, and the relationship between creative and critical work.

Featuring some of New Zealand’s most prominent creative writing teachers including Damien Wilkins (Victoria University’s International Institute of Modern Letters), Michele Leggott (Auckland University) and Angie Farrow (Massey University) the conference also includes keynote addresses from Joan Connor (Ohio University, USA) and Kevin Brophy (University of Melbourne).

Conference chairman Dr Thom Conroy, from the School of English and Media Studies, says the conference arose out of an ongoing quest for excellence in teaching and research.

“Professing Creativity will focus on invigorating and innovating the discipline of creative writing in Aotearoa,” he says as well as addressing key questions. “What is the state of creative writing in New Zealand? What standards do we share? Where is the discipline headed and what are we doing about it?”

The Professing Creativity Conference will be held in the Executive Seminar Suite, Entrance A, Massey University, Wellington, from February 12-February 14.

See more at http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle_uuid=CA2F75D6-053D-6556-8B3C-DCCB08CA09D2