Write On! Workshop

Stephens College, Senior Hall
100 Waugh St, Columbia, MO

SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2026

FIRST PAGE RODEO: Call for Submissions!

We invite all aspiring writers - if not you, then perhaps someone you know - to join us at this year's festival by participating in an event called the First Page Rodeo. 

The first page of any novel must do so many things – it should establish voice, it should create tension and excitement, and most of all, it should make the reader want to keep reading. What are the secrets to creating a wonderful, attention-grabbing first page?

So… if you have an unpublished novel or short story lying around in a drawer somewhere, or if you’ve always dreamed of putting pen to paper, or you’ve wondered what a publishing professional would make of your work – well, now’s your chance to find out.

But hurry! The deadline for submission is April 3!

Here's how it works. All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges, who will choose five winning entries. These will be posted to the festival website ahead of the event, and then will be discussed and evaluated in public by a panel of industry experts at “Write On!”

Rules: (because you have to have rules or it doesn’t count)

• One page only, people. We cannot stress this enough. And by that we mean 12 point, single-space. (But hey, you get to choose the font.)

• The work must not have been previously published (this includes self-published.)

• Fiction only. Your novel/story does NOT have to be finished when you submit.

• One entry per person.

• By submitting your entry you approve and consent to the publication of the work on the festival website.

• Submit via email to writeon@unboundbookfestival.com, with Word document attached. Please put “FIRST PAGE RODEO” in the subject line. Please include your full name, address, and telephone contact number in the email.

• Deadline for submission: 5 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026. 

• The decision as to which pages make it to the final five will be final. We will only notify the winners.

We look forward to receiving your submission!

Full Schedule

Here’s what you can expect: 

• 8:15-9:15 a.m. — Registration begins at Stephens College Senior Hall.

• 9:30-10:30 a.m. — The day will begin with an opening session of our First Page Rodeo, where you can submit the first page of an unpublished novel for review/critique by a panel of experts ahead of APRIL 3, 2026. Workshop participants only.

• 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. — In the first workshop block, participants will attend one of two available workshops. Workshop participants only.

• 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. — The group will break for lunch, and you are free to enjoy the nearby restaurants, or bring your own lunch.

• 1:15-2:45 p.m. — In the second workshop block, participants will attend one of two available workshops. Workshop participants only.

• 3-4 p.m. — The day will conclude with a panel discussion, where professional writers will answer all of your questions about publishing in Senior Hall. This session is open to the public! 

The Workshops

BLOCK ONE 10:45 A.M. - 12:15 P.M.

Totally Obsessed: How to Turn Your Passions into Prose

Led by Steve Almond

Most good writing—whether fiction or nonfiction—arises from a writer’s obsessions. In this intensive session, we’ll discuss how to explore our obsessions on the page, without falling prey to self-absorption or sentiment. We’ll start by looking at the work of folks such as Joan Didion and George Saunders and others, and then generate some work in class by confessing to our own obsessions. Check your inhibitions at the door.

Steve Almond is the author of a dozen books of fiction and non-fiction, including the NYT bestsellers "Candyfreak" and "Against Football." His most recent book is "Truth Is the Arrow, Mercy Is the Bow."

Writing into the Image: a Generative Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop

Led by Rachel Walker

Ancient and present-day writers alike have found inspiration in works of art, with poems about sculptures, paintings, photographs, and film blurring the boundaries between words and images. In this generative workshop, we’ll read and discuss powerful examples of ekphrastic poetry, considering the ways in which writing into artwork can open up conversations about what it means to see and be seen, and how these dynamics intersect with a writer’s identity and experiences. We’ll consider how we can use elements of poetic craft — voice, form, and imagery — to enrich our own writing. We’ll also write through some generative prompts inspired by artwork, so that you will leave this workshop with fresh ideas for new writing.

Rachel Walker is a PhD candidate and graduate instructor at the University of Missouri’s English department.

BLOCK TWO 1:15 P.M. - 2:45 P.M.

Finding Inspiration from the Natural World

Led by Julie Carrick-Dalton

In this workshop, we will explore how different writers use elements of the natural world to set tone, establish setting, define character, and evoke emotion via word choice, imagery, and sensory details. We will discuss the nuances that differentiate between writing about climate, weather, nature, and the environment. After a short, generative exercise, participants will have the option to share their work for group feedback.

Julie Carrick Dalton is the award-winning author of The Forest Becomes Her, The Last Beekeeper, and Waiting for the Night Song. A former farmer, beekeeper, and journalist, she is a frequent speaker on the topic of fiction in the age of climate crisis at universities, museums, and conferences, nationally and internationally. She currently serves on the teaching faculty at Drexel University's Creative Writing MFA program. When she isn't reading or writing, you can probably find Julie kayaking, skiing, swimming, gardening, or trying to track down her four children and two dogs.

Navigating the Marketing Path

Led by Jenna Blum

Whether you're published by a traditional publisher or you’ve taken the independent route, as a writer you’re expected to do much of your own book marketing. Almost every writer finds this daunting! How do you find industry people—authors, influencers, event hosts, bookstore managers—to help promote you? How do you organize a tour? (Do you even need to put on your hard pants and go out on the road, or can you do virtual events only?) Do you need a website? An independent publicist? What about social media? WHAT EVEN IS BOOK TOK??!? How do you allocate your time, energy, and money? Jenna will help you target your strengths with the goal of helping you devise a plan to get your book more exposure and into more readers’ hands.

Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author of five Big Five-published books (four novels and a memoir) for an honest inside look at navigating the marketing path. Her fifth book and first thriller, Murder Your Darlings (HarperCollins 2026), has been praised by various reviewers as “delicious”…”wickedly twisted”…”a captivating tale of love, death, and literature" and optioned by Rohm Feifer Entertainment. Jenna is published in over 25 countries, a 28-year veteran teacher, one of Oprah's Top 30 Women Writers, and CEO/Co-Founder of A Mighty Blaze.