What We Can Learn from Calvin

My agent is a great guy. One of the great things about him is that, after attending the Calvin Festival (and taking me to dinner with Lisa Samson and Claudia Burney, an unforgettable experience), he jotted down some notes about what other conferences could learn from Calvin. This saves me the trouble of doing it myself. And I quote:

Many of the writers' conferences may not be able to afford to bring in quite so many famous writers, but there are a couple things they could emulate: Have more public conversations with writers. Don't feel you've got to ask a novelist to give a workshop -- many of us would prefer the chance to just sit and listen to them talk, so ask a good interviewer to chat them up in front of an audience. Have more public readings. One of the time-tested events at writing conferences is to have an author show up and read passages from his or her novel or nonfiction book. Why so many contemporary conferences have moved away from this practice is a mystery. Ask academics to participate. There were a number of English professors at this conference, and it raises the level of discussion at a conference. I've been teaching a couple classes in the Professional Writing Program at Taylor University this year, and I've been reminded that profs love the chance to share their materials with someone besides colleagues and students. Use films and music to supplement the lectures. The Calvin conference filled their evenings with four films, three open-mike poetry gatherings, two concerts, a jazz verspers service, and a worship service led by a pastor/author. They also presented a play one afternoon. It wouldn't be too hard to schedule a variety of these types of things at a writing conference that takes place at a college or in a larger city.

This year, it seemed like one of the recurring conversations I had was: "Why is the Calvin Festival better than Conference X, Y, or Z?" The caliber of presenters was one thing, naturally, but Chip hits on the others. Although people often describe Calvin as a festival for readers, it's also a great venue for writers. It reflects the fact that writing is learned, not so much in the classroom, but from reading and thinking about what you've read. Calvin affords a better opportunity to do this than any event I've attended. It's not perfect, but it has plenty to teach.

Comments

[Julana]

I get a sense the Reformed/Christian Reformed churches have historically, generally, placed a higher value on education than most other denominations. Kuyper, Van Til, Rookamakker (sp), those Dutch thinkers come out of that tradition.
I think it shows in the quality of their academic life, and it spills over into events like the conference.
(My husband grew up in this tradition.)
I have a great deal of admiration for them.
Off the cuff.