Joanne Lozar Glenn is a loyal HippoCamper and a returning speaker. This year, she’s part of our flash session line-up with a topic we could all use assistance with: Describe, not prescribe: How to give helpful feedback when you’re in a writing group or class. We asked Joanne about her involvement in this year’s conference for creative nonfiction writers.
HM: Tell us a little about your involvement in HippoCamp this year. What are you most excited to share during this flash session?
JLG: I’ll be talking about how we can “do feedback” better during the flash session panel on Sunday. I’m excited to offer some practical insights for choosing how to respond when someone asks you to comment on their writing. It’s something I’ve been interested in since forever, and I’d like to share what seems to have been helpful to me and to other writers with whom I’ve worked—including my writing students, who freely shared their thoughts in a survey asking them to describe what kind of feedback was most helpful to them, and what wasn’t.
Why do you love true stories?
Maybe more than any other kind of story, their truth-telling peels the curtain back on what it means to be human—and allows a reader to embrace that, and maybe even forgive herself or others.
What made you decide to submit a proposal to speak at HippoCamp again this year?
I can’t remember if I thought up this metaphor or if I unintentionally stole it, but for me, HippoCamp is the Goldilocks of writing conferences. It’s a treat to be able to offer something back that I hope contributes to the takeaways—and to the writing community the conference has created.
Attendees can learn more about you on our speaker’s page, of course, but there’s more to you than that bio! Share a fun fact with us, something we may be surprised to know.
Even though I teach (and lead writing retreats), I’m an often-shy introvert. But in my alter-ego, secret life I am a singer, a painter, or an HGTV stylist.
Aside from preparing for HippoCamp (of course!), what are you working on?
I was thrilled to have my essay “Apologies” published by W.O.W.-WomenonWriting.com as the third-place winner in its recent Flash Creative Nonfiction contest. And I’m (still) working on a book-length memoir.
Since you’ll also be attending the conference, what are you most looking forward to learning or doing when you’re not wearing your “speaker hat?”
One thing is Randon Billings Noble’s pre-conference workshop on lyric essays. I’ve admired her work, and I’m jazzed to hear what she has to say. And I can’t wait to hear Abigail Thomas’ keynote.
We love introducing Lancaster to attendees. What are you looking forward to about your visit or, since you’ve been here before, what would you recommend?
Like what others say, the market on the square. And the lovely variety of art galleries, restaurants, and shops … I’m arriving by train and I hope to do some window shopping on the walk between the conference and the station.
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Thanks for sharing, Joanne! We’re so happy you’re keeping up your attending 100% of HippoCamps statistic!
And, reader, register to reserve your place today.
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