WRITERS' LEAGUE OF TEXAS
formerly the Austin Writers' League
Literary Touring Program
Texas Literary Touring Initiative
- The Texas Literary Touring Initiative promotes Texas writers and literature.
- The Literary Touring program provides a venue for writers to take their art on the road.
- It provides opportunities for persons and students living in rural and more isolated areas of the state to have access to top quality literary programming and to meet and work with noted Texas authors.
Scroll down further to find out how you
can take part
in the Literary Touring Intitiative.
RATIONALE BEHIND THE TEXAS
LITERARY TOURING INITIATIVE
How does the Writers' League see the literary landscape?
- To grow new writers, we must first grow readers.
- Writers and readers support each other in a cyclical process.
- Writers give readers:
- interest
- entertainment
- wisdom
- escape
- a good laugh
- a good cry
- Readers give writers:
- encouragement
- money
- vindication
- a reason to write again
Why is this important in Texas?
- Texas is growing and changing in such complex ways, what's good for writers or readers is good for both.
- It has been estimated there are more than 5,000 published writers in Texas.
- The Writers' League has statewide outreach and is beginning to bring this community of writers together to persuade the general public that literature matters.
- Texas population will double in 50 years while the rest of America grows by only 28 percent.
What are the WLT goals and objectives?
- Writers' League programs are focused on making certain literature will be written and published to meet the needs of this changing population.
- The League is focused on providing opportunities for writers to learn from others, to perfect their craft and share information about writing.
- An overriding aim of all programs is to develop an audience of Texas readers, not only in terms of instructing for literacy, but also for demonstrating to youth at risk that authors are role models and to present the possibility of writing as a career.
Where did this concept originate?
- A statewide literature task force met in 1992, they were unanimous in deploring the lack of promotion and recognition of Texas writers and literature.
- Many well-known writers had moved away because they felt their work would be better promoted elsewhere.
- Teachers had gone on record stating they wanted their students to know the works of Texas writers.
- The problem is they don't know who those writers are.
- The Literary Touring Initiative is one way that the League is addressing this problem.
HOW DOES THE TEXAS LITERARY
TOURING PROGRAM WORK?
Step I: A sponsoring organization or a literary artist develops a literary event.
- What are literary events?
- A Reading
- A Speech
- A Performance
- A Conference
- A Workshop
- A Collaborative Event
- Things not listed here and created by your organization, literary artists or others
Step II: Sponsoring organization selects a literary artist or requests biographical information from the Writers' League to help them select an artist.
(New or emerging literary artists may be added to the list.)
Step III: Sponsoring organization sends a completed Sponsor Profile and Request Form to the Writers' League.
Step IV: The Literary artist completes Artist Profile if needed.
Step V: The Writers' League contacts artist and negotiates fee if needed.
Step VI: Sponsoring organization is notified in writing of confirmation of artist.
A letter, signed by the Associate Director, is sent to the sponsoring organization and the artist to confirm the appearance(s) of the artist(s). Further details/negotiations between the artist and the organization are between the two of them.
Step VII: The event takes place.
Step VIII: Artist mails the Writers' League an evaluation with details of event.
Step IX: Sponsoring organization mails the Writers' League an evaluation of the event.
Step X: The Writers' League sends payment to the literary artist or sponsoring organization.
For more information on how the Writers' League of Texas Literary Touring Program can assist your community or school, write to Beverly Horne at beverly@writersleague.org
home | about
WLT | calendar |
classes & workshops | star
instructors |
membership | contests,
awards, & grants | on
the air | footnotes |
contact us |
writers resources |
FAQs | site
map