BATON ROUGE — Three award-winning writers will serve as the faculty for the Louisiana Book Festival's WordShops writing workshops, set to take place Oct. 30 at the State Library of Louisiana in Baton Rouge.

The three-hour workshops are open to writers of all experience levels and will be held the day before the festival.

"One of the things that makes the Louisiana Book Festival special is that it doesn't just celebrate books, it actually helps people to write them," said Billy Nungesser. "Through the festival's WordShops, aspiring and seasoned writers alike can sit down with accomplished authors to refine their craft firsthand. That kind of direct access to industry expertise is something writers can carry home and put to work."

Three authors make up this year's faculty lineup. Jill Christman is a writer, essayist and 2020 NEA Prose Fellow whose work has appeared in publications including Brevity, Creative Nonfiction, Longreads and O, The Oprah Magazine.

Donna Everhart is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author known for her novels about the American South. Emily Nemens is a writer, illustrator, editor and educator whose novels Clutch and The Cactus League were New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice selections.

The schedule includes one morning session and two concurrent afternoon sessions. Everhart leads "Cut That Out! Words That Weaken Prose" from 9 a.m. to noon.

The afternoon sessions run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Christman leads "Beautiful Things: Writing and Publishing Miniature Essays" while Nemens leads "Can We Be Friends? Writing Friendship in Fiction and Poetry."

"WordShops are where the craft of writing gets its due," said Robert Wilson, Louisiana Book Festival Executive Director. "Whether someone is drafting a first short story or refining a manuscript they've worked on for years, our faculty meet them where they are and treat every participant as a professional."

"This year's sessions cover everything from tightening prose to the art of the miniature essay and we're proud to offer that caliber of instruction in a setting that stays welcoming and hands-on," Wilson said.

Registration for each WordShop is $50. Anyone attending both a morning and an afternoon session pays $90. Space is limited and early registration is encouraged.

To register, visit the WordShops webpage or call 225-219-9503. Instructors will also attend the Louisiana Book Festival on Oct. 31.