After years of waiting, Augusta University’s English and World Languages Department will host its first in-person Writers Weekend since early 2020. 

Writers Weekend, a conference for readers and writers hosted by Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, celebrates its 10th anniversary by inviting Elissa Bassist and Chris Belden to take part in the theme, “Laughter as Medicine.” 

Elissa Bassist is a teacher, author and editor of the Funny Women column on The Rumpus, where she writes cultural and personal criticism pieces. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Creative Nonfiction, NewYorker.com, and many more.  

Chris Belden is a teacher, musician and author. His more recent books are Shriver, The Floating Lady of Lake Tawaba: Stories, and Carry-on. On YouTube, he co-produces FUMFA Poets Writers Live with Katherine Schneider. 

The Writers Weekend will consist of film screenings, book signings, readings and writing workshops. The department will also be hosting Augusta University’s first-ever Literary Death Match competition. 

“Writers Weekend is a labor of love for me. As an undergraduate and graduate student, visiting writer events were integral to my education experience and early professional development,” said Anna Harris-Parker, associate professor of English. “Putting events like this together for AU students is my way of paying it forward.”  

Individual events are open to the public throughout the weekend and will be held in various Augusta locations. All events are free except for the screening of Augusta University’s theater production of Charlotte’s Web. Writers Weekend is from Thursday, March 16 to Saturday, March 18.  

Reading, Conversation, Book Signing with Elissa Bassist and Chris Belden 

7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16 at the Columbia County Library, 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans, GA 30809

Workshop: “Humor Writing for People Who Are or Aren’t Funny (Yet)” 

10-11 a.m. Friday, March 17 in University Hall Room 170 on the Summerville Campus. The Book Tavern will be selling copies of Hysterical by Elissa Bassist during the workshop.  

Writers in the Ring, A Competitive Reading of Poetry and Prose 

7-9 p.m. Friday, March 17 at The Doris Building, 930 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901

The readers are Ashley Beresch, Evelyn Berry, Vanessa Harri, and Danté Stewart. The judges are Elissa Bassist, Chris Belden and Latria Graham.  

Generative Writing Workshop with Chris Belden 

10-11 a.m. Saturday, March 18 at The Book Tavern, 978 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901

Film Screening, Conversation, Book Signing: A Little White Lie with Chris Belden and AU Professor Matthew Buzzell 

2:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18 in University Hall Room 170 

Performance and Conversation: Charlotte’s Web 

7-9 p.m. Saturday, March 18 in the Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre

Adapted and directed by Melanie Kitchens O’Meara, PhD. Tickets are $10 for the general public; $7 for AU alumni, seniors 60 and older and military; free for AU/EGSC and K-12 students; $5 for AU/EGSC faculty and staff and other college students.