HP Literary Festival
February 21, 2025
First, choose your class period
Then take a look at past presentations below
Note, however, that enrollment ended on Feb 12, 2025.
The Writer’s Toolbox: Collecting the Implements Necessary for a Successful Writing Career
The professional writer is a craftsperson who must bring their own tools to the job. We’ll have an interactive discussion of the tools you have, the tools you’re developing, and the tools you’ll need to acquire in order to excel as a professional writer.
SpeakerRusty Williams
Author Rusty Williams writes about history through the stories of the people who lived it. He is the author of six nonfiction books, five on Texas topics. His latest book, Texas Loud, Proud, and Brash, How Ten Mavericks Created the Twentieth-Century Lone Star State (Rowman & Littlefield) tells how Texas earned its outsized reputation. Deadly Dallas: A History of Unfortunate Incidents and Grisly Fatalities (The History Press) is recommended as a “must-read for anyone who approaches Dallas history with a sense of humor, however dark.” Rusty is also the author of Red River Bridge War: A Texas-Oklahoma Border Battle (Texas A&M Press), winner of the Oklahoma Book Award, and My Old Confederate Home: A Respectable Place for Civil War Veterans (University Press of Kentucky), honored with the Douglas S. Freeman Southern History Award. Rusty regularly speaks on historical topics nationwide and writes articles for magazines and journals.
zzz Excused School Sponsored Absence
This is to be used in place of a workshop if you have an excused SCHOOL SPONSORED activity during this class period. You will be COUNTED UNEXCUSED until you provide the appropriate paperwork to your Attendance Office to verify your absence, unless provided by your coach.
Speaker*** Excused School Sponsored Absence
Full Presentations
"40 Million Streams Later" - How I Wrote Songs, Got Signed & Toured the World
Ever wonder how a song gets written? Recorded? Released? And Streamed millions of times? Want to be entertained by a guy who’s played 2,000+ shows to millions of people all over the world? Then my fun, energetic, inspired & inspiring workshop is for you. I’ll bring my guitar, sing some songs and talk about my 37+ year career in the music biz. We’ll go back to my humble beginnings as a student at SMU, to my band getting courted by all the major labels in LA and New York – to writing songs that got millions of streams and two Grammy nominations. I’ll talk about what’s working and what’s not – especially in this “New Music Business” where social media has become almost as important as the music itself. (+ maybe you’ll be in our next post 😉)
SpeakerCary Pierce
An HP Dad,* Cary is a Grammy-Nominated Songwriter, Performer and Producer. His songs and co-writes have been streamed over 40 Million times and he’s had record & publishing deals with Universal, Capitol and Warner Brothers. He’s toured the world and shared stages with John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band and many others. He has appeared on Conan O’Brien, countless other national and local TV shows and has written songs with artists as diverse as Katy Perry & Chris Tomlin. Cary & Jack O’Neill founded the band Jackopierce as SMU theater majors. After spending 5 years relentlessly recording & releasing music and touring the country they were signed to major label A&M Records.
For 37 years now, Jackopierce has toured the world in 48 states, 10 countries, on 3 continents and they’ve sold about 500,000 albums. They play about 50 shows per year and will be at the Granada in Dallas Friday, Apr 4. He lives in Dallas with his HP grad wife Cara and three *HP boys: Jordan ‘19, Jaron ‘26 and Elijah ‘28.
Building with Concrete: Replacing Abstract Language with Sensory Details in Poetry
In this generative, 45-minute workshop we’ll work to transform concepts—such as anger, liberty, beauty, and greatness—into poems that feature tangible and sensory details. We will determine the texture, the smell, and the shape of these concepts in order to bring them to life on the page. After discussing one or more examples from poems written by contemporary poets, each participant will be invited to choose their own concept and to share ideas about the physical qualities they might assign to it. We will end the workshop by allowing a few minutes for everyone to begin working on their own “concrete concept” poems. A handout will be provided; participants are additionally asked to bring a pen or pencil and scratch paper.
SpeakerMag Gabbert
Dr. Mag Gabbert has a Ph.D. in English, with a focus in creative writing, from Texas Tech University, an MFA in creative writing from The University of California at Riverside, and a BA in English from Trinity University. Her debut full-length poetry collection, which was published in 2023, won the Charles B. Wheeler Prize in Poetry from The Ohio State University and the Writers League of Texas Book Award in Poetry. Her awards also include a 92NY Discovery Award from the 92NY Unterberg Poetry Center, a Pushcart Prize, and fellowships from The Kenyon Review Writers’ Workshop, Idyllwild Arts, and Poetry at Round Top. She teaches at Southern Methodist University and currently serves as Poet Laureate for the city of Dallas.
Creating a Story: Plotting vs. Pantsing & Choosing the Right Voice
Students will learn about two very different writing processes, “plotting” and “pantsing,” and how to use various brainstorming techniques when developing a work of fiction. We’ll also discuss the importance of choosing the right narrator for your story and follow this up with an exercise that playfully explores several narrative styles. At the end, students will be invited to share their work.
SpeakerK.E. McMahon
K.E. Davenport graduated from HPHS in 2000 and went on to study film, storytelling, and animation at NYU and later at The University of Texas, where she graduated in 2004.
She worked as a distance learning coordinator, a controller for JP Morgan, a home remodeler, and a teacher before becoming a full-time author. She has also volunteered as an animal rescuer, transporting and fostering animals on behalf of local shelters, as well as running social media for one of her favorite rescue groups.
During the last five years, K.E. has immersed herself in learning the world of independent publishing while releasing her science fantasy trilogy: The Moon Travelers. Currently, she's in the process of developing two new series that will be released later this year and in 2025.
K.E. spends most of her leisure time with her husband, kids, and pets. When she's not daydreaming, writing, or editing, she can be found hiking or having fun outdoors with her family.
Editorial Cartoons & Illustration: Visual Storytelling That Matters
Editorial cartoons and illustrations have for centuries provided an engaging alternative for commenting on the issues of the day, and when done right deliver real impact. This workshop will provide students with a broad understanding of the world of editorial cartoons and illustration, including historical context and recent implications, rounded out by some hands-on cartooning.
Areas covered: – A short history of the craft, illustrated by examples leading to where the field stands today. – The many challenges of being a cartoonist/illustrator in today’s ever-evolving media landscape. – How visual storytelling can drive businesses and other organizations – Attendees will be taught creative tools in an interactive cartooning session.
SpeakerKarl Wimer
Karl Wimer is an award-winning cartoonist and illustrator, published in books, magazines, and newspapers across five continents. Karl’s been a syndicated cartoonist for WoodyPaige.com, Mile High Sports Magazine, Denver Business Journal, and Central European Business Weekly. His cartoons have won multiple 1st Place Awards (Society of Professional Journalists, Colorado Press Association, and others), and have been featured extensively in the Best US Editorial Cartoons of the Year, in USAToday, NPR, Fox News, and in economics textbooks. Karl’s background (BA History/Yale, MBA/Kellogg, Grad Degree/London School Economics), business experience (29 years as a successful marketing executive), sports bonafides (2-sport college athlete: football, All-America in lacrosse, successful coach at many levels), and international interest (several years living and working in places as varied as Prague and Bangkok), all find their way into his art.
Everything I Ever Needed To Know About Writing I Learned From the Beatles
What can the world's most popular rock band teach us about writing? Plenty, it turns out. This workshop will use the Beatles' music and lyrics as a guide to understanding the creative process.
SpeakerMichael Merschel
Michael Merschel’s three decades in newspaper journalism included 12 years as books editor for The Dallas Morning News. He’s also the author of the novel Revenge of the Star Survivors, which won the Texas Institute of Letters’ award for best middle-grade book in 2018. Before that, he contributed to public radio’s A Prairie Home Companion and composed an out-of-office reply that was mentioned in The New York Times and featured on NPR. He now writes about cardiovascular health for American Heart Association News. Learn more at merschel.net.
Short and Sweet: Crafting Micro-Stories for Brands
In this hands-on session, “Short and Sweet: Crafting Micro-Stories for Brands,” students will discover the power of concise storytelling for brand marketing. They’ll explore how to create impactful brand narratives using intentional language, tone, and word choice—crafting messages that capture attention in just a few words. Through exercises and group activities, students will practice turning a brand’s essence into a micro-story that resonates with its target audience, proving that sometimes, less really is more. Whether it’s for social media, advertising, or personal branding, this workshop will teach you how to tell compelling stories in the shortest form possible.
SpeakerLizzie Combs & Sarah Galaro
Sisters Sarah Galaro and Lizzie Combs are Dallas-based writers and marketers. Together, they have formed Tabletop Marketing. Sarah has over a decade of experience as a brand marketer and quarterback of national campaigns. Complementing her is Lizzie, combining experience as a strategist at a New York-based agency with a background in the arts. Tabletop offers full-stack marketing, crafting comprehensive solutions with a special emphasis on strategic planning and brand development. In addition to their work as marketers, Sarah and Lizzie are involved in the Dallas Arts community. Sarah regularly contributes to Arthouse Dallas’ creative writing and poetry workshops. Lizzie has had several original plays and monologues featured in local and national festivals.
Writing True Crime: From the Investigation to the Page
What makes a good true crime story? What tools do you need to investigate what really happened? How do you get people–victims, law enforcement, perpetrators–to talk to you? Once you know the facts, how do you tell the tale in a compelling manner? The tips are the same whether you are writing on the page or doing a podcast.
SpeakerGlenna Whitley
Glenna is an award-winning investigative reporter. Whitley’s work has appeared in numerous publications, including The Dallas Morning News, D Magazine, Dallas Observer, Glamour, Ladies Home Journal, More, The New York Times, Texas Monthly, Penthouse, Reader’s Digest, Redbook, Town & Country, and many more.
She is co-author of Stolen Valor, a non-fiction book published in 1998 about the Vietnam War. The book received the 2000 William E. Colby Award for non-fiction writing on military affairs. It received acclaim from news outlets as diverse as ABC’s 20/20, NPR’s This American Life with Ira Glass, and Naval Proceedings, and popularized the phrase “stolen valor” to describe military pretenders.
She has discussed her stories on numerous television programs such as Dateline, NBC News, The Hunt with Jon Walsh, ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary series, Snapped, and Discovery Investigates. Whitley is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where she earned a degree in journalism.