More to do at the cenTENNial

Tennessee Williams is a literary giant who has been survived by a body of work that is read by many and rivaled by few. The Tennessee Williams Festival does not take its namesake lightly, and thus, strives to bring to its venues the talents of critically acclaimed writers of both fiction and non-fiction.

On Friday, March 25, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Olen Butler will teach a Master Class entitled “Creating Fictional Art.” The class focuses on the fundamental aspects of the creative process for fiction writers by exploring what art is, as well as attempting to define the essential characteristics of fiction as an art form. Butler formerly taught Creative Writing at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It was there that he penned his 1993 Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of short stories, A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain, set entirely in Louisiana. Those who are more interested in Butler’s life and works should consider the Writer’s Read Panel in the Royal Sonesta’s Regal Suite on Friday at 11:30 a.m. (ticket price: $10), but anyone who desires to write better fiction should not miss this Master Class, which begins at 3:00 p.m. at The Historic New Orleans Collection and costs $25 (tickets should be purchased in advance).

In addition to Master Classes led by modern literary icons, The Tennessee Williams Festival brings in great modern authors for in-depth discussions. Almost everyone remembers the 1994 film Forrest Gump, about the simple, but wise, man from Alabama who never ceased to fall into extraordinary adventures. The author of the book on which the movie was based hosts a panel discussion at the festival on Friday, March 25. Winston Groom, author of eight novels and seven books of non-fiction (one of which explores the roles of Andrew Jackson and Jean Laffite during the Battle of New Orleans), will discuss his life and work. The panel will be held at the Royal Sonesta Ballroom at 1:00 p.m.; tickets are $10.

Panel discussions at the Tennessee Williams Festival are not just for authors of historical and literary works. Journalism is the most accessible medium by which Americans indulge in the words of talented writers. Sports journalism has seen a particular rise, partially due to the recent successes and controversies of New Orleans’s own players and teams. Although the city’s beloved Saints aren’t hitting the turf this off-season, sports columnists are active at their keyboards covering the stories the Who Dat Nation wants to read. On Saturday, March 26, Times-Picayune Saints staff writer Jeff Duncan and national award-winning columnist (and son of New Orleans) Ellis Henican take the stage at the Royal Sonesta Ballroom to discuss the joys and challenges of covering the New Orleans Saints. The aptly titled panel discussion, “Who Dat Say Dey Gonna Write Dem Books? Writing About the Saints,” begins at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.