Every year, journalists, writers and readers gather at the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center in Grapevine for the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference. Dozens of influential and popular writers speak to the crowds, and attendees partake in writing workshops and contests. Observer writers Anna Merlan, Brantley Hargrove and Leslie Minora were at the conference this past weekend, and here are their thoughts on this year's Mayborn.
Anna: So, Mayborn. Brantley's a veteran, so do you want to explain what it is? Brantley: The first thing you have to understand about the Mayborn is that the setting is unremarkable. Very unremarkable. We're talking about a Hilton conference center near the DFW airport. Anna: It's remarkably depressing Brantley: Yes. But it's what happens inside that sets it apart from just about every conference in the country. Leslie: It's like band camp but for journalists.