UMSL's Writers Talk Writing Series Brings Insights from Professionals

The conversation series features authors discussing their writing practices, processes, and purposes.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:37pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The University of Missouri–St. Louis' English Writing Program launched the Writers Talk Writing series in 2024, bringing in authors to discuss their work and the role of writing in creating change. The series, organized by Associate Professor Lauren Obermark and Assistant Teaching Professor Lauren Terbrock-Elmestad, features two events per semester and has featured a range of speakers, from UMSL faculty to local authors and communication professionals.

Why it matters

The Writers Talk Writing series provides UMSL students with valuable insights into the writing process and the power of the written word to effect change. By hearing directly from authors and other writing professionals, students gain a better understanding of the challenges and rewards of writing, which can inspire them to dedicate more time to honing their own craft.

The details

The series was launched with the support of a College of Arts and Sciences Course Enrichment Grant, which aimed to expand the impact of UMSL's first-year writing course and 3000-level writing courses. Since spring 2025, Obermark and Terbrock-Elmestad have organized two events per semester, featuring a range of speakers, from UMSL faculty members discussing their current writing projects to authors like Vivian Gibson, Devin O'Shea, and Sarah Kiser talking about writing for change.

  • The Writers Talk Writing series was launched during the 2024-25 academic year.
  • Since spring 2025, the series has featured two events per semester.

The players

Lauren Obermark

An associate professor of English at UMSL who serves as a co-administrator of the English Writing Program and moderates the Writers Talk Writing panels.

Lauren Terbrock-Elmestad

An assistant teaching professor of English at UMSL who serves as a co-administrator of the English Writing Program and co-organizes the Writers Talk Writing series.

Vivian Gibson

The author of the bestselling memoir 'The Last Children of Mill Creek,' who discussed her path to becoming a writer during a recent Writers Talk Writing panel.

Devin O'Shea

A former adjunct professor at UMSL who participated in the 'Writing for Change' panel discussion.

Sarah Kiser

A current UMSL MFA student who spoke about how her novel 'Hunt the Ever Wild' uses fiction to comment on American society.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“With me, I didn't want to write a book. I was just writing stories for my kids and my nieces and nephews because my parents died before they were born. There were other people saying, 'This is a book. This is interesting. People want to know this.'”

— Vivian Gibson, Author

“When we hear people talk about writing, they often talk about their finished product. They rarely talk about their writing process, their practices or their habits. We wanted to make sure that the students got to hear other people, other writers, talk about the fact that it's not just about presenting their final product. There are a lot of other things that go into that process.”

— Lauren Terbrock-Elmestad, Assistant Teaching Professor of English, UMSL

“We all get stuck. We all write stuff that we throw out. All of that is very normal. It's labor intensive, but that is some of the joy that you start to take in your writing – that you get to grapple with it. That's always something that stands out from the events.”

— Lauren Obermark, Associate Professor of English, UMSL

What’s next

The Writers Talk Writing series will continue in the fall, with students in all writing courses encouraged to attend the 'on-campus field trips' featuring additional panels and discussions.

The takeaway

The Writers Talk Writing series at UMSL provides students with valuable insights into the writing process and the power of the written word to create change, inspiring them to dedicate more time to honing their own craft and seeing themselves as part of a vibrant community of writers.