packing list

Written By Bailey Vandiver

Bailey’s Packing List for Appalachian Writers’ Workshop

Hindman, Kentucky | July 20-25

  • My current journal and a blank back-up journal, because I’m getting close to the end of this one, and what could be worse than not having a journal at a writers’ workshop?

  • Books for fun: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid; Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg; Half-Life of a Secret by Emily Strasser; Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze

  • Book for class: Touchstone Anthology of Contemporary Creative Nonfiction, Work from 1970 to Present, a book I had to buy for my creative nonfiction class in undergrad that includes the essay we’re supposed to read by tomorrow

  • Books for my book: Alone atop the Hill by Alice Dunnigan; Reporting from Washington by Donald A. Ritchie

  • A wedding photo of me and Loui to put on my dresser for the week

  • Clothes—mostly shorts and tank tops because it is hot. Here’s hoping I didn’t wildly misunderstand the workshop’s dress code

  • So many snacks, ranging from apples and pistachios to three bags of Sour Punch Bites (Loui did the grocery shopping and wanted me to be adequately prepared)

  • Not floss, which I realized somewhere on the Mountain Parkway

  • A polka-dotted dress and accessories for Retro Prom

  • Earrings as conversation starters, including library cards, orange cats, and disco balls

  • A flashlight that doubles as a defensive weapon, but currently without batteries (don’t tell any would-be attackers)

  • An orange cat stuffed animal to pretend Leo and George are with me

  • Typewritten notes of feedback for my fellow workshop participants

  • Excitement, apprehension, etc.

Bailey Vandiver
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