Preparing for PLoP
Writers’ Workshops,
Imagination Run Wild, &
Open Space

PLoP isn’t just another academic conference! It’s a one-of-a-kind experience where ideas are nurtured, creativity is celebrated, and community is built. To make the most of your time at PLoP, here’s how to prepare for the key parts of the conference.

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Writers’ Workshops

If you are an author, you’ve been assigned to one of five Writers’ Workshop groups. This group will be your home for the duration of the conference, and you can find your group assignment on the Program page.

The Writers’ Workshop is the heart of PLoP. Unlike traditional conferences where anonymous reviewers provide feedback before you arrive, here you will sit in a small, collegial circle with peers who have carefully read your work. Together, you’ll share insights, ask questions, and offer wisdom that helps each other improve papers in real time. It’s an intimate, supportive process—one that many participants describe as the most special part of PLoP.

How to Prepare

• Read all papers in your group ahead of the conference. This ensures you can fully participate in every discussion, not just your own.
• Make notes and comments as you read. You may choose to print the papers and jot thoughts in the margins, or annotate directly on the PDF using your laptop or tablet.
• Download papers directly from the Program page.
• Be ready to contribute. Writers’ Workshops thrive on participation, so please plan to attend all sessions of your group.

This is not about critique for critique’s sake—it’s about helping one another grow as writers and thinkers. By the end of the week, you won’t just know your paper better—you’ll know your group members as colleagues and friends.

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Imagination Run Wild Sessions

The spirit of PLoP is creativity, and nowhere is that more visible than in our Imagination Run Wild sessions. These are wide-open opportunities for facilitators to shape the time in whatever way serves their goals and sparks conversation.

• Want to give a presentation? Go for it.
• Prefer a round-table discussion, a fishbowl, or even a Delphi session? Perfect.
• Have something unconventional in mind? That’s exactly the point.

As a facilitator, your task is simple: let your imagination run wild. As a participant, you’re welcome to attend any session that sparks your interest. These gatherings are designed to be collegial, fun, and experimental—just like the PLoP community itself.

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Open Space

In addition to the structured sessions, PLoP also offers Open Space—time set aside for participants to create the agenda themselves.

Want to share an idea, present on a topic, or revisit something that came up in conversation? Open Space is for you. These sessions are informal and flexible, and we encourage you to keep them focused on one clear goal.

On Sunday night, you’ll have the opportunity to post your topic for Open Space. Other attendees can sign up to join your session, and the conference chairs will then assign times. This is your chance to engage directly with the community in the most organic way possible.

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Why This Matters

PLoP is unlike any other conference. There are no “reviewer walls” between you and your peers. Instead, you’ll work side-by-side in an environment designed for learning, collaboration, and creativity. You’ll leave with sharper papers, new ideas, and—most importantly—lasting relationships.

So, get ready to:

• Immerse yourself in your Writers’ Workshop group.
• Jump into imaginative, one-of-a-kind sessions.
• Share your own passions and curiosities in Open Space.

Bring your openness, your curiosity, and your collegial spirit. We can’t wait to see what you’ll contribute to the PLoP community.