The West Virginia Writers Workshop Aug. 3-6 at West Virginia University features eight public readings that are free and open to the public.

Now in its fourth year, the popular workshop is designed for aspiring writers to receive feedback and advice on their poetry, fiction or nonfiction, from some of the best. It is sponsored by the Department of English in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

The public reading schedule is as follows:

Thursday, Aug. 3, Dining Room Annex, Stalnaker Hall

• 8 p.m.Jean Valentine, author, poet and teacher at Sarah Lawrence College; Pinckney Benedict, short story writer and creative writing instructor at Hollins College

Friday, Aug. 4, Dining Room Annex, Stalnaker Hall

• 1:30 p.m. Ethel Morgan Smith, non fiction writer and creative writing and African-American literature teacher at WVU ; Mark Defoe, poet and professor of English at West Virginia Wesleyan College

• 8 p.m. James Harms, poet, author, professor and director of creative writing at WVU ; and Cheryl Ware, fiction writer and teacher in the public schools

  
  p. Saturday, Aug. 5 Upstairs Banquet Room, Ali Baba Restaurant

• 8 p.m. Janice Eidus, author of short story collections; and David Wojahn, poet, author and creative writing teacher at Indiana University and Vermont College

For more information contact the Department of English: 304-293-3107 (ext. 401) oremail: kzybell@wvu.edu .