San Marcos workshop participants gather at The Wittliff Collections in the Albert B. Alkek Library at Texas State University on September 26, 2014.

Mark Busby, professor of English at Texas State University, takes questions after his lecture on the defining elements of Southwestern literature.

Mark Busby leads an afternoon workshop on Stephen Crane's 1898 short story "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky."

Rolando Hinojosa-Smith, Ellen Clayton Garwood Centennial Professor of Creative Writing at The University of Texas at Austin, delivers a lecture on fiction of the American Southwest.

Rolando Hinojosa-Smith responds to a question from a teacher following his lecture.

Nathan Pipes of San Antonio's Warren High School asks a question during the San Marcos workshop.

Steven L. Davis, curator of the Southwestern Writers Collection at The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University, delivers a lecture titled "A Land So Strange: Texas in Nonfiction."

Steven L. Davis talks with Vicki Hebert of Austin's Bowie High School during an afternoon workshop focused on the writings of Walter Prescott Webb and Américo Paredes.

Former poet laureate of the city of San Antonio, Carmen Tafolla delivers a lecture on poetry of the American Southwest.

Carmen Tafolla leads a workshop on teaching the poetry of the American Southwest.

Samuel Cauman (center) of Manor's Decker Middle School participates in discussion during a critical reading workshop.