So not only did you teach me about writing memoir, you also taught me about reading and thinking about how others write memoir. Thank you so much! Rebecca

Accepting what is to come

You can’t change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails.
Showing posts with label NCWN West. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NCWN West. Show all posts

Monday, August 24, 2020

PANDEMIC DISCOUNT ON THE WRITING DIALOGUE WITH CAROL CRAWFORD SEPTEMBER 24

CAROL CRAWFORD


On Thursday, September 24, 2 - 4 PMCarol Crawford, published writer and editor, will teach a class via Zoom for those who want to improve their writing of dialogue.

Bring your characters to life with dialogue that is authentic, clear, and compelling. Capture the flavor of personality and culture through speech that sounds real. In-class exercises will cover word choice, tone, action beats, what to leave out, and format in this interactive workshop. 
Register no later than September 19. 


Email gcbmountaingirl@gmail.com to receive instructions for registration.

Fee - $25

Sponsored by NCWN-West and Writers Circle around the Table.


Wednesday, February 12, 2020

NCWN West Presents These Events for 2020

Winter is a time we writers often hunker down, spend more time writing, submitting our work and planning for the coming year. In our area, we resume several of our writing events in March when the weather is more predictable. The critique groups continue year round, but it is not fair to a writer to have them plan for a reading or for teaching a class when the unpredictable weather might prevent anyone from attending.  

As Program Coordinator, I and volunteers work on a schedule of writers and poets for our Literary Hour at the John C. Campbell Folk School. This year from April to October, the NC Writers' Network West brings two of its more than 100 members in western NC and North Georgia to the stage at the Keith House Community Room. Students and faculty of the school and local community residents attend these programs. We feature published writers and poets as well as newer writers who enjoy the warm welcome of the folk school audiences. We include the audience by having them introduce themselves or by having them participate with questions for the writers.

Also beginning in March is Coffee with the Poets and Writers held monthly at the Moss Memorial Library in Hayesville, NC. We began this event in 2007 at Phillips and Lloyd Bookshop, and it is still a favorite. The attendance continues to grow. The Open Mic portion each month is open to anyone who wants to bring a poem or short prose piece. Featured are members of NC Writers' Network.

Nearly a decade ago, Karen Holmes who lives in Hiawassee and in Atlanta, attended a Writers Workshop in Blairsville, GA, sponsored by NCWN-West. She was impressed and became a member. After attending critique groups and readings for awhile, Karen created Writers' Night Out, a monthly gathering of writers set in north Georgia. She invited outstanding authors and poets from Atlanta and paired them with local writers each month. Many of those who traveled up from the city, stayed over and taught classes at Writers Circle around the Table. We were given the chance to meet and study with Robert Brewer, poetry editor of Writers' Digest and Michael Diebert, poetry editor of the Chattahoochee Review. Because of this event hosted by Karen Holmes, award winning poet, local writers met, learned and networked with people of influence in the literary world.

All of these events are sponsored by NCWN-West, a program of the state organization for the mountain community of western North Carolina and north Georgia. Since 1990 the writing community in the mountains has grown and NCWN-West now has a membership of 130.  The state organization receives support from the NC Arts Council and is a non-profit organization, therefore, we as a program, are also non-profit.

In the past two decades we have published anthologies, Lights in the Mountains and Echoes across the Blue Ridge, with work by mountain writers, held annual conferences and appointed representatives for NCWN-West who hold meetings for writers in counties from Henderson to Cherokee and in Towns and Union Counties in Georgia.

Over the years, small, individual groups of writers were spawned from the NCWN West monthly free events, but most professional writers become members of NCWN and therefore, NCWN-West. Members will tell you how helpful it has been to their success to be a part of the organization. From connections to top editors as well as contests for poetry and prose writers,        membership has something for all writers.

Writing is a solitary art, but when we come together in our writing community we don't feel alone and we learn from each other. 









Thursday, October 8, 2015

Writers' Night Out in Blairsville GA sponsored by NCWN West


Tomorrow night in Blairsville, GA at the Union County Community Building, Steven Harvey, author of the Book of Knowledge and Wonder, a memoir I recommend to anyone who likes to read about interesting people and their true stories, will be featured at Writers' Night Out.



Steve takes us on a search with him as he looks for and discovers the young mother who took her life when the author was only 11 years old. As he says, this is not a sad book, but is a book of wonder as he learns who this lovely woman was. He celebrates her in his book and we see how devastating mental illness can be, not just to the individual, but to those who love the afflicted person. 

The book is filled with photos that bring the reader right into the story.
Come early, at least by 6:00 p.m. if you plan to eat at the grill before the reading. And, remember, we have open mic. You can read for three minutes. Sign up at the door.
I hope to see you there!!
Glenda



Monday, November 4, 2013

Invitation to writers - Open House at City Lights Bookstore

We hope you will join us at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, NC for this event. I look forward to seeing old friends, my readers, and those who want to know more about NCWN West, our regional chapter of North Carolina Writers' Network, the state literary organization.

NETWEST OPEN HOUSE AT CITY LIGHTS BOOKSTORE and Cafe, NOV. 10, 1:00-4:30 p.m.

We welcome all Netwest members, as well as wannabe members, to a friendly literary gathering on November 10. 

We will begin the reception upstairs in the Regional Room, with finger foods and other assorted goodies, as well as coffee, tea, cider, and wine. We'll have Echoes Across the Blue Ridge prominently displayed, along with books by individual Netwest members. 
If you want to have your book available at the open house, call City Lights with details, so that the store can enter it into their system beforehand. 

Singer-songwriter Angela Faye Martin and guitarist Paul Schofield will provide music for us.

Shortly after 2:00, we will go downstairs to the Cafe, where our three featured writers will read. An open mic. will follow. The sign-up sheet will be upstairs, so please sign up when you arrive, if you wish to read. We will set a time limit depending on how many members have signed on to read. 

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Maren O. Mitchell, NCWN West member, popular at reading Friday night


Maren O. Mitchell, author of the self-help book, Beat Chronic Pain, an Insider's Guide, captivated her audience at Brother's Willow Ranch Restaurant Friday night. Maren's poetry is popular and she is published in excellent journals, but this intelligent and charming writer impressed me with her book based on her own experience. Unwilling to become dependent on narcotic pain prescriptions after debilitating spinal surgery, Mitchell researched other means to deal with chronic pain. In her book we see her quirky sense of humor and her determination and strength of character.

Last night, she stood holding lightly to the backs of two chairs while reading and seemed to have no pain at all. But she says she fights it every day and she shares her methods in her book.

Beat Chronic Pain, an Insider's Guide: Ways to Confront and Relieve Pain Through Avenues Other Than Drugs
Publication Date:
Nov 10 2012
ISBN/EAN13:
0985311908 / 9780985311902
Page Count:
152
Order from www.amazon.com 

Friday, August 30, 2013

NCWN West has a new website

The North Carolina Writers' Network - West has a new website set up by our new Program Coordinator, Ellen Schofield. It is still "in process" but the new website will link to our original blog, www.netwestwriters.blogspot.com 
Visit the new site by clicking on the link below.
www.ncwriters-west.org


Ellen is making herself available to members, visiting events in all the counties as much as she can, and has started her new job with enthusiasm and energy. 

Friday, August 16, 2013

Interview with Ellen Schofield published on Netwest Website

Recently the new program coordinator for our writing group, NCWN West, a chapter of the North Carolina Writers' Network, answered some questions for an interview published on our Netwest website. 

Ellen Schofield impressed me with her plans to serve our mountain group as our leader. I see good things ahead for our writers and poets in the far west portion of the state. 

Ellen is from Montana, originally, but has lived in our area since 2006. Her husband, Paul Schofield, is an author of a science fiction trilogy. 

Monday, December 3, 2012

Joan Howard's Gift is accepted by the Aurorean

Friend and fellow poet, Joan Howard, of Athens and Hiawassee, Georgia, an active member of NCWN West, had a poem, Gifts, accepted by this prestigious New England journal for their spring 2013 issue. 



The Aurorean is a biannual poetry journal appearing in April and October each year. From 1995-2005, the journal was published quarterly and from Southeastern Massachusetts. They officially moved to Central Maine in 2005 and the expanded biannual format began in 2006. The Aurorean has been featured in Poet’s Market and several-times recommended as a “Pick” by the prestigious Small Press Review, most recently for its 10th Anniversary Issue (Fall/Winter 2010–2011). SPR has said of the Aurorean: “a journal that has both high production values and quality poetry ... perfect to elevate you from the dark night of the soul.” In January of 2011, NewPages reviewer Sima Rabinowitz said of their 15th Anniversary Issue: "This little journal will fill you up."

Congratulations, Joan. 

Saturday, July 21, 2012

WE HAD FUN AT FESTIVAL ON THE SQUARE

Last weekend some of us, members of NCWN West, set up a booth at the Festival on the Square in Hayesville, NC. Saturday was busy but hot. This festival is sponsored each year by the Clay County Historical and Arts Council. Janice Padgett, president of the Council and Reba Beck, co-chairman of the festival committee,  were especially supportive of our being there.
Members of CCHAC at their booth in front of the historic courthouse
Besides Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, the anthology created by Netwest and edited by Nancy Simpson, we had poetry books by Nancy and Robert King. Clarence Newton brought his brand new poetry book, Short Glances Forward and A Long Look Back, and I finally got my hands on it. 

Deanna Klingle and Robert S. King at the NCWN West booth


Anthologies, such as my Cup of Comfort for Horse Lovers, sold better than poetry, so next year, I hope members who have had their work in anthologies will bring copies to sign.


Clarence Newton author of Short Glances Forward and A Long Look Back


Deanna Klingel drove down from Brevard to sign her books. She writes for young people and had a very successful day introducing her characters to the children in Clay County.


Many thanks to Joan Howard, Janice Moore, Linda Smith and Beth and especially Robert King who was there all day both days. I was happy to introduce quite a few people to Netwest and to Writers Circle. 
We almost made it through the festival without rain, but about 20 minutes before closing, the downpour started and we all came home in wet clothes. It was fun and I hope next year we will have more members participate.