I Give You Scott Owens

Since 2009, after I resigned as Program Coordinator for our local writing organization, I brought writers together at my studio at my house. My guest instructors come and hold three hour workshops for a very small fee. My guests, both instructors and students, have seemed to be very pleased with this arrangement. Anyone who knows me knows that I am making hardly enough off this venture to pay for the overhead, certainly not making tons of money. I am happy when I make enough to pay the expenses for the teachers. I enjoy the classes and enjoy bringing good writers and poets here for the writers in our area.

My Gift

I think of Writers Circle as something I can do for the writing community in my area. It is my gift to my friends and fellow writers, and it is a gift that I enjoy as well. We have some of the best poets and writers teaching here. Recently, my long time friend and heralded poet, Gene Hirsch, spent a Sunday afternoon in the studio with six poets who found the time together exhilarating and stimulating. My friend, Mary Mike, and I enjoyed lunch on her sunny porch recently and discussed our notes on that class.

On Saturday, June 15th, we will have with us, Scott Owens, one of North Carolina's most important poets and also one of the busiest poets I know. Scott teaches at Catawba College in Hickory, NC.
His workshop title is: The Essential Practices of Writing.
This workshop will focus on four habits all writers need to foster in practicing their craft. Some time will be given to invention strategies, hopefully resulting in the creation of at least one new piece and students are encouraged to submit a short piece ahead of the workshop for possible review and critique. 

All questions and topics for discussion are welcome.
Call me at 828-389-4441 for registration information or visit here.

THE POETS ARE COMING! THE POETS ARE COMING!

On April 14, poets from across the state will descend upon Hickory, NC, as Catawba Valley Community College hosts the Poetry Council of NC’s annual Poetry Day celebration. As many as 30 award-winning poets are expected, including Katherine Soniat of Asheville, Susan Lefler of Brevard, and Joanna Catherine Scott of Chapel Hill, winners of the Oscar Arnold Young Award for the year’s best book of poetry from NC.


This 62-year-old event will bring winners of the Council’s annual poetry contests together with poetry lovers as the winners receive their awards and share their poetry with all who attend. The event will also feature the debut of the Council’s 2012 annual awards anthology, Bay Leaves, and a live-judged Poetry Slam. Attendance is free and everyone is welcome.


The doors of CVCC’s Student Center will open at 9:20 for registration. The dedication of Bay Leaves will follow at 10:00, after which winners will be announced for the Charles Shull Traditional Poetry Award, the Charlotte Young Elementary School Student Award, and the Gladys Owings Hughes Heritage Award. All winners present will give a reading of their winning poems.


Before breaking for lunch, poets are invited to participate in the Poetry Slam. Entering the Slam requires a $5 entry fee and features awards of $35, $25, and $15 for first, second, and third place performances. Judging the Slam will be author, Emmy-winner, and coach of Slam Charlotte, Boris Rogers, also known as Bluz.


Following lunch, winners will be announced for the Ellen Johnston-Hale Light Verse Award, the Carol Bessent Young Middle School Student Award, the James Larkin Pearson Free Verse Award, the Sam Ragan High School Student Award, and the Poetry Slam.


The event will conclude with readings from the winners of the Oscar Arnold Young Book Award. For more information on Poetry Day or the Poetry Council of NC, visit www.poetrycouncilofnc.wordpress.com or contact Scott Owens at (828) 234-4266.