TWO WRITING CONFERENCES THIS SPRING

WRITERS, TAKE NOTICE!
Two great writing conferences you will enjoy this spring.


April 6 - 7 - Blue Ridge Writers' Conference - The Art Center in Blue Ridge, Georgia - Visit the website for information on the presenters. I recommend this conference because I have attended every single one over the past 22 years. I have never been disappointed. In fact, I have met some of the best and best known writers and poets at this conference.

https://www.blueridgewritersconference.com/

 

Saturday, April 21 - 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM - North Carolina Writers' Network 2018 Spring Conference - MHRA Building UNC-Greensboro,NC - Register at www.ncwriters.org  or call 336-293-8844  or 919-308-3228
This is always a great conference. I attended for years but the driving is too far for me now. But if you want a jam-packed day full of literary knowledge and interesting people, please go to the Spring Conference. Ed Southern and Charles Fiore bring this event to Greensboro every year.

Writing and Poetry is Alive and Well in Cherokee County

Paul Donovan, founder of the Poetry and Essay Contests in Cherokee County

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the award ceremony for Poetry and Essay Contest winners in middle schools in Cherokee County. Mary Jo Dyer, principal of The Learning Center!, a charter school in Murphy, NC facilitated this contest, part of the original contest begun by Paul Donovan who, with support of the Cherokee Scout Newspaper, organized the Poetry and Essay contests for high school students eight years ago.

Below: Two essay winners for Cherokee County High Schools.

Poetry and Essay Contest Winners - Cherokee County Middle Schools

Essay Contest Winner for Cherokee County High Schools Contest

In a culture beset with admiration for athletics, it is wonderful to see young poets and writers rewarded for their excellence. As always, when I attend these ceremonies, I am amazed when I read or hear the work by these young people.

***Poetry winners for the Cherokee County High Schools were stranded in Europe at the time of the award ceremony so we have no photos of them.

SPRING CONFERENCE IN GREENSBORO

The NCWN Spring Conference was fun as always. It was good to see some of the writers I seldom see except at the conferences. Valerie Nieman is now Poetry Editor for Press 53. Such a warm person, good teacher and writer. I was happy to see Al Manning again. Haven't seen him since he left WNC for the flatlands of the Piedmont. He is a NCWN Rep and seems to be moving things along in his area.
Alice Osborn is also a Network Rep and you see her name numerous times in the Literary Calendar emailed to members each week.
Like Scott Owens, Alice is very busy.
I enjoyed half a day of non-fiction class and then sat in on Scott's class. He gave us the greatest prompt that should keep us busy for eons.
We here in far western NC will be priviledged to hear Scott's poetry read at Coffee with the Poets on May 12 at Phillips and Lloyds in Hayesville and again at Mountain Perk at 7:00 p.m. that night.

The trip to Greensboro was extremely long and I was happy that Lana Hendershott invited me to stay at her house on Thursday and Saturday nights. Still, I was beyond tired today.

Worked on a brochure for Writers Circle. Hope to have that out to the public soon. Received an invitation to judge the poetry section of the Silver Arts for Cherokee County. I look forward to reading all the entries.

Did you attend the Spring Conference? What did you like or dislike about the day? Let's tell Ed what he could do to make it better and what he did that was perfect.