It is time to Register for Scott Owens' poetry class, The Stuff of Poetry, September 12, 2015

Scott Owens, Award winning poet, editor and teacher

September 12, 2015 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.     Fee: $35.00

Class description:
The Stuff of Poetry: This workshop will focus on creativity, originality, and imagery, answering the questions, "Where do we find the stuff for poetry?" "How do we know what to include?" and "How do we make it good?"

Participants should bring an object of "value" (something kept for years) with them, expect to generate several new ideas for writing, and expect to have their comfort zones challenged.

Scott Owens will read his poetry on Friday, 7:00 p.m. September 11, for Writers Night Out in Blairsville, GA.


Scott is originally from Greenwood, SC. He holds degrees from Ohio University, UNC Charlotte, and UNC Greensboro. He currently lives in Hickory, NC, where he teaches at Catawba Valley Community College, edits Wild Goose Poetry Review, owns and operates Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse and Gallery and serves as vice-president of the NC Poetry Society.
He is a Regional Representative of North Carolina Writers' Network, and Coordinator of Poetry Hickory. His 12th book of poetry, To, was released by Main Street Rag last year.

His work has received awards from the Academy of American Poets, the Pushcart Prize Anthology, the Next Generation/Indie Lit Awards, the NC Writers Network, the NC Poetry Society, and the Poetry Society of SC, and his articles about poetry have been featured in Poet’s Market twice.


Scott Owens
www.scottowenspoet.com                     www.ncpoetrysociety.org

To register, send check made to Glenda Beall. Mail to 581 Chatuge Lane, Hayesville, NC 28904

Copy registration form at top of page and include with your fee.

Words Are All We Have - Dana Wildsmith

Dana Wildsmith will be teaching Words are all we Have at Writers Circle around the Table on Saturday, April  25. Mark that date on your calendar now.

To see some of her work and see the way she thinks as a writer, visit her blog site:

http://www.danawildsmith.com/blog

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Eye of the Beholder

One of the favorite instructors at Writers Circle has a new book out, Eye of the Beholder.

Read a short but incisive review here.

Will Wright teaches The Sound Textures of Poetry

Will Wright 

The Sound Textures of Poetry

 Saturday, August 10,  10:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Fee $40.00

Location: Writers Circle Studio Hayesville, NC

July Classes with Robert King and Karen Holmes

Saturday, June 20, 1- 4 p.m. Karen Holmes will teach a poetry editing class at Writers Circle. We have a full class and look forward to being with other poets and writers to learn and share with each other.

On Saturday, July 27, Robert S. King will teach a workshop at the Moss Memorial Library in Hayesville, NC on electronic submissions. Every time I get with local writers I hear someone say they don't feel confident using the online methods to submit their work.

Robert King is proficient in this type of thing and can teach us how to best get our work out to the world to enjoy without the old familiar hard copy and SASE.

Maybe this class will get me going and submitting more of my work.

What about you? Are you being held back by the new technology and online submissions? Did you know that Boomers are the group who use most of the smart phones, I-Pads and other gadgets, not the young ones. We can learn what we need to learn, so sign up for Robert's class and send out your stories, essays and poetry.

Contact me, Glenda Beall, 828-389-4441 or nightwriter0302@yahoo.com, contact Robert at rskingpoet@gmail.com  or simply send a check made to Writers Circle and mail to 581 Chatuge Lane, Hayesville, NC.

Do it now because space is limited in the computer lab at the library.

We Had a Great Everything but Poetry Class

We had a great four weeks of writing with five students at Writers Circle, but it ended today. Thanks Staci, Laura, Paula, Mike and Gene for all of your participation and contributions, as well as your comments.

This group included published and yet to be published students, but each gained from the participation of others. I appreciate all of you for your commitment. 

I am sure we will see you again at another class at Writers Circle or maybe at my next class at Tri-County Community College in March. Continue to watch our Schedule Page as we set up the calendar for 2013. 

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Today we reviewed what we covered in the sessions and added publishing as the last subject. I suggest that writers begin by first writing short -- short fiction, personal essays, and articles before jumping headlong into a novel. In a short piece it is easier to focus on the story. 

By publishing short fiction, personal essays or articles, the author begins to build a platform which will likely help her to catch the attention of an agent or publisher when she completes her book.

I also recommend that my students subscribe to at least one writing publication. Beginning writers can find excellent articles on the craft of writing in Writers' Digest and the Writer Magazine. Poets and Writers is more helpful, I believe, to more experienced writers who want to read about accomplished writers and who are interested in the pages of Classifieds at the back of the magazine. 

Writers Circle classes 2013

CreateSpace self-publishing class, October 27 cancelled due to illness of instructor

Writers Circle hopes to hold this class at a later date, possibly next year.

Writers Circle schedules no classes from November - April. If you are a writer or teacher of writing, and want to teach a class in 2013, contact us by email:  nightwriter0302@yahoo.com.

Check out the Schedule page on this blog to see classes as they are listed on the 2013 Calendar.

Saturday afternoon
October 27, 1:00 - 4:00

Ronda Birtha –  

Self-publishing Using Amazon's CreateSpace

We will discuss how and why it may be useful, how it has benefited authors, and how cost-effective it may be, as it has a "built-in" advertising infrastructure. Discussion on E-books.

$25.00 registration fee

Now taking registrations for this class. Mail your check to Writers Circle, 581 Chatuge Lane, Hayesville, NC 28904

Ronda knows her stuff and is passionate about helping others learn.  She's practical, fun and nice too. … Karen Holmes

 I gained valuable social networking information through a class taught at Writer's Circle by Ronda Birtha, a teacher in best sense -- easy to learn from, informed and patient.        Maren O. Mitchell

100 Thousand Poets and you?

    Come be part of an international literary event!

September 29 is an internationally special day for poets and writers. Many of you may have heard of the 100 Thousand Poets for Change initiative. Basically this is an international fellowship of poets and writers who are concerned about the state of our world and nations. If you are not aware of this movement, please visit the official website at   http://www.bigbridge.org/100thousandpoetsforchange/?page_id=13931

As of today, more than 700 communities worldwide have scheduled events on September 29, and more are added daily. So let's get together and have our own voices heard!

As part of this international event, FutureCycle Press (Robert S. King) and Writers Circle (Glenda Beall) have scheduled an open-mic reading on Saturday, September 29, 2012, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event will be held in the Grove Enterprises building located at 7540 Highway 64 West, Brasstown NC 28902. Brasstown is situated between Murphy and Hayesville NC and is about two hours from Atlanta or Knoxville. There is plenty of parking.

You are invited to come listen and/or read your original works of poetry or prose. Authors may also bring their books for sale at a table we provide. FutureCycle Press is particularly pleased to announce that it will have its new anthology, American Society: What Poets See, available for sale at the reading.

If you wish to read, please bring poems or prose pieces that do not exceed three minutes each. Depending on the number of readers, we may have time for more than one title per reader, so bring two or three of your works. Before the reading, please time your work to make sure it fits the allotted minutes.

We are not requiring that you read specifically on the subject of social issues, though you are encouraged to do so. It is more important that you show up and participate in whatever way you feel comfortable.

Please invite your friends and family as well. It would be helpful if you can let us know ahead of time if you plan to come and especially if you plan to read. An RSVP is not required, but having an idea of the numbers will help us plan the program. Please email Robert,rsking@futurecycle.org, if you plan to come. Also mention if you will bring books to sell.

We hope to see you there!

Robert S. King and Glenda Beall

_______________________

Directions to Venue:

From Murphy NC, take Highway 64 East toward Hayesville. Go 6+ miles and look for Grove Enterprises sign on left. Turn left at the driveway, go up the hill, turn left into the parking lot, and park on the side of the building facing highway 64. Once inside the building, please register at the front desk.

From Hayesville, NC, take Highway 64 West toward Murphy. Go 7+ miles and look for Grove Enterprises sign on right. Turn right in front of the sign, go up the hill and into the building's parking lot on the left. Park on the front side of the building facing Highway 64. Once inside the building, please register at the front desk.

Signs will be posted outside the building to help guide you.

Poets, Send It Out Now! Royston Class

August 
Rosemary Royston


Send it Out, Now!
Saturday, August 25, 10:00 – 1:00 PM,  2012

This class is for Intermediate to Advanced poets, or those who write poetry but have not had the courage to submit their work. 

What to Bring:

1) The print journal and/or a printout of your work in the online journal, web address included.

2) 3-5 poems that you are ready to submit.

3) Envelopes and stamps.

Purpose of the Class: You will leave with at least one new journal to which you can submit your finished poems, along with a resource list of journals and websites that are helpful to the publishing poet. The class facilitator will lead a discussion on how to ascertain what a particular journal is looking for, which contests are worthy of your time and money, and the in’s and out’s of good practice in submitting. This will be a discussion-based class, with time set aside to read at least one of your poems

Registration fee: $25.00

Contact Glenda: nightwriter0302@yahoo.com or call 828-389-4441 for mailing information.

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.

Guest Post on the subject of Poetry by Mary Mike Keller

Today we have a guest post from Mary Michelle Brodine Keller, poet, writer, painter and instructor. Thank you Mary Mike for posting today.

Mary Michelle Brodine Keller

Poetry classes by skilled Poets 

This past week I found myself with seven others at the knee of Gene Hirsch learning “the relationship of a poem’s art and the aim of the poem to the information from which it is written.”  

Those of us gathered, poems in hand, worked hard, if not struggled to put our minds around something that was not a tool or technique but craftsmanship.  We dug deep into ourselves and the poems, separating the poem from the poet, finding the focus, naming the vehicle, the thread that runs through, the essences and the art with which the poem elicits a reaction from the reader. 

   

Not long ago I took a workshop at The Writers Circle taught by Scott Owens.  The focus of that day was meter, not the “ta da ta da” counting of accented syllables as written, but counting the accents as they are actually read. They are different and can be tricky to count as you read aloud. This was about a tool or technique that could improve a poem from awkward to flowing. 

Thinking on the two classes, I realize how important it is to marry the non-technical with the technical, by doing so, we as poets can write poems that grab the reader and will not let go.

There are many places available to writers who want to learn how to write the best they can. We are fortunate to have The Writers Circle.  Skilled writers come from near and far to teach for one day or several days.  A full range of classes is available, including poetry, memoirs, writing your ancestor’s stories, publishing, essay, fiction and others. Take advantage of this resource.  It is the best in this area.

Mary Michelle Brodine Keller is a published poet and writer, and a seasoned genealogist.  She is a member of NCWN West and is on faculty at Writers Circle where she will teach a course in August, From Bones To Flesh. - Genealogy and writing class.

Poetry Weekend at Writers Circle

Writers circled around the table on Saturday to enjoy and learn from Scott Owens, a widely published poet and leader in the poetry world of North Carolina. His new book, One Who Knows How to Own Land, published by FutureCycle Press appealed to our local poets who couldn't wait to get their copies and have Scott sign them. 

Friday evening, Scott enthralled his audience when he read at Writers Night Out the popular event held at Brothers Restaurant in Young Harris, GA.

The crowd loved him and asked him to come back after open mike to read more of his poems. Scott said that was the first time he had been asked for an encore. I found a post by Scott on poetry readings, http://scottowensmusings.blogspot.com/2009/02/poetry-readings-november-13-2008.html  You might enjoy his view on why we attend these events.

A prolific writer, he keeps turning out books and will have another published in the fall. Like Nancy Simpson, I would not be surprised to see him appointed Poet Laureate. Pay attention, Governor Perdue.

Scott Owens, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing and More

Scott Owens, Saturday, May 12, 10 AM - 1:00 PM

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing and More

Poet, editor, critic, and teacher, Scott Owens, will lead students through an exploration of a variety of topics and issues regarding the writing process including strategies for invention, revision, and publication. Participants are asked to submit a poem to asowens1@yahoo.com by May 4 for possible use in the revision workshop.

Recipient of awards from the Academy of American Poets and the Pushcart Prize Anthology, Scott Owens is the author of 10 collections of poetry, including his latest For One Who Knows How to Own Land from FutureCycle Press and over 1000 published poems in journals including Georgia Review, North American Review, Chattahoochee Review, Southern Poetry Review, and Poetry East among others. He is the founder of Poetry Hickory, editor of Wild Goose Poetry Review and 234, and vice president of the Poetry Council of NC. Born and raised in Greenwood, SC, he teaches at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, NC.

Registrations are already coming in for this class. Fees: $30

Send Check to Writers Circle, 581 Chatuge Lane, NC 28904

Include contact info: name, email address, telephone number and Mailing address.

The Cure was worse than the Virus

Computers have become such a part of our lives that we can hardly live without them, it seems. A nasty virus hit my laptop last week and I finally had to take it to be cleared out. Little did I know the technition would clean out my entire hard drive causing me to lose everything except the data they saved and restored.
When my computer was returned to me, I had none of the Microsoft Office programs including Word. My printers don't work now and I am having a devil of a time trying to download drivers and get things going again. Hopefully Rebecca can help me get things back to normal in a few days.
Barry had Photoshop installed on this machine and now it is gone and I can't find any software to reload it.
Well, enough venting for now. I am thoroughly enjoying my assistant, Rebecca, who is staying with me this winter. She is a lovely young woman with an easy going manner that makes having her here a real joy for me. She likes helping others and is quite efficient.
Read her blog, Renaissance Rebecca, listed on the sidebar of Writers Circle.

Time to Write - How do we find it?

At our last class here at Writers Circle we discussed the largest issue all writers seem to face. When do we write and why do we let everything come ahead of our writing?
Jo said she writes first thing in the morning. Jo is working on writing about her interesting life. Jo used to go out to homes in south Georgia where she lives and interview good cooks for the newspaper in Cairo, GA.. One morning she went to a home where the cook had a meal on the stove when Jo arrived. Jo said that was the first and only time she ever had grits with catfish stew for breakfast.

Barb wanted to know how to make herself write instead of doing dishes, laundry, and other chores around the house. One of the best writers I have ever known, personally, was Doris Buchanan Smith who lived here in Hayesville. She was a prolific writer of books for young people and won awards for her work. Her books were published in many languages and were read around the world. Doris did not let housework get in the way of her real work -- writing books. She could leave the dishes in the sink while she holed up in her office and created stories. I don't think she ever felt guilty about those dishes like I do. But Doris had an agent and a publisher and her books earned her money. If I had that going for me, I'd not give those dishes or the dirty clothes a second look.

When do you like to write? Do you have trouble finding time to write?

Classes at the Writers Circle

For the past three Wednesdays, Mary Mike Keller has taught a most interesting class at Writers Circle. With a class filled to the max, she held the interest of all the women and one man with her vast knowledge of research on the Internet and her findings of her own family. She gave each person in the class individual attention so that today, on the last day, everyone had written a story of their ancestor researched during the time they were enrolled. And each one was written in a different style.
I know Mary Mike will be in demand in the future for more classes on finding ancestors and writing their stories.

Coming next week, Tuesday, June 8, I am teaching a class, Why Do You Write?, and registration has begun. We will write, share our work, and discuss why we want to write, how to best write our true stories, whether memoir or another type of non-fiction.

On Saturday, June 12, William Reynolds will teach a class on self-publishing your book. Most important, he will teach what an author must know before he begins his book. He will discuss marketing your book once it is published.

Contact me by email: nightwriter0302@yahoo.com for more information on registration. And be sure to let me know if you want to be on our address list for coming classes.

I read a good post by Jackie Lee Miles on A Good Blog is Hard To Find
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
BRING YOUR CHARACTERS TO LIFE



Jackie gives great advice about characterization. I have saved this to refer to when I attempt my next piece of fiction. I enjoy taking a prompt like the ones I receive in my Inbox almost every day from Peggy Millan.

When I don't have time to work on that prompt that day, I save it in an e-mail folder so I can always find something handy to prick my sensitivities and provoke me to write. Whether I write fiction or non-fiction or poetry, the prompts in my arsenal help me overcome my writer's block.

Our classes at my studio in Hayesville, NC - Writers' Circle - is prompting writers and those who want to be writers to get out their pens and keyboards.

Mary Michelle Keller's class at Writers' Circle beginning Wednesday, May 19 and continuing for the next two weeks, involves a bit of genealogy and a bit of writing. The class is filling and space is limited. Anyone who plans to take the class needs to contact Mary Mike now to give her time to do the research needed before the day of class. mmkeller@brmemc.net

Soon we will add Paul Donovan as one of our instructors. Look for more on his classes in July or August.

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.