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"Odd how the creative power at once brings the whole universe to order."
Virginia Woolf
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Ahh ... Spring!
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 Did you ever think it would happen?
If you took Marcelle Soviero's fabulous March 5 Blocked: How To Get Unstuck workshop, you are now armed with the all-important "notebook." For fresh inspiration, take your notebook outside and see what happens.
Spring vacation schedule:
No workshops the week of April 18-23.
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News of Our Writers
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Congratulations to ...
- Susan Ross, who just won the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award for her In Search of Lottie, one of two middle school-age books she's been working on in Suzanne Hoover's "The Art and Craft of Story" workshop. Established to encourage aspiring authors of Jewish children's books, the honor carries a cash award of $1,000 given for "the best fiction manuscript appropriate for readers ages 8-11, written by an unpublished author."
Appearances ...
- WWW Workshop leader Patricia Hermes ("Writing for Children") will speak this week at the University of Central Missouri's 2011Children's Literature Festival.
Just published ...
- Westport Writers' Workshop leader Marcelle Soviero had two essays published last month: The Garden Party published in Literary Mama; and The Inscrutable Teenager (originally titled The Teenage Brain) in the widely distributed print publication NY Metro Parents. Both of these were written and shaped in our "The Examined Life" workshop. Marcelle clearly practices what she teaches in her Get Published Now! A Boot Camp for Getting Your Short Work Published workshop.
Want to learn how to get your work published or win contests to begin building your portfolio of clips? REGISTER NOW for Marcelle's next Get Published Now! A Boot Camp for Getting Your Short Work Published scheduled for Saturday, April 2. Spaces remain but are filling quickly.
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To sell, or not to sell?
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What's the good news about the Internet? The proliferation of online publications offers a plethora of opportunities to have your work published. The catch? Whereas print publications traditionally paid for accepted work, online content often offers no stipend other than the satisfaction of seeing your work "in print." Does it count if you're not paid for your work? Yes, of course it does. Published work, even if it's unpaid (and who's to know?) builds credibility, a portfolio of accepted work, and keeps you motivated to write your next piece. On the other hand, we strongly urge writers always to write with the intention of being paid. Even if one receives the merest token amount, according to Virgina Woolf, "Money dignifies what is frivolous if unpaid for."
Want to learn how to submit your work for publication? Register now for:
"Get Published Now! A Boot Camp for Getting Your Short Work Published" Saturday, April 2, 9 a.m. to noon.
And don't miss a special evening event Writing Your Memoir for Publication: Yes, You Can! Thursday, April 7, 7:30-9 pm. (See below).
For more information call (203) 227-3250 or email us at info@westportwritersworkshop.com.
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Open Mic Nights at
The Westport Writers Workshop |
 | | WWW Member Jonathan Katz read his personal essay "Hair" |
We had a full house for our first Open Mic Night on March 10. It was terrific evening with a full program of writers reading fiction, young adult fiction, memoir, and personal essay. While some reading their work were WWW regulars, we were delighted to welcome and hear from several writers were new to us as well. Writers and guests lingered afterward to share comments and congratulations, along with coffee and cookies. It was a wonderful inauguration of a new tradition aiming to nurture and connect writers in our writing community.
Watch for announcements of more Open Mic Nights.
Join us for our next Open Mic night this Thursday, March 24 at 7:30 pm. See below.
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THIS WEEK in Westport
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Don't miss this latest offering in Suzanne Hoover's Essentials for the Fiction Writer series:
NEW!
Essentials for the Fiction Writer: Beginnings
with Suzanne Hoover, Ph.D.
Saturday, March 26
2 to 4:30 pm
All stories begin before they begin. The question is, where to start the telling. The choice is all-important. This workshop will explore the fascinating range of choices, and what they entail.
This is a valuable opportunity to learn advanced techniques from a master teacher of fiction writing craft. Suzanne Hoover holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University in English and Comparative Literature. The author of two novels, Suzanne was for 25 years, until her recent retirement, a full-time member of the Literature faculty of Sarah Lawrence College. She currently teaches in the Sarah Lawrence Graduate Writing Program.
Essentials for the Fiction Writer is a series of high level, craft-oriented workshops for fiction writers. CD recordings of previous Essentials for the Fiction Writer workshops are available at the event or to order.
SPACE IS LIMITED, REGISTER NOW
 | | Suzanne Hoover's Essentials for the Fiction Writer talk last month at the Greenwich Arts Council. |
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This Week: Poetry Open Mic Night
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CALLING ALL POETS AND POETRY LOVERS!
 Do you love poetry Write poetry Or love someone who does? Then please come to our next Open Mic Night which will feature poetry. Poets are invited to sign up to read a selection of your work to an audience of your peers and other interested listeners. Or just come to listen and be inspired. THIS WEEK! Poetry Open Mic Night: Thursday, March 24, 7:30 to 9:30 pm Each reader will be allotted a maximum of 10 minutes. Please sign-up in advance by calling (203) 227-3250 to receive a time slot. Priority will be given to those who registered for our January Open Mic nights that were canceled due to weather. But we must hear from you to re-reserve your spot. You don't have to be a poet to enjoy this evening! If time permits, we will have readings from the work of some noted poets including Mary Oliver, David Whyte, and Sharon Olds, among others. You are invited to bring your own favorites to share. Admission is $10, or free for Westport Writers' Workshop members or those currently registered in an 8-week or 6-week workshop. Or if you register and pay to read your work, bring your friends and supporters at no charge. This will be a relaxed and social evening. Coffee/tea, cookies and camaraderie are included. TO REGISTER
Call (203)227-3250 or email info@westportwritersworkshop.com |
| What's Coming in April | |
Registration for Spring 2011 Workshops is currently underway. Workshops begin April 4, and many sections are already filled. See our full program.
Thursday, April 7, 7:30 - 9 pm, WRITING YOUR MEMOIR FOR PUBLICATION: YES, YOU CAN! A Panel Presentation with NY Literary Agent Rita Rosenkranz and published authors Randye Kaye (Ben Behind His voices: One Family's Journey from the Chaos of Schizophrenia to Hope, Rowman & Littlefield, 2011), and Jessica Bram (Happily Ever After Divorce: Notes of a Joyful Journey, Health Communications, Inc., 2009) , $25 or free for WWW members.
Friday, April 15, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., WRITING KILLER FICTION: THE MYSTERY WRITER'S CRAFT with Jane K. Cleland, author of the Independent Mystery Bookseller Association best-selling and multiple award-nominated Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series (St. Martin's Minotaur). at the Greenwich Arts Council, 299 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, $125 or $115 for GAC or WWW members.
Lots more coming ... make sure you are on our email list for announcements of all events and openings.
Spring vacation schedule:
No workshops the week of April 18-23.
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What We're Reading
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This month, a recommendation from WWW workshop leader Marcelle Soviero:
Tell It Slant: Writing and Shaping Creative Nonfiction by Brenda Miller and Suzanne Paola. This book gives an overview and examples of types of creative nonfiction, and provides ways to generate material, develop narrative, find your voice and construct nonfiction articles, essays and memoir using basic storytelling techniques. Bonus: The book is full of prompts to keep you writing.
Do you have a book rave or writing wisdom to share? Send it to: info@westportwritersworkshop.com.
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Writers' Retreat 2011
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Registrations are now open for our Writers' Retreat scheduled for May 13-17, 2011 at this gorgeous oceanside estate in Watch Hill, RI. Seven writers will gather with retreat leaders Suzanne Hoover and Jessica Bram for five days/four nights of quiet writing and evening workshops. Open to fiction or nonfiction writers. Read more here.
Call (203) 227-3250 or email info@westportwritersworkshop.com |
Well Said
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"I notice that you use plain, simple language,short words, and brief sentences. This is the way to write English - it is the modern way, and the best way. Stick to it; don't let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in. When you catch adjectives, kill most of them - then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together; they give strength when they are wide apart. An adjective habit, or a wordy, diffuse or flowery habit, once fastened upon a person, is as hard to get rid of as any other vice."
~ Mark Twain, writing to a schoolboy essayist
"The road to hell is paved with adverbs."
~ Stephen King, On Writing
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Weather Cancellation Policy
| In the event of bad weather, please check the home page of www.westportwritersworkshop.com where we will post cancellation announcements. Or any time after 7 a.m. you may call the Westport Writers' Workshop at 203-227-3250, where there will be a pre-recorded message.
If the Westport Public Schools are closed, we will cancel our daytime Westport workshops. If the Greenwich Public Schools are closed, we will cancel our Greenwich workshops. Please check with us in the afternoon for notice of evening cancellations. |
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