Quick Bio: Beth Ann Cagle, 49, is originally from Alexis, NC and now lives in Charlotte, NC. She earned a BA from UNC Charlotte in Psychology and English and went on to receive her MA in English from UNC Charlotte. She is a resident manager for an apartment complex, a writing instructor at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, a published poet, and a writer and editor for several journals and publications including moonShine review,
The Main Street Rag and
Kakalak: Journal of Carolina Poets & Artists.
Connect with Beth as Beth Ann Cagle on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Check out her
website or send her an email at
bethacagle@gmail.com.
1. What type of writing do you do? What challenges you the most and what comes naturally?
As a poet and prose writer, I value a variety of styles within each genre. In poetry, I love the challenge of formal verse, but I primarily write in free verse. For prose, I have most recently written memoir. Although creative writing comes more naturally to me, I also enjoy writing interviews for
The Main Street Rag.
2. How do you cultivate inspiration for your work?
Inspiration comes to me when I read dexterous poetry and riveting prose as well as when I workshop with the five other brave souls in my critique group, the beMuses. These fellow writers keep writing in my life and breathe life into my writing.
3. What do you enjoy most about the Charlotte Writers' Club?
The Charlotte Writers' Club offers various types of support that I've appreciated through the years. When I attended meetings regularly, I loved hearing and learning from the featured speakers. The writing workshops offered by the CWC provided great learning opportunities as well. This year, I have particularly benefited from the coverage and information presented in the e-newsletters. However, I have gained the most from the camaraderie of other CWC members.
4. What writing advice would you pass on to other writers?
Participate, write, revise, submit, receive, and trust: Participate in workshops and readings, write frequently, revise habitually, submit regularly, be receptive to suggestions, and trust your intuition concerning the final version of each poem or prose piece. See
www.bethacagle.com for the full article "Breaking Into Poetry: Suggestions for New Poets."
5. In a sentence or two, what else would you like people to know about you?
My full-length poetry book
First Comes Love was published in February 2015 by Main Street Rag Publishing Company, and my chapbook
The Fearless Tattoo won the 2003 Shadow Poetry Chapbook Contest. I am currently working on two collections-one about family and growing up in the country and another with the working title
Sylvia Plath in First Person. I have taught writing and literature at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina, and served as a newspaper reporter and photographer for the
Lincoln-Times New in Lincolton, North Carolina.
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