"This mark is like a mirror held up in front of the viewer. It reflects where inspiration, thoughts, ideas, and stories originate—in the mind."
Designer, Gordon Smith.
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September Volume 29 Issue 1
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Our mission: to support local writers and promote their development through education, recognition, and community.
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A Message from the President:
Happy 99th year!
Although we tiptoe toward a time when we can meet safely in person, we’re not there yet. David Collins has worked all summer securing speakers and fine-tuning programs sure to please whether we are virtual or in-person. So, mark yourself busy on Tuesday September 21, and join us via Zoom. Logon at 6:30 for a social half-an-hour; business begins at 7pm. Charlie Lovett will be sharing his Thoughts on Beginnings and Endings.
On Tap for September:
- The Grand Opening of Virtual Office Hours on the 15th. Please help spread the word by sharing those flyers and the information that Axel sent in an email blast late last month. The more coverage we can have the more likely it is that we reach the audience that can benefit the most from this free monthly outreach. Axel, Darrell Horwitz, Debra Wallin and Teresa Taylor are driving this project. Check out what else the Student Engagement Committee has planned at the CWC Student Engagement page.
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A Virtual Day with Jill McCorkle--Hurry Seats are filling up fast! CWC North is hosting Jill's afternoon workshop Finding a Story & in the evening co-sponsoring with Main Street Books Davidson, a conversation about her latest release, Hieroglyphics .Tammy Wilson is the coordinator.
And that’s just the beginning, y’all! Watch the website & your email reminders and renew your membership to stay current & connected. If you have questions or suggestions contact me.
Stay Healthy & Keep Writing!
Caroline
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Our Next Meeting is:
on Tuesday September 21,
6:30 to 8:30 pm Via Zoom
Speaker: Novelist Charlie Lovett
Where do we start a novel (or any work of art) and how do we know when it is over?
How does the beginning of a novel and the end relate to one another?
How can there be connections between the beginning and end that lead to a satisfying experience for the reader?
Join us as Winston-Salem novelist, author of the Bookman's Tale and a Davidson graduate, explores these questions and shares his techniques, experiences, pitfalls, and possibilities for the beginnings and ends of works of fiction. Visit the CWC Calendar of Events page to learn more about our presenter & subject. Members will receive an announcement with the Zoom link. If you want to be our guest, contact Axel Dahlberg and he'll send you a link.
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Club Stuff, Opportunities to Write & Submit |
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Spend a Virtual Day with NYT Best Selling Novelist Jill McCorkle
Reserve Your Seat Now for a craft workshop & a free evening book event both
on Zoom Saturday, September 25. CWC North is hosting Jill McCorkle's Finding a Story, from 2-4 pm. The fee for this interactive craft workshop is $30 for members, $40 for non members and seating is limited. Sign up Here.
And at 7pm McCorkle will talk about/read from her latest best seller Heiroglyphics, via Zoom hosted by Main Street Books, CWC North is the co-sponsor.
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Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle
Virtual Reading & Conversation, Thursday October 14, at 7 pm
EVEN AS WE BREATHE,
the author’s award-winning debut novel. Presented by Main Street Books of Davidson & Charlotte Writers’ Club North
911 Poetry Anthology Recalls Tragic Events, Advocates for Shared Humanity
On Tuesday, Oct. 5th, 7 p.m. Main Street Books in Davidson, Outdoor Stage, join local poets as they share poems from Crossing the Rift: North Carolina Poets on 911 and Its Aftermath. No matter how you were touched by the events of September 11th, 2001, that moment continues to resonate.
This anthology, published by Press 53, brings together 116 poets from across the state, including six North Carolina poets laureate, in considering not only what happened that tragic day, but what continues to challenge us 20 years later: Islamophobia, the vilification of refugees and asylum-seekers, nationalism, supercharged military budgets, and rises in virulent racism and domestic terrorism.
Edited by former North Carolina poet laureate Joseph Bathanti and 911 family member and former literature and theater director for the North Carolina Arts Council David Potorti, Crossing the Rift takes head-on what Carolyn Forche calls “the poetry of witness” and its advocacy “for a shared sense of humanity and collective resistance.”
This event will be co-hosted by Main Street Books and Charlotte Writers’ Club North.
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Beyond Poems & Paintings
Ekphrastic Art Exhibit II
Poets, interpret an artist’s work through your words. Charlotte Writers’ Club North and Mooresville Arts are seeking poets and artists to participate in an ekphrastic art exhibition.
Eight works of art will be featured along with sixteen poets’ interpretations at a reception on June 10, 2022, at the Mooresville Arts Gallery. Poets and artists will have the opportunity to socialize with one another and comment on their efforts and interpretations.
This two-part event is a judged, non-compensatory exhibit open to members of CWC and poets in the Carolinas. For the first part, poets will select a piece of art of their choosing and write an ekphrastic poem. These entries must be submitted between September 2 and October 20, 2021.
Only the first 50 poems will be considered of which sixteen will be selected by Diana Pinckney, an award-winning ekphrastic poet. These sixteen poets will participate in the second stage of the event.
Mooresville artists will post artwork online by January 31, 2022. Each poet will choose one piece of art and write an ekphrastic poem that will be exhibited with the art in June.
Submission Fee: $12 CWC members; $22 nonmembers
Deadline for submissions is October 20, 2021, or until we receive 50 poems, so submit early!
If you have any questions, please contact Sandra Phillips CWC North
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An ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning.
The term ekphrastic (also spelled ecphrastic) originates from a Greek expression for description. The earliest ekphrastic poems were vivid accounts of real or imagined scenes. Through effusive use of details, writers in ancient Greece aspired to transform the visual into the verbal.
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"I will never forget seeing what hate can destroy...I will never forget seeing what love can heal."
Steve Maraboli, Author of Life, the Truth and Being Free
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Co-Program Chair
Volunteer your talents and learn the ins and outs of program planning, working with Dave Collins. Your main duties this coming year are likely to be technical; leading and or assisting our online audience with Q&A that follows monthly speakers. You and he will be searching for and booking presenters for our meetings in 2022-2023.
If you see yourself in this role, please contact Dave for more about this important post.
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Registration is Open Now for CWC's Fall Workshop in Cyberspace
Kevin Winchester will lead Flesh Made Word/Word Made Flesh, a virtual workshop that explores in detail all the elements of character building in fiction
on Saturday October 2 from 10 am to 1pm.
The fees for this craft class
is $30 for members, $40 for non members. Once you register you will receive the Zoom link in your reminder emails. Visit the CWC Workshops page to learn more about Winchester's workshop.
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September 24, 2021
6:45-9:00 p.m.
Mugs Coffee
5126 Park Rd
Charlotte 28209
CWC presents another amazing night for members to share their awesome talent.
You must be a member and register ahead of time to read. Register Here
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Why Students Should Learn Good Writing Skills
Writing helps to improve analytical or problem-solving skills. Regular writing will help students to become quicker at constructing sentences, conveying opinions and exploring tone of voice.
- Increases career opportunities. many times an employer will choose a candidate over another candidate because of his or writing skills.
- It's good for your health. Writing clears your mind, brings you inner peace.
- Boadens your knowledge. The more you write the more you learn.
- Widens vocabulary. It introduces you to new words and encourages one to utilize the words.
- Improves concentration. This is a benefit of writing by hand; it tales away your technology focus.
- Increases productivity. Writing activates neurons in your brain which subsequently helps you to complete other tasks. Similarly, if you write down your goals, you are far more likely to achieve them.
- Uses imagination. It is well known that our imagination tends to weaken with age, and so creative writing can be very empowering. Practicing being observational and inventive with ideas not only improves your descriptive skills, but can also have positive health benefits, boosting feelings of happiness and fulfilment.
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"I'm a writer that just needs time and can't rush through it."
A Third Grade Student
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Excerpt from
Research: Students Need to Spend More Time Writing
by Dian Schaffhauser
A new research brief has suggested just a quarter of students in middle school and high school write for at least 30 minutes a day, a minimum standard set by learning experts for the development of writing skills. According to the Learning Agency Lab, a nonprofit that works to improve the effectiveness of K-12 education, persuasive writing, specifically, is being neglected "to an alarming degree."
Ineffective school schedules could inhibit a teachers' ability to allocate time for students to do more persuasive writing.
The research also has suggested that schools aren't "making writing a priority," she added. "Schools need to give more time and attention to student writing, and they can start by increasing the amount of time students spend writing, both at home and in school." Black and Hispanic students are more likely to be graded on "mechanics and conventions" (25 percent) compared to 18 percent of White students. A potential explanation for this, Picou wrote, is that Black and Hispanic students were "more likely to have accents, dialectic differences or speak another language at home, which educators may classify as deficient." Picou urged schools to "give writing more time and attention." As she noted, "Increasing the amount of time students spend writing, both at home and school, has significant implications for improving writing outcomes. Providing students with many and different opportunities to write builds familiarity with the writing process. If students are comfortable with writing, they are likely to become stronger, better writers."
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"Every child is a natural born writer." |
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Virtual Writing Salon & Social Time
The Second Monday of the month: September 13 at
7 pm.
Can you define these words from Tiffany Grantham's August Write In?
- Lunamovas
- Lamissa Scholarist
- Aviothic
- Altermapid
Give it a go! Then logon to see what prompts she comes up with next!
Take 75 minutes to write and share. We'll start with a little face time and catch-up time, bring your imagination; No pressure, no angst, just writing fun!
In August, we celebrated Tiffany's first anniversary online with a raffle,
new member Elizabeth Gaines was the winner!
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The Ruth Flash Fiction contest is now open kicking off our 2021-2022 contest season. Gary Powell is this year's judge.
Visit the CWC Contest Page to learn more about Powell, who is a CWC member and get cracking on those pieces of short fiction--up to 500 words--and submit until October 17, 2021.
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September
September is the ninth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, the third of four months to have a length of 30 days, and the fourth of five months to have a length of fewer than 31 days. September in the Northern Hemisphere and March in the Southern Hemisphere are seasonal equivalent.
September is (from Latin septem, "seven") was originally the seventh of ten months in the oldest known Roman calendar, the calendar of Romulus c. 750 BC, with March (Latin Martius) the first month of the year until perhaps as late as 451 BC. After the calendar reform that added January and February
to the beginning of the year, September became the ninth month but retained its name. It had 29 days until the Julian reform, which added a day. September's birthstone is sapphire. which is said to reduce inflammation, treat fever and act as a lucky charm for the person wearing it. It symbolizes intuition, clarity of thought, peacefulness, as well as loyalty and trust.
September Born Authors
1-Rosa Guy-My Love, My Love
4-Joan Aiken-Wolvesof Willoughy Chase
7-Teresa G.S. Taylor-From Africa to the American West
13-Ronald Dahl-The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
15-Agtha Christie-The Mysterious Affair at Styles
21-Stephen King-The Talisman
21-HG Wells-The Time Machine
24-F. Scott Fitzgerald-The Great Gatsby
25-Carlos Ruis Zafon-The Shadow of the Wind
Truman Capote-Breakfast at Tiffany's
September Reminders
5-National Cheese Pizza Day
6-Labor Day
11-Patriot Day in memory of those who died in 9-11
13-Grandparents Day
17-Constitution Day
18-Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown
25-CMS-first school day
28-National Drink-a-Beer Day
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September Fun Facts
- The Romans believed that September was looked after by the god of fire. ...
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Out of all 12 months of the year, September is spelled with the most letters.
- There are more pop and classic songs with “September” in the title than any other month
Characteristics of September Born Persons
People born in September are either a Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22) or a Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22). Virgos are helpful, dedicated and hardworking. Libras are charming, lovable, fair and sincere. They also
between struggle between right and wrong because they always have a strong perception of what is right and do the right thing according to them. They have an eye for beauty and are always attracted to all beautiful living or non-living things.
Historical Facts
1-1939 Hitler invaded Poland; thus began World War II in Europe
2-1945 President Truman proclaims V-J Day upon the surrender of the Japanese.
3-1783 Treaty of Paris signed that ended the American Revolutionary War
4-1781 City of Los Angeles founded by Spanish Governor Felipe de Neve
5-6-1972 Eleven members of the Israeli Olympic Team were killed during an attack on the Olympic Village in Munich by members of the Black September faction of the Palestinian Liberation Army.
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"September 11 reinforced for me that whatever I'm writing about, it better be something that really matters to me because we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. And for me it's stories about people in pain in New York."
Stephen Adly Guirgis, Playwright
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Meet-a-Member:
Les Brown
Bio:
Les Brown, a native of the mountains of North Carolina, is professor emeritus at Gardner-Webb University. He has published poetry and short stories in several journals, including Pinesong, Kakalak, Wild Goose Review, Pine Mountain Sand and Gravel, Flying South, Poetry in Plain Sight and Avalon and is a former columnist for the Shelby Star. Two of Les’s poems were nominated for the 2020 Pushcart Prize by the North Carolina Poetry Society. His poetry book, A Place Where Trees Had Names, was published by Redhawk Publications, 2020. Les’s background as a biologist and his Appalachian heritage are important inspirations for his continuing pursuits in writing and arts. He lives in Troutman, North Carolina.
When and Where Do I Write?
I write best at home at any time of the day when there are few distractions, often after personal experiences that generate ideas. I draw heavily on my heritage, growing up on a Blue Ridge valley farm among uncles, aunts, cousins and classmates, where we roamed the mountains, worked the land, and lived as an extended family.
Favorite writing tool?
I suppose that I have adapted to the contemporary technological world. I use my laptop and the resources of the internet extensively for research. I use pen and paper to jot down ideas, but I prefer to compose and develop my poems on a computer.
A favorite writing resource:
I utilize my knowledge as a biologist and the life experiences of my farm heritage with family and friends as resources. However, I use online searches routinely for historical and factual information.
Best Writing advice you’ve received and actually taken?
Absolutely the top advice I have received has been to revise, revise and revise. The first draft is just the beginning. Otherwise, I still struggle with getting grammar and punctuation just right. It is also important to have a trusted reader who can honestly critique my work. I am fortunate to have an English professor and poet wife, Joyce Compton Brown, who is tolerant of my pestering her with my drafts.
One thing I would like help with?
The most difficult aspect of writing poetry is the ability to build in layers and add complexity to my poetry. I admire those poets who can shift images and levels of language in developing the central idea of the poem.
I enjoy having a literary community that brings new ideas and motivation to all involved. I am grateful for open mics and reading opportunities in regional towns within driving distance.
To start a conversation with Les send him a message through the Member Directory
If you'd like to participate in Meet-a-Member please contact the newsletter editor,
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Celebrate all of those wonderful writing projects you've labored over.
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"Polish your mind to reflect the shimmering beauty of your words and actions."
Michael Bassey Johnson, Author and Poet
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Charlotte SHOUT! has been postponed to a later date in 2022.
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Inspiration and Motivations Starters |
- Delete and Start Over. Perhaps you've managed to scribble a few words on paper.
- Start Writing Anything. If you have nothing written and no idea of what to write, just start writing.
- Try Writing in a Different Form.
- Watch Documentaries.
- Interview Yourself.
- Travel to some place new.
- Visit Elderly Family Members.
- People Watch.
- Change your scenery.
- Strike up a Conversation with a Stranger.
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Find Your Writing Inspiration
at Mt. Mitchell Scenic Byway
Boundless Blue Ridge beauty on Mt Mitchell Scenic Drive just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the country's most famous scenic drives, but even famous cruises have their backroads, too. If you venture off the route, you'll find the Mount Mitchell Scenic Drive, a stunning road that takes you deep into the Pisgah National Forest and down through the Toe River Valley. Small, artsy communities and babbling waterfalls are tucked away just off the parkway, and you'll get to experience the true beauty and charm of the North Carolina Mountains as you explore and write.
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"You are the writer of your own life and success, don't hand the pen and paper to anyone else." Teresa Taylor |
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Hindsight is a collection of stories about 2020, written by people just like you. We’re seeking nonfiction stories from people around the world that capture what it was like to wake up every day to a new normal — whether that means navigating emergencies as a first responder or tying the knot over Zoom.
Hindsight is an independent, one-time publication. The very best submissions will be compiled into a print anthology, which will be published in 2021.
Submission fee: None
Length: Up to 2,000 words
Deadline: Rolling
Compensation: Writers whose work is selected for the print anthology will receive a complimentary hard copy of the book, as well as a digital file.
To learn more, please visit the website: HINDSIGHT
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CWC Authors
We'd like to feature a few of our own authors each month. If you're interested in having your book listed, please submit author name and book title to the newsletter editor, Teresa Taylor by the 15th of the following month. Only 5 authors per newsletter and it will be first received, first printed. A list will be kept and used in the upcoming editions.
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Featuring CWC Authors
Nancy Howie-Joy in the Journey, Walking With Grit and Grace Through Alzheimers
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The Editor's Notes
by Teresa Taylor
Affirming the Writer in You
Someone asked me if writing down my affirmation works. I answered, "Of course it works!"
I've learned that by writing down an affirmation, I am able to stay focused on my goal, and more importantly, solve any challenges that crop up.
Words are powerful! as I'm sure you already understand, therefore, affirmations are a great tool for helping you and I manifest with the law of attraction.
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"The worst enemy to creativity is self doubt."
Sylvia Plath, Poet, Novelist and Short-Story Writer
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You Will Never See Me Fall
Joyce Alcantara
You may see me struggle,
but you won't see me fall.
Regardless if I'm weak or not,
I'm going to stand tall.
Everyone says life is easy,
but truly living it is not.
Times get hard,
people struggle
and constantly get put on the spot.
I'm going to wear the biggest smile,
even though I want to cry.
I'm going to fight to live,
even though I'm destined to die.
And even though it's hard
and I may struggle through it all,
you may see me struggle...
but you will NEVER see me fall.
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Why Do Writers
Write Fiction?
Fictional writing often is produced as a story meant to entertain or convey an author's point of view. The result of this may be a short story, novel, novella, screenplay, or drama, which are all types (though not the only types) of fictional writing styles.
When fiction writers bare the inner lives of their characters it makes us reflect on our frailties and flaws; this is the magic of fiction. In the end, a good novel or story gives us a better understanding of ourselves by drawing us into the lives of characters that have sprung from the writer's imagination.
One may ask, "Why do we need fiction?" The answer is simple, fiction has the ability to help a person understand another person in a way that even television cannot. Fiction readers not only experience the protagonist's point of view, but his innermost thoughts. ... Fiction also allows readers to experience new settings. Not just sights and sounds, but smells, tastes, and touches.
Discussions have arisen about the benefits of reading fiction; is it good for the brain. Fiction is about reading to develop those in-demand emotional skills. Research suggests that reading literary fiction is an effective way to enhance the brain's ability to keep an open mind while processing information, a necessary skill for effective decision-making.
So to weigh in on the debate, yes, literary fiction is good for everyone!
Why not grab your favorite beverage and relax while reading Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski.
Kudos to all fiction writers and novelists.
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“If you haven't cried at least once while writing a chapter of your inspirational book, then you have to ask yourself if you're writing fiction.”
Shannon L. Alder, Inspirational author and therapist.
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African American Applachian Monologue Contest
The Barter Theater of Virginia is hosting a monologue contest for African American playwrights; the theme is Black Appalachian.
5-7 monologues will be selected to do a reading in the early part of 2022. The winner of the reading will be awarded a $300.00 prize. The submission deadline is October 1. For more information contact: Barter Theater Night of Monology.
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Pop Culture Writing
We live in a pop culture bubble. It's the social media accounts we follow, the music we listen to, the clothes we wear.
Pop culture is all around us! And it's powerful.
It can influence our decisions, opinions of others, and even ideas about ourselves.
If you're interested in "pop culture" writing Roxane Gay New York Times Bestselling author of The Bad Feminist, professor, editor, and social commentator offers a few tips.
- Permit yourself to write for pleasure.
- Read the greats.
- Learn how to approach criticism.
- Embrace your point of view
- Gather additional resources.
- Think about the bigger picture.
- Find an entry point
You know what you're talking about so write it; afterall, you're a customer too.
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Pop Culture Movie Quotes
"I'll be back"- Terminator
"May the Force be with you"-Star Wars
"There's no place like home"-The Wizard of Oz
"Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends."-It's a Wonderful Life
Hakuna Matata... it means, no worries."
The Lion King
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If you're you looking to get more involved or have an idea share it
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CWC CRITIQUE CALLS
New Poetry Critique Group
Forming in Belmont
The organizational meeting is on Thursday, September 9
4-6 pm.
For details and location,
click on Paul Bruchon to send an email or give him a call @ 704-689-5007.
The South Charlotte Fiction Critique Group Seeks Two more for peer review
This fiction group meets in Pineville on the last Thursday of the month from 9-11 am.
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“I still get rejections - frequently - and my goal isn't to never fail, to never be turned down, but simply to succeed more often than I don't. And in order to do that, I have to constantly put myself out there, to judgment, critique, and rejection."
V. E. Schwab and Victoria Schwab are the same writer; she publishes adult books under V.E. and YA and middle grade books under Victoria.
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If they say, "It's impossible," remember that it's impossible for them, not you.
Eric Ellis, Jr.
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All things are possible, if...you believe.
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Handling Writing Rejection
So, you’re a writer? Have you braced yourself to be rejected and ridiculed?
People that you don’t even know will pick apart your work.
Unfortunately rejection is a part of an author's work;
some of the rejection will be kind, and some of it downright mean spirited. Some of it will come from publishers, some will come from readers, and believe it or not, a lot of it will come from yourself. As you internalize the opinions of others, you’ll start to beat yourself up.
In the end, it’s going to make you a better writer. But right now, it feels like someone punched you in the stomach and left you there gasping for air. So the big question, 'How do we deal with rejection?'
- Don't take it personally. Everyone isn't going to like your cup of tea.
- Listen to the criticism. Not everyone is going to tell you why they rejected your work; however, the blessed few who give you feedback are doing you a favor.
- Remind yourself why you love writing. At your lowest moment, after you’ve received your umpteenth rejection letter, sit down and write your own letter. This is a letter just for you. Explain to yourself why you love writing.
- Empower yourself through self-publishing. Let your haters become your motivators. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or Nook Press by Barnes and Noble are great tools for this.
- Stop writing. Just temporarily. Give your mind and ego time to heal.
- See the benefit of rejection. Ray Bradbury was rejected over 800 times and gave us this message. "You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance.” I think he knew a little bit about rejection.
- Connect with other writers. We talked about critique groups in last month's newsletter. Critique groups are a great source of support and encouragement.
Remember that as a writer you must really be aware of certain things, (hopefully, it’s changing and evolving), but there are times, certainly, when publishers like to put you in a box; and there are all kinds of boxes, but whether or not you are supposed to be in that box or not is a different story. How a book is marketed can make a big make or break difference in how well the book does with readers.
So now you know how to deal with rejection, but as a last thought, think about how much of publishing can be out of your control. Remember, the only thing you can be sure of is what you've made. You wrote this thing; it made you laugh; you're happy with it. Why they didn’t buy into it you may never know, and let that be OK with you.
"Write until you are deliriously happy; forget the rest." Teresa
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“I discovered that rejections are not altogether a bad thing. They teach a writer to rely on his own judgment and to say in his heart of hearts, ‘To hell with you.’“
Saul Bellow, Pulitzer Prize Winner, Nobel Prize dor Literature , National Medal of Arts
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Rejection is Never a Mystery
Common mistakes include issues with the strategy of the pitch:
- You sent it to the wrong kind of agent
- You sent it to an agent who is not accepting submissions
- You didn’t follow the agent’s clearly stated submission guidelines
- You pasted pages in instead of attached or vice versa
- Your subject line is not what they asked for or weird or off-putting
Issues with the query:
- Your letter is long and rambling or defensive or unprofessional or just plain weird
- You don’t understand your genre, the marketplace, what agents do
If you are getting form letter rejections or no response at all, take a hard look at your pitch materials and consider getting professional guidance on what you are doing wrong.
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Got the Theatre Itch?
Check out these upcoming stage plays and save the date:
Greenwood
by Coolidge Harris II
A new play
Winner of the AAPG/MPH Playwright Festival
Matthews Playhouse
September 17th & 18th
https://www.matthewsplayhouse.com/greenwood
WICKED
SEP 8 - OCT 3, 2021
Tickets on sale now!
https://www.blumenthalarts.org/events
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“It's so difficult, isn't it? To see what's going on when you're in the absolute middle of something? It's only with hindsight we can see things for what they are.”
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Getting to Know You
Stacey Rose is a proud mom, theatre artist, and filmmaker from Charlotte, NC by way of Elizabeth, NJ. She holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts were she was honored with the NYU Grey Gallery Prize in collaboration with The Studio Museum of Harlem for her short play My Pet, the 2015 Outstanding Writing for Stage playwriting award, was a 2014-15 Future Screenwriter Fellow, and was a 2015 Fusion Film Festival finalist for her script television pilot Up-And-Coming.
Her recent work includes the production of her short film Fun, the third in the series of films for The Perceptions Project. Stacey strives to create work which entertains, challenges, educates and empowers both the audience and her collaborators. Her work typically focuses issues of Black identity, race disparity, the dilemma of “otherness”, and cats … cause she loves them.
"Self worth comes from one thing, beleiving you are worthy."
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Author Success Stories to Encourage You
Stephen King has redefined the horror genre, and is a ridiculously prolific writer, with 62 published novels. However, before he published his debut novel Carrie, he worked as a janitor, gas pump attendant, and worker at an industrial laundry company, all the while writing at night and dreaming of becoming an author. Carrie was rejected by 30 publishers. King was ready to give up and threw the manuscript away. His wife saved the manuscript from the bin and urged King to keep trying. And, well, the rest is history. But can you imagine how different the world would’ve been if King had given up back then?
Thank you to Mrs. King.
"Behind every good man is a great woman." Proverb
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"Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."
Stephen King
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Believe It or Not
Béla Ferenc Dezsö Blaskó was born in then-Lugos, Hungary, in October 1882. From humble beginnings, dogged by social unrest and smaller performances, he rose to stardom as the emerging Hollywood’s Bela Lugosi.
To many, he’s perhaps known by an even more iconic name: Count Dracula. Defining everything popular culture knows today about the iconic vampire, Lugosi’s brooding presence, good looks, and thick accent stole the show in 1931’s Dracula.
Is there truth to the tale that he was buried in one of the Count’s capes, and what is his connection with Robert L. Ripley himself? Let’s take a whistle-stop tour of some of the most astonishing facts about the actor’s life.
Alhough he had played the part in the stage show, Universal didn’t want Lugosi to reprise his role as Dracula on the big screen. William Courtenay, Ian Keith, and Conrad Veidt were among the higher-profile actors the studio considered first. Lugosi fought tooth and nail for the opportunity and eventually did secure the part, but only for two movies.
Lugosi may have been typecast and reduced to second billing later in his career, but in Dracula, he was the star of the show. Sadly, though, he wasn’t paid accordingly. Lugosi earned just $500 in comparison to the reported star of the show who made $2000 . He was hungry for such a role at the time, that he allowed the studio to take advantage of him. When he began to make a name for himself as an actor, he struggled with the English language.
When he got his first starring role in Broadway's "The Red Poppy" he had very little command of the English language, but with some tutoring he was able to memorize the pronunciation of the lines, and learn how to pronounce the words phonectically, though he truly didn't understand the words he spoke.
Lugosi passed away of a heart attack on August 16, 1956, and was buried in Los Angeles’s Holy Cross Cemetery. He was indeed buried in a Dracula cape, but it seemed that he didn’t request this. Instead, it was his wife and son’s idea. Lugosi would have wanted it this way, they stated.
Believe it or Not!
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"The mind is a terrible thing to waste." |
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Charlotte Lit: $10,000 in Prizes Plus Publication — Charlotte Lit’s New Writers/South Awards. Charlotte Lit is excited to announce the inaugural Writers/South Awards. Four categories: poetry, short fiction, nonfiction, and flash. Four prize levels: $1,500 1st, $500 2nd, $250 3rd, $50 honorable mentions.
All prize winners published in the new Writers/South: Journal of Charlotte Lit. Judges include Ron Rash, Jessica Jacobs, Nickole Brown. Submissions open September 1 to December 1. More info: charlottelit.org/writerssouth/awards
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Poets, Playwrights, Prose Publishing Opportunities: |
LITERARY FICTION: 5,000 words or less, enter can be short stories or a chapter of a novel.
Deadline: September 30, 2021
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Andy Thomason Presents Discredited UNC Scandal
We want to celebrate
Andy Thomason's new book, Discredited. He will discuss this book in-store at
7 PM on Wednesday, September 1st.
Please pre-order the book,
we look forward to seeing you at this free event.
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Resources, grants and places to submit your work at NCArts.org.
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North Carolina Poetry Society emuse at NCPS.
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Curl Up With New
September Releases
Adult
We Germans-Alexander Starritt (1)
Just Us: An American Conversation-Claudia Rankine (8)
jack:A Novel-Marilynne Robinson (29)
Young Adult
Once Upon a Broken Heart-Stephanie Garber (28)
The Last Graduate-Naomi Novik (28)
The Lost Girls-Sonia hartl (14)
Children
Witches of Brooklyn: What the Hex?!-Sophie Escabasse (7)
Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna-Alda P. Dobbs (14)
The Last Kids on Earth and the Doomsday Race-Max Brallier (14)
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A writer is simply a Photographer of thoughts.
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Knowledge is Power!
Charlotte Writers Club Members
CWC writers share your writing tips for the October issue to Teresa Taylor by September 15.
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Writing Tip
2006 Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pahmuk,
author of the novels,
My Name is Red and The Museum of Innocence
“Forty years of devotion to the art of the novel taught me one thing, that is to pay attention to people's lives, to pay attention what you hear about people's lives,” he said in a YouTube video by the cultural organisation The Big Think.” The secrets of writing is rewriting, self-editing, reediting, reading to your beloved ones, to your wife, to your daughter, to your partner and hearing the story from other people's point of view never giving up your high standard of criteria, of good writing, and continuing on and on and on and on and editing and editing and taking out, no matter how much time you gave to that beautiful page, perhaps that can also be cut out.”
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Tips for Breaking Into Screenwriting
- Take Some Classes. Screenplays—at least Hollywood screenplays—have a particular format and structure that people in the industry expect to see, and it's important that you're aware of these expectations.
- Join a Writers' Group (got that one done already)
- Become an Insider
Is screenwriting
hard to get into?
It's extremely, extremely difficult. Not too many people making movies. Lots of people writing screenplays. ... If you're aiming for a full-length Hollywood feature, then the odds of reaching that with your first or second screenplay are pretty much infinitesimal.
Why is screenwriting
so hard?
You have too much time to write. In short, time makes it very hard to write a screenplay and often makes a screenplay never happen. Yet when it comes to time, you have all the time you need to be a professional screenwriter, if you write today. Writing today leads to everything you've always wanted.
There can be a Silver Lining
If you want to break into Hollywood here are a few tips to get you started.
- Get a job, any job-you'll meet people.
- Seek advice, listen to it-Hollywood folk are more than happy to tell you how they got started.
- Keep writing-hone your work habits and write everyday.
- Write in other media-theatre, books
- Never give up-good advice
- Get a life-family, hobbies, pets.
- Forgive, forgive, forgive-those who don't get your work; someone will eventually.
- Make a movie-you have a digital camera, go for it!
- Get to know other writers-particularly successful ones. Rubbing elbows never hurts.
- Always be nice to the assistant-the assistant is more often than not the one who decides if you get called back the same day or maybe a week from Tuesday or maybe your number never really makes it onto the phone sheet.
After all is said and done, just do you and good things will come your way.
Happy writing,
and best wishes!
******
“Being a good writer is 3% talent, 97% not being distracted by the internet.”
Unknown
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A Few Playwrights to Know
William Shakespeare,
The Tempest
Arthur Miller,
Death of a Salesman
Tennessee Wiliams,
A Streetcar Named Desire
Jackie Sibblies Drury,
Fairview
Encouragement Quote
"Write the story that's in your heart, not the one you think will pay the most money."
Brenda Jackson,
Author of Forged in Desire
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Did you Know Queens University has a Resident Theatre Company?
As part of the partnership, ATC will help produce Queens’ two annual student productions and students will have the opportunity to audition for parts in ATC productions. ATC will serve as a resource for internships and support of the theatre curriculum. In addition, alumni and aspiring playwrights of Queens’ Master in Fine Arts program will be able to submit scripts for ATC consideration.
As part of a five-year agreement, ATC will produce and perform its full complete offering of programs from Queens’ Hadley Theatre.
ATC has relocated administrative and artistic offices from 2219 Freedom Drive to Queens University.
The partnership with ATC helps Queens produce two annual student productions and students have the opportunity to audition for parts in ATC productions. ATC serves as a resource for internships and support of the theatre curriculum. In addition, alumni and aspiring playwrights of Queens’ Master in Fine Arts program are able to submit scripts for ATC consideration.
For more information about the program contact Queens University of Charlotte at
704 337-2200.
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Standard Playwriting Format
- Act and Scene headings are centered.
- Character’s names are centered and capitalized.
- Stage directions are indented one tab and italicized.
- Character’s names in stage directions are capitalized.
Parenthetical stage directions are used for small actions.
Sample from Duck Tale
DECOMPOSITION
Cast of Characters
Helen: (Student 1) A mousy accountant who is writing an earnest play about an accounting scandal.
List All Characters and their Descriptions
SETTING: Classroom of a suburban community center
AT RISE: Four chairs are in a diagonal line. Christine and John are already seated. Anastasia enters.
ANASTASIA
Is this the class for writing musicals?
CHRISTINE
No – this is the playwriting seminar.
ANASTASIA
That’s it.
CHRISTINE
Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you said musicals.
ANASTASIA
Didn’t you get the email?
(At this moment, the teacher, Perry, arrives, followed immediately by Helen. Perry conducts the class standing – he is very animated.)
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- In 2020 Peter May published a novel that mirrored circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 epidemic. What was the title?
- Who wrote the first non-family biography of Mark Twain?
- Which author claims that writer's block doesn't exist, but was made up by smart people as an excuse for getting stuck?
- Rev. Wilbert Awdry the creator of "Thomas the Tank Engine" grew up near which railway main line in Box, Wiltshire?
- Which Indian Hindu monk wrote the book "Karma-yoga"?
Look for answers in the lower right column of the newsletter.
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Fellow CWC member Herman Myrick is looking for readers who are willing to post comments on Amazon after reading his latest book, Brother ODell Gets the Call to Preach Book of Short Stories. If you are interested in helping him with this please contact Herman Myrick Here. |
Shepherd's Center of Charlotte - Seeks Volunteer Poetry/Creative Writing Instructors for Fall Courses
The Shepherd's Center (3115 Providence Rd) provides services for senior citizens in the community, in particular the Adventures in Learning series that offers classes on a variety of topics.
Typically this involves doing 1 hour sessions - 1 per week for 4-6 weeks. In person and via Zoom. If this interests you please contact Alicia Celek to volunteer your talent.
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Laugh a Minute
A JOKE for
WRITING JOKESTERS
David wanted to be a writer!
There was once this young man who professed his desire to become a great writer. Say hello to David. When asked what he wanted to write, David would say with great enthusiasm, " I want to write stuff that the whole world will read. Stuff that people will react to on a truly emotional level. Stuff that will make them scream, cry, howl in pain and anger!"
A decade later, David did fulfill his dream:
David now writes the error messages for Python interpreter.
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Ready for Vacation
Let's Take a Trip
Sedona, Arizona
The American Southwest is nothing short of inspiring at every turn you make. Vladamir Nabokov wrote Lolita based on a road trip through the region. One of the best places to visi in the area is Sedona known for its energy vortexes abd new age vibe. The colorful mountain terrain provides a perfect subject for painting, sketching and the mountain air and scenery can clear your mind of the clutter to release the prolific words harbored within.
Sedona is a desert town near Flagstaff that’s surrounded by red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and pine forests. It’s noted for its mild climate and vibrant arts community. Uptown Sedona is dense with New Age shops, spas and art galleries. On the town’s outskirts, numerous trailheads access Red Rock State Park, which offers bird-watching, hiking and picnicking spots
The city is encompassed by giant red rock formations that are bound to make you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside with inspiration, as well as give you an enormous sense of tranquility during your time there.
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"Go in the direction of where your peace is coming from."
C. Joybell C.
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In September
Still are the meadowlands, and still
Ripens the upland corn,
And over the brown gradual hill
The moon has dipped a horn.
The voices of the dear unknown
With silent hearts now call,
My rose of youth is overblown
And trembles to the fall.
My song forsake me like the birds
That leave the rain and grey,
I hear the music of the words
My lute can never say.
Fancis Ledwidge
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"Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awkens my soul." |
The Gypsy Farm Fair
is waiting for you!
*Registration has ended for this event, but it may be fun to attend.
Last spring, the fair welcomed nearly 8k shoppers, and for the fall fair planners anticipate double the number of vendors and 10k shoppers or more to peruse the wares of artisans and antique dealers from across the nation as well as welcoming vendors from the Carolinas.
Saturday, November 13, 2021
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
6533 Fallston Rd.,
Lawndale, NC 28090
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Great Smokies Writing Program
Register Now for Fall Session
Whether you're a beginner, an old pro, or anywhere in between, there's a class for you.If you've taken a class this Spring or Summer, you can complete the continuing student form.
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Queens University of Charlotte
MFA IN CREATIVE WRITING
Take Your First Step Toward Your MFA.
English and Creative Writing Department
Hybrid
Write to be Read.
Join other writers for intensive residencies and connect with your peers and teachers online through the rest of the year. Learn how our low residency MFA program can advance your writing career.
Low Residency.
Highly Personalized.
Writing demands both solitude—time alone to think and write—and a community of colleagues to sustain that work, too. The low-residency MFA program at Queens University of Charlotte is expressly designed to meet both of those demands.
Designed to benefit committed writers who want to hone their craft without uprooting their lives, the Queens MFA program brings together experienced and emerging writers for intensive residencies and connects students and teachers online through the rest of the year as they work on their writing in the privacy and comfort of their own homes. With courses of study in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and writing for stage and screen, the MFA program offers a community of writers in-residence and online who share the immersive experience over four semesters of intense study and writing.
In keeping with Queens' long-standing commitment to excellence in teaching, the MFA program also provides a highly personalized course of study, with a student-teacher ratio that never exceeds four-to-one.
We are committed to sustaining a community of writers beyond graduation, with extensive alumni network and annual alumni conferences.
Interested?
1900 Selwyn Ave,
Charlotte, NC 28274
704-337-2200
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Tips to Improve Writing Skills
- Keep a Journal
- Read books by faviorite authors
- Write about your favorite movie or television show
- Don't repeat yourself
- Practice and have fun when learning how to improve your writing skills!
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“Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind, is written large in his works.”
Virginia Woolf
"Don't tell me the moonis shining; show me the the glinto of light on broken glass."
Anton Chekhov
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Sign Up for Equity Impact Circle a weekly discussion series hosted by the Community Building Initiative at cmlibrary.org/calendar. This 5-week series will be guided discussions around topics of equity and inclusion.
Thursday, September 2,
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Write Like You Mean It, Thursdays 10:00 – 11:30 am Join from the comfort of your space to write and share our work. Contact Ed McDonald
Prolific Pens Writing Group 11:00 am– 1:00 pm
The first and third Saturdays of the month with the exception of holidays to learn more contact Sally Deason.
North County Regional Wordsmiths, Thursdays, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Writers of poetry and prose, all experience and skill levels are invited to meet every Thursday Group contact Darcey Mesaris.
Chapter Three Book Club meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 1pm.
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Literary Dishes Inspired by a Good Novel
La Cucina
Lily Prior
Within the kitchen of her family's grand estate and within the heart of a young man, a young Rosa Fiore—known for her own masterful cooking—found solace. But when tragedy befalls her young heart, Rosa retreats from the kitchen, becoming a librarian. Her heart and love for food are reawakened when the mysterious chef I'Inglese wanders into her library, looking to research the heritage of Sicilian cuisine.Pasta with Bottarga in 15 minutes
Ingredients
6 oz spaghettini
4 TBLS white almonds
3-1/2 TBLS fresh mullet bottarga
2TBLS butter
1 garlic clove
lemon
fennel seeds
wild fennel
salt and pepper
First 5 minutes
- Fill saucepan with hot tap water and bring to a boil. While witing on that blend and combine the following ingredients-3-1/2 TBLS almonds with 5 ounces of water, the zest of 1/2 lemon, a splahs of lemon juice, 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, salt and pepper into a creamy sauce.
Next 5 minutes
- When the water boils add salt and cook the spaghettinin. While it's cooking chop remaining almonds, cut the garlic into small pieces, and chop a sprig of fennel.
Last 5 minutes
- Heat the almond sauce in a pan with butter and garlic clove. When the spaghettini is al dente (firm) use a slotted spoon to remove it from the cooking water and add to the pan the almond sauce is cooking in. Whisk together; add a little chopped fenne and chopped almonds. Plate, add remaining fennel, grated bottarga and freshly gorund black pepper.
còliri. en-Sicilian for enjoy
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Trivia Answers:
- Lockdown
- William Dean Howells
- Neil Gaiman
- The Great Western Railway
- Swami Vivekanand
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Beating the Odds
From Taliban Victim to Best Selling Author
I was born in Mingora, Pakistan on July 12, 1997.
Welcoming a baby girl is not always cause for celebration in Pakistan — but my father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, was determined to give me every opportunity a boy would have. My father was a teacher and ran a girls’ school in our village.
I loved school. But everything changed when the Taliban took control of our town in Swat Valley. The extremists banned many things — like owning a television and playing music — and enforced harsh punishments for those who defied their orders. And they said girls could no longer go to school.
In January 2008 when I was just 11 years old, I said goodbye to my classmates, not knowing when or if ever I would see them again. I spoke out publicly on behalf of girls and our right to learn. And this made me a target.
In October 2012, on my way home from school, a masked gunman boarded my school bus and asked, “Who is Malala?” He shot me on the left side of my head.
I woke up 10 days later in a hospital in Birmingham, England. The doctors and nurses told me about the attack — and that people around the world were praying for my recovery.
After months of surgeries and rehabilitation, I joined my family in our new home in the U.K.
It was then I knew I had a choice: I could live a quiet life or I could make the most of this new life I had been given. I determined to continue my fight until every girl could go to school.
With my father, who has always been my ally and inspiration, I established Malala Fund, a charity dedicated to giving every girl an opportunity to achieve a future she chooses. In recognition of our work, I received the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2014 and became the youngest-ever Nobel laureate.
I began studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford.
And every day I fight to ensure all girls receive 12 years of free, safe, quality education.
I travel to many countries to meet girls fighting poverty, wars, child marriage and gender discrimination to go to school. Malala Fund is working so that their stories, like mine, can be heard around the world.
We invest in developing country educators and activists, like my father, through Malala Fund’s Education Champion Network. And we hold leaders accountable for their promises to girls.
I graduated from Oxford University!
I will always treasure my time at Lady Margaret Hall — the lectures, club meetings, balls and late nights (some spent finishing papers, some just chatting with friends in the dorm). Although a global pandemic meant I spent my final months as a university student in my parents' house, I'm grateful that I was able to complete my education. After taking time to relax, I am more dedicated than ever to my fight for girls.
With more than 130 million girls out of school today, there is more work to be done. I hope you will join my fight for education and equality. Together, we can create a world where all girls can learn and lead.
Book: I Am Malala
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The Best 10 Mystery Writers of All Time
According to
Emily Martin, MFA in Creative Writing
Tara French-In the Woods
Natsuo Kirino-Out
Dennis Lehane-A Drink Before the War
Carlos Ruiz Zafón-Shadow of the Wind
Walter Mosley-Devil in a Blue Dress
Parker Bilal-The Golden Scales
Arthur Conan Doyle-The Hound of the Baskervilles
Agatha Christie-And Then There Were None
Dorothy L. Sayers-
Whose Body?
J.K. Rowling-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
*****
"Every life is complicated, every mind a kingdom of unmapped mysteries.
Dean Koontz
*****
"The mystery of life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced."
Frank Herbert
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Support CWC Members & Community Partners
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CHARLOTTE READERS PODCAST
Click the calendar image to see what podcast host and CWC member Landis Wade has on tap for September
Wade also hosts a community blog and a community vlog. Visit CRP's Community Voices to "find readerly and writerly content." and maybe contribute your own. |
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Get Your Videos from Past Conferences Over the past 18 months, the North Carolina Writers' Network has hosted many online classes and programs. Now, for the first time ever, video recordings of past online conference sessions are available to the general public.
NCWN members and non-members may purchase past classes a la carte or purchase all the classes from a past conference at a discounted rate. NCWN members receive an additional 45 percent off.
To view all class options, and place your order, click here.
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LIVE and IN-PERSON AGAIN!
Every 4th Friday, arrive by 6:45, readers will begin at 7 and continue until 9 pm,
Members Open Mic readings at Mugs Coffee. Mask Up to Read & to Drop by for a listen!
5126 Park Rd #1d, Charlotte, NC 28209
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MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Charlotte Writers Club entitles you to participate in workshops, critique groups, contests, and guest speaker programs. The cost is a modest $35 per year for individuals and $20 for students.
We welcome all writers in all genres and forms to join our Charlotte-area literary community. Your membership in the Charlotte Writers' Club helps support writers, readers, and literacy at a critical time in our nation's and our city's history.
To Join or Renew click this Membership Link and follow the instructions.
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Charlotte Writers Club PO Box 220954, Charlotte NC 28222
Please "LIKE" our Facebook page to encourage discussion among fellow
writers and keep up with the club offerings.
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