"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.
|
|
February 2021 Volume 28 Issue 5 |
Our mission: to support local writers and promotes their development through education, recognition, and community.
|
|
A Message from the President:
On January 7, CWC North and Main Street Books celebrated poet Anthony S. Abbott’s last poetry collection, Dark Side of North. The Davidson poet passed away in October, leaving his family, friends and fellow poets to lend their voices to his last works for a Zoom launch on his birthday.
Tony was a student of wonder, an unblinking eye on the ordinary that opened his mind and heart to the possible. I can’t help wondering if Tony was with the heavenly host of poets that surrounded 22-year-old Amanda Gorman on January 20th. The first National Youth Poet Laureate delivered a hopeful but clear-eyed assessment of our unfinished, imperfect democracy.
And while I am on the subject of youth, a middle schooler found CWC on the Internet and joined our ranks. I am inspired by her resourcefulness! Her first interaction with us was the Building Better Scenes course Sarah Creech just finished teaching. That four class intensive was a perfect beginning to a new writing year! Prose students, all ages and stages of the craft, learning from Sarah and from one another.
This year, engaging and encouraging young writers is a component of the leadership team’s to-do list. Please let Darrell Horwitz or me know if you have suggestions, know someone connected to schools we might contact or if you want to be a part of this outreach project.
Stay Healthy and Keep Writing!
Caroline
|
|
Join Us on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 6:30-8:30 pm via Zoom for our next general meeting.
|
|
Kimmery Martin, her topic
No Matter the Genre, Suspense Is the Key to a Successful Novel
Kimmery Martin, ER Doctor and author of Queen of Hearts, (2018) a novel Publisher's Weekly called difficult to put down will talk to us about putting your characters through hell. She will offer strategies for building tension and suspense--plus a few things to avoid--in your novel.
|
|
Club Stuff, Opportunities to Write & Submit |
|
Submit Your Best Work to CWC's Poetry & Fiction Short Story Contests |
The Elizabeth Simpson Smith
Short Story Contest Is Now Open
This is CWC's MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD!
Named for a former member and given by her husband whom she met and married while both were members of the club.
- Open to all CWC members and to non-member residents of North and South Carolina.
- Fiction story between 1500-4000 words. Deadline to enter is March 16, 2021. Awards will be announced at the May 18th meeting.
- Our judge is Abigail DeWitt for more on her and this fiction contest please visit the CWC Contest Page.
Last Call for Poems
Poets, there's still time to submit your best poem of less than 50 lines--no haiku--to the CWC Poetry Contest. Entries will be accepted until February 16, 2021. The judge is Ashley Lumpkin. Learn more about her and submit your poem at the CWC Contest Page. Winners will be announced
at our April 20, 2021 meeting.
|
If You Missed the January Meeting
Kevin Winchester, author of Sunflower Dog: Dancing the Flathead Shuffle, and other short stories, was our guest speaker. Check out the
|
|
Virtual Writing Salon & Social Time
On Monday, February 8, at 7 pm, take 75 minutes to write and share. We'll start with a little face time and catch-up time, bring your imagination; Tiffany provides the prompts. No pressure, no angst, just writing fun! Be our guest by clicking on this link to sign up.
|
BCALA Literary Awards Deadline for Submissions, February 28, 2021
The Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) in partnership with Biblioboard is taking submissions for the 2020 Self-Publishing Literary Award. Each year BCALA honors the best self-published eBooks by an African American author in the United States in the genres of Fiction and Poetry. Authors, you can learn more and submit at BCALA Ebook Contest.
|
Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest
No Admisson Fee
Deadline for Submission is April 1,2021
Published or unpublished works
The contest was inspired by Wergel creator David Taub, retired British Columnist, Journalist, Consultant Editor, Poet, Lecturer and Narrator / Voice-over talent.
No author age limit. The poem submitted should be in English; inspired gibberish is also accepted.
|
|
CWC North: February's Virtual Events |
|
Thursday, February 4, 2021, 7- 8:30 pm
In the Key of New York City: A Virtual Event with Rebecca McClanahan (top left) and Gilda Morina Syverson (bottom right)
|
CWC North and Main Street Books will co-host this reading and conversation about memoir. Register Here
to receive the Zoom link for this free event.
|
|
Saturday February 27, 2021, 2 -3:30 pm
Elizabeth Searle will present a workshop hosted by CWC North via Zoom.
Seats are still available
ACT ONE: Playwriting Basics for Beginners,
When you sign up for this workshop, you will receive the Zoom link in your reminder emails.
|
|
Celebrate those prose and poetry projects you've labored over.
|
|
Meet-a-Member
Darrell Horwitz
Bio:
Darrell started writing at a young age about his love for sports, getting published in the Chicago Sun Times sports opinion column as early as 11-years old. He continued writing sports throughout the years, writing for Bleacher Report, Chicago Cubs Vine Line Magazine, and The Heckler, among others. His stories have been published in three Chicken Soup for the Soul books. He's currently been writing restaurant reviews for the Queen City Nerve and found a love for flash fiction since moving to Charlotte.
When and where do I write the best?
I currently do my best writing in the late afternoon, looking out at my courtyard like a scene from Rear Window, but through the years, did some of my best writing while at work (don't tell anybody).
Favorite writing tool?
Plugging away on my laptop while on Word, though as long as I have a keyboard, I'm okay.
A favorite writing resource
Latest read is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. Writing Flash Fiction preceded it, and Random House Webster's Dictionary is always nearby.
Best Writing advice you’ve received and actually taken?
Don't edit until you've finished your piece.
One thing I would like help with?
Tech, because I'm not good at it-yet. That's some advice I was given after I made that statement and "yet" gives hope someday I will be.
To start a conversation with Darrell, send him a message through the Member Directory
|
We'd Love to Hear from You
|
|
Debra Wallin, Immediate Past President, Webmaster and Tech Guru, asked for help keeping the website current and Keira Mayock volunteered. Thank You Keira!
Debra would like to build a team of tech minded volunteers to work with and supervise. Intermediate technical skill is necessary to edit, save, and upload pictures and documents to the website file manager.
If you are interested, send Debra a message through the Member Directory. Once you have logged in you can select Member Directory, then click on her name and Send Message button can be selected.
|
For the CWC Advisory Board: Co-Contest Chair Found
Welcome ADRIAN CALABRESE
Thank you for taking the plunge,
it is truly appreciated.
|
Don't Forget
Our Next Open Mic Night!
February 19, 2021, 6:30 to 9 pm,
Come hear fellow members who have registered ahead of time read from their work. If you are a member, you will find the Zoom link in the email that announces this event.
|
At February's Meeting:
We will reveal the winners of our 2020-2021 Nonfiction Contest and the Top Three will read from their entries.
|
|
Stage Play Writing Competition by Screen Craft
Deadline
June 1st to August 31st, Annually
This contest is a great opportunity to have your ideas considered by professional writers as this contest seeks to showcase excellent plays that have great film or TV adaptation potential.
Contact Information
855-503-5500
HOLLYWOOD, CA
|
|
CWC Members Teaching Spring Classes @ Charlotte Lit
Paul Reali & Megan Rich Novel Jumpstart, Learn more about this multi-session course Here and Register Here.
Dannye Romine Powell,
Poetry Workshop MFA style discussion Six Wednesdays, March 24 & 31, April 7, 21 & 28, May 5, 10:00 am – noon.
Landis Wade, Building an Author Platform on Tuesday, May 4th, 6-7:30 pm. A single Zoom session See more here
****************************
- Guerilla Poets are offering Free, virtual poetry, music and art workshops. Check out the list Here.
-
Resources, grants and places to submit your work at NCArts.org.
- The Writers Workshop of Asheville TWWOA.
- North Carolina Poetry Society emuse at NCPS.
|
It’s Winter Reading time at your Rowan County Public Library!
|
Free Online Event
Library of America presents: Poet of the People: The Greatness of Langston Hughes on Thursday February, 18, 2021 from 6 to 7 pm, to. celebrate the 100th anniversary of Hughes’s first poem! Register Here.
|
|
- The Bonfire of the Vanities is a 1987 satirical novel by which American author and journalist?
- The tormented love story, "Wuthering Heights," is the only finished novel by which English writer?
- MacGargan is the alter ego of what Spider-Man villain?
- According to Forbes magazine in 2004, who was the first person to become a billionaire by writing books?
Look for answers lower in the newsletter.
|
Barnes and Noble
Arboretum
February 2, 2021
Tuesday 7:00 PM
3327 Pineville-Matthews Road
Charlotte,
North Carolina 28226
Julia Claiborne Johnson discusses
BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME with author
Julie Schumacher
|
Encouragement Quote
"Stay faithful to the stories in your head."
Paula Hawkins, Author of Into the Water
|
|
Sign Up for on-going events in cyberspace like these:
The 1st Tuesday of the month at 12pm is WBL Book Club! Visit the website for details andto sign up.
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 Pam Turner.
Poetry In Pajamas, 2021, 12:00 PM – 1:00 pm
Every other Wednesday of the month. Poets of all experience levels are welcome. For more information please contact
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 three weeks for Thursday Group contact Darcey Mesaris.
Chapter Three Book Club
Join us on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 1pm. In February, we will be discussing The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley. Registration is required to participate. Please contact Sally Deason to sign up.
|
Trivia Answers:
- Tom Wolfe
- Emily Bronte
- Scorpion
- J.K. Rowling
|
|
Support CWC Members & Community Partners
|
|
|
|
FEATURED LIT EVENT: PEN TO PAPER. |
Join on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. for a mini-lesson, writing prompt, writing time, and sharing. Free
|
|
Check Out What's Coming on
Charlotte Readers Podcast
Click the image to listen to a previous episode and to learn about Patreon.
You may be surprised by how many CWC members' voices you recognize including Landis Wade who is the producer and the host of the podcast.
And don't forget this Special Episode celebrating our Spring 2019 contests winners. |
|
|
Randall Jarrell Poetry Competition
Deadline is March 1, 2021
One-poem no longer than 40 lines per entry fee of $10 for NCWN members, $15 for non-members. You may submit multiple entries but an entry fee must be paid for each poem. The contest awards the winner $200 and publication in storySouth.
In 2020, CWC member Dannye Romine Powell won first place.
Questions may be directed to Terry L. Kennedy, Associate Director, MFA Writing Program, at tlkenned@uncg.edu.
|
|
PUBLISHING: Register Now!
Tuesday, February 9, at 7:00 pm:
Publisher Dennis Lloyd Director of the University of Wisconsin Press and a native of North Carolina, will lead the online class "An Insider's Guide to University Press Publishing."
The cost for the class is $35 for NCWN members, $45 for non-members. Space is limited.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
