Charlotte Writers Club, April 19, 2022
Meeting Recap:
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On Tuesday evening, Lea Graham was engaging, the perfect speaker for national poetry month--for the combination of faces, smiling eyes, new voices, and our poet winners gathered on site and online.
The meeting, could have been a poem about the learning curve in this new tech, hybrid reality.
First stanza, enthusiasm in the Tyvola Senior Center that lifted us beyond our in house technical issues.Thank you John for trying to keep us mic'd; Hope for bringing the big mic and amp across town--and for working on the problems--and Debra, who (while away celebrating her birthday), answered the phone.
The second stanza: members & guests online chat.We appreciate your feedback--
Next month, we'll do it again, better--so please bear with us, we are all learning here....
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Month Number Four of CWC's 100th Year!
49 members & guests in person & on Zoom
President Caroline Kane Kenna welcomed everyone to this month's celebrations of verses She recognized new members. She announced that the meeting on May 17th will begin at 6:30 pm.,We need more time to celebrate the end of this program year and the start of centennial week. There is a speaker, contests winners and awards and we're having cake, too. Let's fill our big room at the Tyvola Senior Center. If you are unable to be with us in person, we'll see you on Zoom
Caroline and David Collins,VP/President Elect urged everyone sign up for our Centennial Sunday events. The Workshop & Gala are on May 22, at the Mint on Randolph Road, Charlotte.
Plan to Attend Both! You must register for the workshop and the gala separately--you can attend the workshop without staying for the gala but we know once you hear what Ruth has to say you'll want keep right on celebrating so make sure you are on both lists.
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Ruth Moose Workshop, in Levy Forum, 4:30-6 pm, Why the Short Story!
In person. Bring a notebook and a writing instrument--no laptops Ruth will explain why. This is the third in our centennial workshop series free for CWC members,. $40 for non members, Sigh Up Here
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Gala, 6-9 pm. in the Atrium. Celebrating writers and writing and 100 years of this writing community, yours words, your stories! Members your tickets are $30 and $30 for your guest. Non members are welcome those tickets are $40 :for you and a guest. sign up and pay by May 11th, Register Here for the Gala
- Bring your spouse or a friend and party like writers do! Dannye Romine Powell has the keynote. Along with noshes, and drinks, music and conversation, you'll have a chance to tell Landis Wade what CWC means to you--he's collecting soundbites for posterity and for his podcast. Bid on silent auction offerings--donated books, a manual typewriter, one-hour consults with an editor, or a mentor, -- peruse items from the vault—and other surprises. Don't forget parking is free, access to the building is easy & you'll take home a special CWC mug commemorating this grand affair.
2022 CWC Poetry Contest Winners Announced and Celebrated
Darrell Horwitz, contest chair, announced the names of the poets and their pieces. Second and third place honors went to CWC members. David Radavich was this year's judge. The place poet is from Greensboro, this was his first ever win. Congratulations!
First Place: Darian Kiener, his poem was titled "Of Life"
Second Place: Nathan Nicolau, for "Touching Coltrane's Tenor Sax"
Third Place: Elizabeth Ouzts, "2Girls and 4Pines"
Visit the recap page for David's comments on each of these poems and his honorable mention for Morgan on the Couch One Last Time by Linda Phillips.
We Need You for 2022-2023 & Beyond!
Caroline thanked Elizabeth Gaines for volunteering to be co-workshop coordinator with Anshu Gupta. She noted the following positions are open on the executive board: Secretary & VP/President Elect. The secretary's primary job is to keep minutes of meetings which is fairly easy because we meet on Zoom and record meetings. The position is good introduction to the leadership team.
Caroline also spoke briefly about the VP/President elect position--its a chance for on the job training. She said if she hadn't had the opportunity to work with and learn from then president Debra S Wallin and from the other members of the leadership team she would not have been ready to take the role.
On the advisory board:
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Webmaster and/or a tech team. Work with Blair Peery. Debra will consult. Contact Debra or Blair through the member directory with questions.
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Contests--one or two people to oversee 4 contests, Contact Darrell Horwitz,
- Social media/publicity/marketing team,
- Critique Groups Coordinator,
Contact Caroline for more on these opportunities to serve.
Find descriptions of these positions in the Policies & Procedures
To use the Member Directory first log on Here and scroll down to the directory.
We Celebrated During Member Announcements
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Elizabeth's first poetry collection, Was
Authors snap and email those pics of your new book jackets for the mid-month enews to the Newsletter Editor by May 10th.
The Mid-April: New Book Jackets of We've Got You Covered":
Warrior Mom, Rhonda C. Lyle; Curious Stuff, editor Randell Jones,
Hardware Stories, Jenna MacFarlane; Hope is on the Horizon,
by Laura Newell.
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Our Featured Speaker Lea Graham
On Site & Online!
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Poet, Essayist & Editor Lea Graham on From the Outside In and the Inside Out Organizing Your Book of Poems
Graham is the author of two poetry collections, including From the Hotel Vernon, four chapbooks and the editor of a book of essays honoring poet Michael Anania, She came all the way from the Hudson Valley of New York state to be with us at the Tyvola Senior Center and with you online.
She talked of how to turn a group
of poems into a collection and provided examples of the different ways poets arrange their work. Looking for connections in our own pieces, common metaphors and images might suggest a theme, an order to the pages. Critique groups and writing partners can help you discover themes you might not see on your own.
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She also talked about the importance of selected an engaging title and cover art for the book and titles that draw readers in to individual poems. There was a discussion in the room and online about the length of titles and how to create titles that make readers wonder -- pique interest- provide an AHA moment.
Short fiction writers, this method of arranging could also be used when putting your story collection together.
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Visit the CWC Recap Page for more pictures & context and for Lea's parting advice about query letters.
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The Next Meeting: Begins at 6:30 pm |
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Tuesday, May 17th
We're wrapping up the program year & kicking off Centennial Week with contest winners, special awards & Judy Goldman on
Conquering Self-Doubt When You When You Sit Down to Write!
We will be online and on site again for this meeting. Zoomers please RSVP to receive your link for this meeting.
Planning to Join us on site? Look for the Logo and Meet Us at 2225 Tyvola Road, Charlotte in the Tyvola Senior Center. Click the image above to get directions. We'll be there to greet you 6:30 pm. The meeting begins at 6:30pm.
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In May
We Celebrate Students & Adult Contests Results
Six student winners in the Best Ever Fiction Story Contest and the top three in the Elizabeth Simpson Smith Short Story Contest will read from their works.
Amber Smith, a New York Times bestselling author of Young Adult fiction is the judge for the students stories.
Bryn Chancellor, author of Sycamore, is judging CWC's most prestigious adult fiction contest, The Elizabeth Simpson Smith Short Story Contest.
Winners will be on site to receive their prizes and share snippets
of their pieces with us.
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Club News & Announcements |
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Zoom with Tiffany on Monday May 9,
Give Your Muse Some Love!
The Social Write In is back on the 2nd Monday of each month, 7:00-8:30 pm.
Tiffany Grantham provides prompts, keeps time and volunteers share their pieces. Please, Sign Up Here to receive your new Zoom link.
Check it out! You'll want to make this monthly writing time a habit!
If you have participated in the virtual writing salon be on the lookout for three question survey Tiffany wants to be sure her prompts are satisfying you and your muse.
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Members: Are You Looking for a Critique Group?
NEW peer review groups are forming in person and online.
- Dilworth: Mixed Genre group
- Plaza Midwood: Newcomers to the club--prose & poetry not genre specific
- Gaston County (but the leader is willing travel) Prose/ Fiction group
- Twilight Muses, fantasy, paranormal but they will consider others.
And we have a member looking for support from an online fiction group
- Children's/picture book writers looking to connect with those of like genre.
- Young Adult fiction writer is looking to join others writing YA.
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Spend the Afternoon with Judy Goldman In Davidson
Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.
Celebrate the release of Child, her new memoir at an in-person reading cohosted by Charlotte Writers Club-North and Main Street Books of Davidson
Outdoor Stage behind Summit Coffee,
128 S. Main St
She is the author of seven books – three memoirs, two novels, and two collections of poetry. Child, will be published next month. It was named a Katie Couric Media Must-Read Book for 2022.
Click the flyer to visit the CWC North Events Page for more about this CWC memoirist & her book launch.
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In Huntersville:
Waterbean Poetry Night at the Mic
Wednesday, April 27th Featured Poets:
Anna B. Sutton & Eric Tran
an Open Mic will folllows the featured readers.
Leslie and company are celebrating Earth Day & the open mic's 7th birthday. and National Poetry Month.
Bring a Friend and a Poem to Share
Click the flyer to learn more & join this poetry party
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Call for Art and Poetry for The Kakalak 2023 Contest
Deadline to enter is
May 30, 2022.
Click the image for guidelines & to submit.
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Support Our Members & Community Partners
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Charlotte Lit:
Co-founders are CWC members Kathie Collins & Paul Reali. Click the image to visit the website.
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250+ Episodes and Counting
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Click on the image to see what host and creator of CRP and CWC member Landis Wade has lined up for the last week of April. Here for what's coming next month.
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The Personal Story Project & Six-minute Story Podcast |
Click the image to learn more about the 7th call for personal stories open until June 30th. Twists and Turns, is the next anthology CWC member Randell Jones is putting together to be released this fall.
Anthology number 6, has been released. Curious Stuff includes stories from a number of CWC members. Check it out.
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Registration is open for May and slots are filling quickly--. Members Register Here to practice reading your work to an audience.
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Our Open Mic Night
Is the 4th Friday Of the Month
LIVE & In Person
at Mugs Coffee, Charlotte
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Join the fun at the next one
on Friday May 27th You don't have to register to spend an evening listening to fellow members reading their work. Our mic is covered, please wear your mask.
Mugs Coffee, 5126 Park Road, Charlotte is in the Park Selwyn Terrace Shopping Center. Charlotte, NC
Check who is reading at our
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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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