Prepare to Publish - What Beginning authors need to know

Saturday, October 19, 2:30 p.m. at Moss Library in Hayesville, NC, three authors will join me on a panel discussion, Prepare to Publish. 

Kathryn Magendie, author of Secret Graces and other books, will represent the traditional manner of publishing. She has several books out. 

Maren O. Mitchell, author of a self-help book, Beat Chronic Pain; An Insider's Guide, will discuss her journey to publishing.

A former Writers Circle student, Nadine Justice, author of I'm a Coal Miner's Daughter, But I Cain't Sang, will talk about the next step she took after the last sentence of her memoir had been written.

The question I hear most from beginning and amateur writers is, "Now I have the manuscript completed, what next?"

We hope to bring to the public ideas about preparing for publication, what the author should be doing before the book has been written and what to do once he/she has the printed copy in hand. 

We will give out handouts with some places, links, etc. that will be helpful to our novice authors. 

This is a free event sponsored by Writers Circle Studio.

The library is located at 26 Anderson St. Hayesville. Call Mary Fonda, librarian at 829-389-8401 for directions. Call Glenda Beall 828-389-4441 for further information. 

Do I Have to Wear a Label?

Many writers are identified by one genre. Some are poets and that is all they write. Some are novelists. Some write only creative non-fiction.

I like to write it all -- fiction, non-fiction and poetry. I also enjoy interviewing people and writing about what they have to say. I write passionately about subjects like indoor air pollution and multiple chemical sensitivity. I probably write more personal essays than anything.

So, am I a writer? A poet? A journalist? A memoirist? 

Do I have to be put into a box? Do I have to wear a label like a box of spaghetti on the shelf? 

In recent weeks I've published a review of a novel, an interview with a writer, and I have interviewed another writer. I am in the  process of finding the best home for that piece now.

Almost everyday I write a post for one of my blogs. These posts seldom have anything to do with poetry, but at times I will publish a poem on one of my blogs because it is short and because I want to share it. And sometimes I have a poem that seems to fit with my subject for that day. 

However some people think of me simply as a poet. I wear many hats in my life. I am a writer, a blogger, a poet, a teacher, a mentor, a business owner, a volunteer. Some people refer to me as a publicist at times. 

Variety makes anything more fun, I believe. I have been asked, "Can I write creative non-fiction and write poetry as well?"

Of course you can. At a recent reading at John C. Campbell Folk School, I read a true story, a memoir, and had many compliments from my audience. I also read one or two poems that evening. 

My friend, Estelle, says she tends to write poetry when she wants to express serious feelings and emotions. She finds that memoir helps her tell about her family, her past, her history. But short stories are her path to share humor. Another friend, Mary Mike, writes touching poetry that lingers in the mind of the reader, but her short fiction is memorable as well.

I might sit down to write and find that my subject lends itself to personal essay better than to poetry. I might begin to write a non-fiction piece and find that I'd rather embellish it and make it a short story (fiction).

If you look, you will see that I have published short stories, personal essays, articles in magazines and newspapers, memoir, and poetry. I like to do it all.

Below see where some of my short stories and memoir pieces are published in magazines, journals and anthologies:

How We Met – Forks in the Road -Anthology
Reunion – Reunions Magazine
Tar, Tallow and Prayer -- Moonshine and Blind Mules and other Western North Carolina Tales, 2006
Confrontation  --Muscadine Lines; A Southern Journal - 2009
What Did You Say? - Dead Mule School of Southern Literature - April, 2010
The Trillium -- Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, Essays, stories and poems by writers living in and inspired by the southern Applachian Mountains.
Pass it on - Breath and Shadow, online journal, July 15 issue,; ICL Newsletter, 2011, Clay County Progress Newspaper
Buck, My Brother Ned and the Snake -Muscadine Lines: A Southern Journal - 2011     
Public Domain - Dead Mule School of Southern Literature - April 2012   

SILVER BOOMER BOOKS ON SALE

Last year two of my poems were published in an anthology, On Our Own, Widowhood for Smarties published by Silver Boomer Books.

A few years ago, another of my poems was published in a Silver Boomer anthology, Freckles to Wrinkles. 

Silver Boomer books is having a special sale on these anthologies which have stories, memoir, and poetry by many good writers. I am particularly proud to be included in On Our Own, Widowhood for Smarties. This book makes an excellent gift for someone who has lost a spouse. 

See more about the sale below.

In anticipation of reorganizing our Abilene office space this fall, we are offering a great sale on our entire catalog of titles published through 2012. We need to reduce local inventory before moving. This is a very limited offer, good through July 31.

Not only are we offering great prices, all shipping is free within the U.S. Click on the sale link at silverboomerbooks.com to see the entire sale list.

This is a great opportunity to stock up your gift closet...have something on hand for every reader for every occasion. 

We have just the spot for you.

We had a terrific first class at Tri-County Community College last Tuesday. We missed those who didn't make it and are sorry to learn that one has been hurt in an accident and another has a very good excuse for dropping out.

But that means we have room for two more. No one will be penalized for missing the first class. Email me, nightwriter0302@yahoo.com and I'll give you all the info you need to start next Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.

Already I can tell we will be writing some good stories. Everyone is excited about sharing their work and getting answers to their questions. We write to learn about ourselves as well as tell about our lives and others.  

I hope, if you have thought about taking a class on writing true life stories (non-fiction) about yourself, your family, your experiences, your war stories, your college stories, your stories that you want to tell someone, maybe your family and friends, or just to write to get them out. This is the class to take.

Email: nightwriter0302@yahoo.com

or call Tri-County Community College in Murphy, NC and ask for Lisa in the Community Enrichment Program. 
Call Lisa at (828) 835-4313

A Fall Writers' Retreat in the NC mountains

Have you heard of the Duke University Writers Workshop? The name is changed but the excellent writing instruction has not.

Table Rock Writers Workshop will be held September 17-21 at my favorite retreat, Wildacres, just off the parkway near Little Switzerland, NC. I am delighted that I will be going this year.

View from the large patio between lodges

They have some openings left, so visit their website, www.tablerockwriters.com