Writing News

My writing group is meeting again, as I mentioned last week. I rounded up some information to share with them and thought I'd post it here too because many of you are also writers. Then I went looking for more, so this is the expanded list!

The West Virginia Writers Inc annual contest is open for entries. Deadline is 3/15. Information about the contest is on the website. The conference, which is when the winners are announced, is usually the second weekend in June at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley, WV not far from where I live. It's a great conference, very laid back and friendly. And if you enter the contest? You win money! Well, for first, second and third places in each category, anyway. You must join WVW to enter.

First 50 is a great place to get a little writing inspiration. Virginia DeBolt offers ideas, and then you write--50 words. Just enough to get something good started. I have written several good pieces after first posting a quick response to one of her prompts.

Poetica Place is a poetry online journal, from the Middle Island Creek area of WV. There is a forum there where writers can chat; Middle Island has several new chapbooks coming out soon, and I will be reviewing them on this blog.

The West Virginia Writers Roundtable is a good place to get in touch with other writers and to find out about upcoming events and contests. Not all people on the roundtable are from West Virginia, and the conversations can get lively. Prompts are sometimes posted here too.

The Writers Toolkit workshop is coming March 19. I will have to miss it--again--because I'll be giving a ballad workshop in Virginia. But it's a great, free workshop held at the Culture Center in Charleston, WV. I can't find anything more about it online, but I did hear this from a reliable source. I'll pass on more information when I find it. This is a full day of workshops from excellent instructors in one of our state's most beautiful locations, the Capitol Complex. I've only been able to attend once and it was well worth my time.

Hoot Owl Night at the Archives is coming April 1-2. I'd never heard of this, but apparently this is the 12th year?  Apparently the state archives library stays open all night so people can stay and research to their heart's content for a $25 fee. It's a great idea, especially for those who come from out of state and need to make the best use of their time.

The Dying to Write Horror Writers Retreat will be held the first weekend in April too, at Canaan Valley Resort. So if your interest is a more bloody than historical, you might want to check this one out.

The West Virginia Writers Workshop (not to be confused with the West Virginia Writers CONFERENCE) is scheduled for July 21-24, 2011 at WVU in Morgantown. The presenters have impressive writing backgrounds; this one is a little expensive if you want one-on-one time with the instructors, but otherwise it looks like an affordable, exciting conference. I have never attended this but I think I might have to add it to my calendar this year.

And of course there is the West Virginia Book Festival October 22-23 in Charleston. Last year's session with Nicholas Sparks drew thousands of people, and Diana Gabaldon was a big hit too. This year, I don't think the presenters have been announced yet, but the Festival is always worth attending, and I'm betting their authors this year will be every bit as exciting as last year's lineup. And there is that awesome book sale, too!

What a list. So many good opportunities, so little time. I hope to run into some of you at these events, because I hope to make it to a few of them myself.