My work with Lost State Writers Guild’s Board and Tennessee Mountain Writers’ Board continues. I have stepped down as Special Events Chair in TMW for various reasons, but I remain on that committee and on the Publicity Committee. Both organizations took off the month of July for summer vacations. In June, Lost State welcomed John Claude Bemis as our monthly guest, and he talked about middle grade books and how they differ from YA books. I know John from Table Rock and he’s truly delightful. He has a new book out just this week – be sure to check it out – Rodeo Hawkins and the Daughters of Mayhem: A Graphic Novel. Denton Loving was our September speaker, and you need to check out his new book, too – Feller: Poems. I think it’s his best work to date – and Publishers Weekly agrees! In regard to TMW, my last official work as Special Events Chair will be overseeing the Fall Workshop in nonfiction writing with Darnell Arnoult in Oak Ridge, TN, on Saturday, September 27.
There were lots of other writing things going on this summer, too, though. I got to lead a writing workshop with a writing group in Somerset, KY, the day after Hindman ended. The group’s leader, Sandi, and I have been trying to coordinate something for over a year and the stars aligned! It was a great experience. I talked about Submissions and 50 Rejections. I gave them lots of places to submit to this fall, so hopefully they’re all busy getting their work in now that September has arrived and “Submission Season” is in full swing!
We had our final chapbook class at Connie Jordan Green’s on Saturday, August 9. Each of us present spent about fifteen minutes reading from our chapbooks, talking about our process, etc. By that point, Sue Weaver Dunlap had edited my collection – part of it had also been edited by Denton via my one-on-one at Hindman – so I had two great pairs of eyes looking over my work, for which I’m grateful. It’s in much better shape than it was before they got it. The next step is submitting it somewhere, maybe to a couple of contests this fall, to see what happens. Often, even if you don’t win the contest, some publishers use the contests as an opportunity to see potential new works, then offer deals from there. That is my hope for my chapbook. Finishing Line Press has a contest I’m interested in, so I’ll look into that further.
I joined Salvation South’s Poetry Circle last month, too. Denton was their guest speaker, which was motivation, but it is a group I’ve meant to check out for a while. Andy Fogle heads up the group. I don’t think there’s a nicer guy out there – and he’s a talented writer, too. I had to pause my subscription in September, because of unstable internet at the Orchard Keeper, but I’ll be back next month – just in time for another guest author – my buddy Annie Woodford. If you’re a poet looking for an opportunity to connect with a group once a month, I encourage you to check out the Salvation South Poetry Circle. They’re great folks at Salvation South, producing a quality publication online that’s free to everyone.
I also received first place in the West Virginia Writers fiction contest for their annual conference. I may or may not have mentioned that in one of my last blogs. But I received my check, ribbon, and certificate in July. It was a proud moment. I can’t find a place in the world to publish “Genevieve,” but she has now won three first places in regional short story competitions. Her day will come!
Today also saw the first Zoom meeting of my class from Table Rock. We’re going to try to meet once a month via Zoom to share about ten minutes’ worth of writing and give feedback to each other. There are twelve or thirteen of us. I think it will be great to be part of a group like that. It’s quite different from the 7 a.m. Zoom group (which I’m horrible about getting to – I’ve gotten so lazy in the mornings – maybe now that summer’s over and I’ll be home more, I’ll be able to re-establish that commitment because I miss being there). I’m looking forward to next month’s meeting, though, and to seeing what everyone will bring to the table.
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