William Wright, Ph.D., To Do Poetry Reading and Workshop

On October 12 at 7 pm, audiences can hear the well-known poet and editor, William Wright, read his poetry at Writers’ Night Out at Brother’s Willow Ranch Restaurant in Young Harris, GA. The following day, October 13, he will teach a poetry workshop at Writers Circle in Hayesville, NC from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

William Wright, editor of The Southern Poetry Anthology series, is author of five collections of poems: the full-length Night Field Anecdote (Louisiana Literature Press, 2011), Bledsoe (Texas Review Press, 2011), Dark Orchard (Texas Review Press, Winner of the Texas Review Breakthrough Poetry Prize, 2005), and the chapbooks The Ghost Narratives (Finishing Line Press, 2008) and Sleep Paralysis (Winner of the South Carolina Poetry Initiative Prize, 2011, forthcoming from Stepping Stones Press). Wright recently won the Porter Fleming Prize in Poetry. His work appears in Shenandoah, North American Review, Indiana Review, Colorado Review, Louisiana Literature, Beloit Poetry Journal, New Orleans Review, and Southern Poetry Review, among other literary journals. In addition to writing and editing, Wright translates German poetry. He holds a Ph.D. in Creative Writing (Poetry) & Literature from The University of Southern Mississippi and is Founding Editor of Town Creek Poetry (www.towncreekpoetry.com).

Writers’ Night Out takes place on the second Friday of each month. The event includes a featured reader and also an open microphone for local authors. For open microphone, readers of prose or poetry can sign up at the door, and each person has three minutes. Brother’s Willow Ranch Restaurant is located at 6223 Hwy 76 West across from Brasstown Valley Resort, phone 706-379-1272. The event is in the upstairs room, accessible via stairs inside the restaurant or the ramp (no stairs) from the upper parking lot. Food and beverages will be available for purchase; please come by 6:15 pm to order.

In Wright’s workshop “What Makes ‘Good Poetry’ Good?” on October 13, he will give poets specific tips on improving their work through sonic texture, imagistic richness, and the balance of sound with sense. Time will also be spent on critiquing students’ poems to help poets more carefully attune their voices so that they stand out from the crowd.

The workshop costs $30 and requires advance registration. Writers’ Circle is located at 581 Chatuge Lane in Hayesville. See the Writers’ Circle web site at http://glendacouncilbeall.blogspot.com/

For more information on either event, please contact Karen Holmes at (404) 316-8466or kpaulholmes@gmail.com.