Rosemary Royston to lead “Jaw Droppers!” Poetry Workshop

  The North Carolina Writers’ Network-West is offering “Jaw Droppers!”, a poetry workshop led by artist and poet Rosemary Royston Saturday, July 26, from 10 to Noon at 355 Main Street N, Suite C, Hiawassee, GA.

Rosemary Royston

A “Jaw Dropper” is what Emily Dickinson described as the top of her head being taken off.  In this session, Rosemary will share poems that struck her as jaw droppers.  The poems will be discussed and prompts provided for writing opportunities.  All levels are welcome, as are writers of any genre.  The fee for attending is $40.

Rosemary holds a Master of Fine Arts from Spalding University and has taught writing and poetry classes and workshops in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee.  A former assistant professor of English at Young Harris College, she now teaches a class on Creative Writing Across Genres at the John C. Campbell Folk School.  Her poetry has appeared in journals such as Appalachian Review, POEM, Split Rock Review, Southern Poetry Review, STILL: The Journal, Poetry South, and *82 Review.  Her first collection of poems “Splitting the Soil” (Finishing Line Press) released in 2014 was followed by “Second Sight” (Kelsay Books) in 2021.

The poems in “Second Sight” have been called “honest, timely, and beautiful… a love letter to Appalachia and rural people everywhere who often don’t get their stories told in such a powerful and compassionate manner.”

The size of the class is limited, so registering early is recommended.  The venue for the class is the Towns County Democratic Party headquarters located next to Bacchus on the Lake in Hiawassee.  The class, however, is non-political and focused on improving students’ poetry and appreciation for poetry.

(As an added incentive, Bacchus opens at noon with music starting at 3 p.m.)

For registration information, email Glenda Beall at gcbmountaingirl@gmail.com.  Checks to cover the $40 fee should be made out to North Carolina Writers’ Network.  For an address to mail checks to, email Sandy Benson at sandybenson28909@gmail.com.