NCWN-West – What I see in the future
What a remarkable organization Marsha
Warren built in western NC in the early 90s. Eight counties with
representatives in each one, counties in bordering states where writers needed a
community, and one person to head the group.
That was twenty years ago, and many of
those early writing groups are still active here in Clay and Cherokee counties.
Because of the program Warren created, beginning writers went on to publish
poetry books, novels and memoirs.
But we are in the twenty-first century and
changes have taken place in society, even here in the Appalachian Mountains.
The under-fifty folks research online, take courses online, seek all kinds of
information from where to publish to how to publish. They find hundreds of
sources for their questions. But there are no guarantees that what they read
online is fact or correct. Recently I read an article on how to prepare a
manuscript. Comments following this article disagreed with half of what the
article said. “Today it is done this way…” “That is the old way. Nobody does
that now.”
What are we to believe? Confusion reigns
with all the various opinions on the Internet. Without experienced writers
and poets to share accurate information, new writers can spend hours
making mistakes with their submissions and all things concerning getting their
work out to the public, the major goal of most of us. I am asked many times
over and over, how do I prepare a manuscript, can you help me with a cover
letter, what is a query letter and what should I say. Or I am asked, where
can I take a class for beginning writers, is there a class around here for
someone who has retired and is finally ready to begin writing which I always
wanted to do?
NCWN-West has the experienced published
writers throughout the region. We have qualified instructors for all genres.
But how to get the word out is the question now. Few want to travel many miles
to attend an all day workshop, it seems, although the opportunity to discuss
writing, questions and answers, should be a priority. We learn so much from
each other when we get together. But we must beware online groups where some of
the people who give advice are not accurate. I have seen incorrect writing
advice given online to unsuspecting newbies.
The future of NCWN-West, I believe, is
bringing in men and women who have computer expertise. People
who know how to set up meetings on Skype so writers all over the region
can participate in discussion of the best ways to provide local writers with
what they need here in the mountains.
We have a Facebook page for NCWN
West that has been dormant for several years until this week. We
have well-qualified writers who want to teach online classes for NCWN-West
members. But who will make that happen? We need members who understand the
Internet and can help us get those classes online. These are our future
leaders. In ten years there will be new opportunities and we must be ready to
jump in.
Those of us who worked for many years as
part of NCWN-West are ready to turn it over to perhaps younger, but definitely
energized people who move us forward to the next level. Who will do that?
Help us find those who are willing and able
to carry on our mission, but take us up a step.
Glenda
Beall
glendabeall@msn.com
828-389-4441
glendabeall@msn.com
828-389-4441
