May 14th Writer's Night Out ZOOM: Tips for Improving Your Writing, Karen Paul Holmes

James Crews is unable to join us tonight as planned, so here is our new program. 

For the Zoom link and to sign up for open mic,

 please email Glenda Beall: pcncwnwest@gmail.com  

What Can Writers of
Poetry & Prose Learn From 

Song Lyrics?
Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and more, even Gilbert & Sullivan...

Karen Paul Holmes
Reading & Craft Talk
Open Mic 

A longtime lover of words and beautiful writing, Karen Paul Holmes will share favorite song lyrics and point out how we can use similar techniques to improve our writing --  whether fiction, non-fiction, memoir, poetry, or blog posts.  

Karen regularly teaches writing classes at the John C. Campbell Folk School. As a former Vice President-Marketing Communications at a global financial company, and now a freelance writer, Karen has also had articles published in business journals and has led writing workshops at international conferences.

Her poetry has  appeared in about 100 journals and anthologies, and her two books are No Such Thing as Distance (Terrapin Books) and Untying the Knot (Aldrich Press). Karen says a dream came true when Garrison Keillor read her poem "Rental Cottage, Maine" on The Writer's Almanac. 

She'd love to hear you read at Open Mic, so if you haven't signed up, there's still time. 

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Open Mic
3-4 minute maximum of poetry or prose (2 poems only, please)

To sign up,  please send Glenda an email (with a sentence she can use to introduce you)  

pcncwnwest@gmail.com 

Song Lyrics & Poetry Weekend, May 20 at the Folk School

A class for poets, songwriters, prose writers, 

and anyone who loves words... 

You are in my blood like holy wine, you taste so bitter and so sweet. (Joni Mitchell)

I keep her weary ghost inside me. (Donald Hall)

fill your arms with the white and pink flowers, with their honeyed heaviness, their lush trembling, (Mary Oliver)

Mommy rocked the babies at night
And read the Bible by the coal oil light (Loretta Lynn) 

Inspiration... Fun... Good Food... Camaraderie... Words, Words, Words... There's music in good poetry and poetry in good music.  And if you're a lover of words, this class is for you. We'll share our favorite song lyrics and poems... and learn from them. What makes them so effective? How can we "steal" ideas and techniques for our own writing. 

What's not to love at the John C. Campbell Folk School? If you haven't been there, you're missing out on the enchantment of this beautiful place. And if you have been, you know the magic that happens. It's learning and inspiration in a supportive, non-competitive environment.
 
Karen Paul Holmes has taught and spoken at conferences across the U.S. She's the author of the poetry collection, Untying the Knot (Aldrich Press, 2014) and has been published in many fine journals and anthologies. She's the NC Writers' Network-West regional rep for the Georgia border counties. 

The class is definitely a "go," and locals can still get 1/2 price tuition at this point.  May 20-22. Register today using this link:
Song Lyrics and Poetry at the Folk School