|
Writers and poets in the far western mountain area of North Carolina and bordering counties of South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee post announcements, original work and articles on the craft of writing.
Thursday, June 4, 2020
What a great deal from Press 53
Saturday, May 30, 2020
Zick is instructor for The Road to Publishing June 25 on Zoom
Thursday, June 25, 1:30 - 4:30 PM
June 25 - Patricia Zick
Patricia Zick's workshop, "The Road to Publishing" will explore the different choices for publishing a book. Then she will delve into the step-by-step process for self-publishing a work of nonfiction or fiction using Amazon’s publishing platform. Ms. Zick, the author of twenty-five published books in a variety of genres, will demonstrate how to prepare a manuscript, provide definitions for publishing jargon, and walk through the process for uploading a book for both Kindle and paperback publication to the online retail site. Fee: $40
June 25 - Patricia Zick
Patricia Zick's workshop, "The Road to Publishing" will explore the different choices for publishing a book. Then she will delve into the step-by-step process for self-publishing a work of nonfiction or fiction using Amazon’s publishing platform. Ms. Zick, the author of twenty-five published books in a variety of genres, will demonstrate how to prepare a manuscript, provide definitions for publishing jargon, and walk through the process for uploading a book for both Kindle and paperback publication to the online retail site. Fee: $40
Send check made to NCWN-West to Glenda Beall, P O Box 843, Hayesville, NC, 28904
Check out Ms. Zick's new book: https://pczick.com/2020/05/05/the-authors-journey-newrelease/
Patricia Zick |
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Mary Ricketson, poet and mental health counselor, writing through a pandemic
Mary, thank you for being our guest on Netwest Writers today and taking time to answer our questions. You work as a mental health counselor, and I imagine the pandemic
has changed your work life in many ways.
GCB: Are you working from home and are
your clients accepting the new methods you have to use now?
Mary: Thank you for asking about
my work as a counselor. It’s the
science, talent, and heart that feeds me well beyond whatever we usually think
of as career.
Yes, I’m working from
home. Most people are fine with this
change from in person visits at my downtown office, since all of us understand
the safety needs of the pandemic. I have
a revolving door of clientele, so already there are some I’ve never met in
person. There are a few people who
prefer to wait, deal with their issues when they can meet with a therapist in
person. I treat that like any other
personal preference- it’s up to them, handle it with all the respect any human
being deserves.
The pandemic is very
stressful for people. No one calls for
help simply because of the pandemic, but it adds to stresses already there.
Mary: Primarily I’m working via
my cellphone. I’ve learned to use
speaker phone so the phone is not in my ear all the time, and I’ve learned some
tricks about how to keep it charged. I
do meet via video with skype. I already
knew how to use this, so I’ve managed to avoid learning a whole new technology,
thankfully.
Some people have to go out
to their car with their phone to gain the privacy needed for a counseling
session. Other people simply can’t
manage because their children are home from school. Some arrange for child care. Others muddle through.
Mary: I miss my office. I thought it would be a real treat to work
from home, and indeed in some ways it is.
I’m incredibly more fatigued at the end of my work day now. It takes much more energy to attend only via
voice, or even the face that shows in the video of skype or any other
tele-conference. I’m constantly finding
words and asking questions to make up for the nonverbal cues and the energy I
usually get in person. Besides that,
there is a difference in the reward I feel.
Nothing makes up for that in person energy exchange. For now, however, it’s safety at all cost.
Mary: I’ve been determined to
write as much or more as usual during this pandemic. I’m counting on creativity and my time in
nature to bring me the balance I need in life.
Honestly, the pandemic stress is so gigantic, it’s a tough call to meet
that balance. I can keep writing and
even bring poems to completion, but the business side of writing, like
submitting, is suffering down here at my place.
My schedule is to get
focused during my early morning walk, then start writing before the world gets
in my way, and before going to work.
I’ve kept this schedule during this odd time. It gives a predictability to my life, and I
think it keeps me tuned with the time and ritual when I expect my creativity to
appear. I even take a note pad on my
walk, write down images or ideas. If I
don’t, it all drifts away like a dream you think you are going to remember.
Mary: Slowly I came to a decision
that my life in Mississippi during my formative years was worthwhile. I avoided knowing that for a great deal of my
adulthood, embarrassed about the racism of the times. Other problems in my family were not what I
wanted to write about. I worked within
myself for quite some time to find the worth, discover what I was proud of.
I did set out on purpose to
write the poems that turned into the book.
I went through picture albums, remembering, jotting notes all over my
house. I phoned my brother and sister,
asking for tidbits and gems. I talked to
my parents, if you can really talk to the dead.
I called one cousin on my mother’s side, and I talked often to my aunt
on my dad’s side. All this generated
memories in a kaleidoscope kind of fashion.
I was thrilled and frustrated with no pattern coming to the
surface.
I kept noticing point of
view in any kind of poems I read. I got
the idea to get inside my parents as best I could, try to experience the move
to Mississippi and our life there, how it must have been for them. That turned a corner. I got excited to the max, started writing in
every spare minute I could find. By the
end, I had fallen in love with my parents and found a new aspect of being proud
of my life.
Mary: So far, I’ve only published by traditional publishing. I’m intrigued by self-publishing; I may go there yet. Mainly I want to present my writing in the most professional and respectful way I can.
Mary: I always wish I knew more
about marketing, or that it would come easier, and that someone would do it for
me. No one does it for me, it’s harder
than it looks and it constantly changes, and no one seems to understand
enough.
For me, it helps to talk
about my books to everyone I know and even some I don’t know. I have to push myself about this. I read in public everywhere I can, bring
books for sale, and keep looking for new places to read. I try to invent places to read. I stop myself from dreaming about being
popular and fame coming naturally to me.
I go to writing conferences whenever I can, volunteer to read and also
trade books with other authors.
I keep wanting to learn to budget
my time to spend a regular portion of time weekly on the business end of
writing. I’m not there yet, but I’m sure
it’s the right practice to achieve.
Mary: I would have done nothing
with my writing if I had not been a member of the North Carolina Writers' Network. The alliance with other writers has been the
cornerstone of my writing. The tradition
of joining with others for critiquing our work has been skill-building help and
a motivator for me. I’ve grown in
confidence as a writer during my time as a member. I need my connection with other writers in
order to grow.
Mary: Write daily if at all
possible. I used to set my alarm for 5
am so I could write for an hour before getting my child up for school, do all
the getting ready, and then go to work myself.
Share your work with
others. You don’t quite know yourself if
you live in total isolation. It’s the
same with writing.
Read your work in
public. Our reading events are as much
for ourselves, our own growth as for the opportunity to share and entertain.
Write from your own
experience. Be willing to learn who you
are, be willing to be surprised at who you find.
Tell the truth when you
write, even if you change the truth somehow.
That may sound like a riddle.
It’s not.
Mary: Disorgananza was my first
book, in 2000. It’s a small book,
printed on a home computer, and put together for family and friends, mostly as
Christmas gifts.
I have one copy only now.
I Hear the River Call my
Name is my chapbook, my first book via a publisher, Finishing Line Press, 2007. I didn’t know I could do this. I took a class in putting a chapbook together
simply because the class was being offered, and well why not? This book is out of print. When I spend more time on the business of
writing, I’ll figure out how to re-publish it.
Hanging Dog Creek is myfirst full length book, published by Future Cycle Press, 2014. I did this on a wing and a prayer.
I had to deal with a lot of editorial suggestions and even harsh criticism. But someone there believed in me, and kept encouraging me not to give up. I had lost a great deal in life by then, that there was no way to keep. I was determined to get this done, and I did.
I had to deal with a lot of editorial suggestions and even harsh criticism. But someone there believed in me, and kept encouraging me not to give up. I had lost a great deal in life by then, that there was no way to keep. I was determined to get this done, and I did.
Shade and Shelter was
published by Kelsay Press, 2017. I felt
like I sent that manuscript to a million places, and ultimately changed the
title a time or two. Once Karen Kelsay
accepted it, there were no significant changes to be made.
Mississippi: The Story of
Luke and Marian was also published by Kelsay, 2019. I frankly did not know how in the world I
would get this book published. Over and
over I submitted it. When I was ready
to start over with a real big breath, I sent an inquiry to Kelsay press because
I had not received a response in the time they advertise. I got an almost immediate reply saying my
book was already accepted, but someone in the chain of staff had not seen her
email. After that, things went pretty
fast.
Hanging Dog Creek, Shade
and Shelter, and Mississippi are all available directly from me, or from
Curiosity Bookstore in Murphy, or City Lights in Sylva,NC or order on Amazon.
Thanks, Glenda, for this
opportunity to converse about writing.
It’s been fun.
GCB: We appreciate Mary Ricketson taking time for our interview and for all she does for writers.
GCB: We appreciate Mary Ricketson taking time for our interview and for all she does for writers.
Follow Mary on FB or check out her membership page here.
Glenda Council Beall is Program Coordinator for NCWN-West , Owner/director for Writers Circle around the Table.
gcbmountaingirl@gmail.com
Saturday, May 16, 2020
A message from Travis Denton and Katie Chaple
From: Denton, Travis W
Dear Friends—
Katie and I hope all’s well where you are, and that you and yours are all safe and healthy. (Katie continues to tell me to stop touching my face.) Right now, we’re all physically distancing ourselves, but I have an opportunity for you where we can be “virtually” together this summer and do the good work of poetry.
Katie and I are co-leading Manhattanville College’s Summer Writer’s Week Poetry Workshop in Purchase, NY coming up from June 22 to June 26. This is a wonderful and exciting program that we’re thrilled to be a part of. Now, the program is going to happen via Zoom (not in person, because of, well, you know) and that’ll work just fine. We’ll have a lot of fun, and do the good work of poetry. We invite each and every one of you to be a part of the workshop. Please do hurry to sign up—space is limited.
Our poetry workshop will be in the morning each day for about three hours, and in the afternoon there will be craft talks, and poetry readings in the evening. And if you sign up to join our poetry workshop, we will also offer each of you an hour’s worth of free one-on-one poetry/manuscript consultation. How’s that?
Here’s the link to the Manhattanville Summer Writer’s Week Webpage with all the info on how to join. http://mvillemfa.com/summer-writers-week/summer-writers-week-2020/ Feel free to share this link with anyone you think might be interested. If you have any questions at all or just want to be in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
Stay safe, everyone!
Only Good Things Always,
Travis & Katie
Friday, May 15, 2020
Book Release during a pandemic? What can you do?
https://authorsroundthesouth.com/lady-banks/12413-what-is-it-like-to-release-a-book-in-a-pandemic
In the above newsletter from Authors Round the South, Lady Banks tells us what smart authors have been successfully doing.
Renea Winchester, is author of Outbound Train, set in her hometown of Bryson City, North Carolina. It is the story of the iron-willed women of a local textile plant. I like the story already.
In the above newsletter from Authors Round the South, Lady Banks tells us what smart authors have been successfully doing.
Renea Winchester, is author of Outbound Train, set in her hometown of Bryson City, North Carolina. It is the story of the iron-willed women of a local textile plant. I like the story already.
Dealing with the frustrations and anger COVID-19 has brought into our lives
Even when we know what to do, it often takes someone to remind us why we should.
We know it is best to let the anger and feelings of helplessness out. We should rant or write but we should get it out of our system, right?
I spent about a week ranting and being irritable with everyone. Even my closest friends and family still don't want to talk to me. For several nights I could not sleep at all. I would find myself still awake at 6:30 a.m. Then I felt awful all day long. I began to worry that something was wrong with me, that I was ill. I was ill. I had become sick from all the negative feelings in my body.
Part of my stress was due to my brother who has been in the hospital twice in the past couple of months, very, very ill. We think now he had COVID-19. He was on a ventilator for several days, but the tests were not given back in February when he was sick. Whatever he had has left him with heart problems which gives me more reason to be concerned.
I went on a tirade on Facebook, something I don't normally do. Now I am avoiding FB and writing more, reading more blogs, listening to Audible, and watching videos that I enjoy. I try to avoid TV news. I realize that it stresses me out more than anything.
This writer Sharon A. Bray, EdD has explained how holding in our negative feelings is harmful for our health, and she offers some ways to deal with our anger and frustrations. She says: The nice thing about writing about difficult emotions or frustrations is that it helps you release them from you body to the page. You can be honest. No one needs to see what you’ve written.
Check her out and see if you agree with what she has written. She is a cancer survivor and helps others by teaching them to write about their difficulties.
https://writingthroughcancer.ca/2020/05/11/may-11-2020-letting-it-out-releasing-negative-emotions/
Have you found writing to be a way of dealing with your emotions?
We know it is best to let the anger and feelings of helplessness out. We should rant or write but we should get it out of our system, right?
I spent about a week ranting and being irritable with everyone. Even my closest friends and family still don't want to talk to me. For several nights I could not sleep at all. I would find myself still awake at 6:30 a.m. Then I felt awful all day long. I began to worry that something was wrong with me, that I was ill. I was ill. I had become sick from all the negative feelings in my body.
Part of my stress was due to my brother who has been in the hospital twice in the past couple of months, very, very ill. We think now he had COVID-19. He was on a ventilator for several days, but the tests were not given back in February when he was sick. Whatever he had has left him with heart problems which gives me more reason to be concerned.
My brother a few years ago telling stories at the family reunion |
I went on a tirade on Facebook, something I don't normally do. Now I am avoiding FB and writing more, reading more blogs, listening to Audible, and watching videos that I enjoy. I try to avoid TV news. I realize that it stresses me out more than anything.
This writer Sharon A. Bray, EdD has explained how holding in our negative feelings is harmful for our health, and she offers some ways to deal with our anger and frustrations. She says: The nice thing about writing about difficult emotions or frustrations is that it helps you release them from you body to the page. You can be honest. No one needs to see what you’ve written.
Check her out and see if you agree with what she has written. She is a cancer survivor and helps others by teaching them to write about their difficulties.
https://writingthroughcancer.ca/2020/05/11/may-11-2020-letting-it-out-releasing-negative-emotions/
Have you found writing to be a way of dealing with your emotions?
Sunday, May 10, 2020
A Road Map for Writers
A book is out that we all want to read.
Pat Zick,novelist and part time resident of Murphy, NC has published the book we need to read if we want to publish a successful book. She writes as P.C. Zick and is a member of NCWN-West.
Find this book here now.
Pat says she hopes to be back in the mountains before too long, but for now she is self-quarantined in her home in Tallahassee, Florida. She was scheduled to teach a publishing class at the Moss Library in Hayesville in June, but she is now thinking about teaching the class on Zoom. We hope she will teach even if from her home.
The Author's Journey: A Road Map for Writers - From Draft to Published Book
Pat Zick,novelist and part time resident of Murphy, NC has published the book we need to read if we want to publish a successful book. She writes as P.C. Zick and is a member of NCWN-West.
Find this book here now.
About P.C. Zick
Bestselling author P.C. Zick describes herself as a storyteller no matter what she writes. And she writes in a variety of genres, including romance, contemporary fiction, and creative nonfiction. She's won various awards for her essays, columns, editorials, articles, and novels.Pat says she hopes to be back in the mountains before too long, but for now she is self-quarantined in her home in Tallahassee, Florida. She was scheduled to teach a publishing class at the Moss Library in Hayesville in June, but she is now thinking about teaching the class on Zoom. We hope she will teach even if from her home.
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Writers' Night Out in May
We held our second Zoom online Writers' Night Out on Friday with guests, Travis Denton and Katie Chaple,husband and wife poets from Atlanta, Georgia.
The evening was enjoyable with the two talking and asking questions to each other about writing poetry. They were humorous, relaxed and likable.
We had a glitch at the beginning of the hour because we had sent out two different links for the Zoom meeting, but hopefully, everyone found us eventually.This type of venue is not as familiar to us as we would like, but hope we can master it before long. Our open mic readers were in Florida, Watkinsville, Georgia, Hiawassee, Georgia, and local.
I thought it interesting that Katie and Travis have already scheduled a week of workshops in the fall and all will be online. We will probably find that many of the gatherings we have been used to will end up being online. NCWN has ongoing workshops online.
At the present time, we have no plans to hold Coffee with the Poets and Writers this summer even if the Moss Library opens soon. Neither will we hold the Literary Hour at the John C. Campbell Folk School if it opens soon. We hope to plan for the fall, but will see what the country looks like then.
Because these meetings are open to the public, we would have to police seating and wearing of masks and our leaders aren't ready to take that on now. Also, many of our members and audience are over 65 which puts them in the high risk group for COVID-19. We prefer to stay home and wait than to take risks with our lives.
I hope you are learning how to take online classes to improve your writing and to motivate you to write while you are home. With more time on our hands, we can polish up those manuscripts in our folders and submit them.
We would love to have our members contribute posts for this blog. Give us ten tips for writing poetry, fiction, short stories or creative nonfiction. You are accomplished writers, and I know you have things you can share with others.
If you have a list of prompts you could share, send them in and we will publish them. We don't get many comments but we have a large readership from all over the world. When you post here, we will also list your books, your website, etc. This site belongs to our members. Let us hear from you.
To make it easy, send to glendabeall@msn.com
The evening was enjoyable with the two talking and asking questions to each other about writing poetry. They were humorous, relaxed and likable.
We had a glitch at the beginning of the hour because we had sent out two different links for the Zoom meeting, but hopefully, everyone found us eventually.This type of venue is not as familiar to us as we would like, but hope we can master it before long. Our open mic readers were in Florida, Watkinsville, Georgia, Hiawassee, Georgia, and local.
I thought it interesting that Katie and Travis have already scheduled a week of workshops in the fall and all will be online. We will probably find that many of the gatherings we have been used to will end up being online. NCWN has ongoing workshops online.
At the present time, we have no plans to hold Coffee with the Poets and Writers this summer even if the Moss Library opens soon. Neither will we hold the Literary Hour at the John C. Campbell Folk School if it opens soon. We hope to plan for the fall, but will see what the country looks like then.
Because these meetings are open to the public, we would have to police seating and wearing of masks and our leaders aren't ready to take that on now. Also, many of our members and audience are over 65 which puts them in the high risk group for COVID-19. We prefer to stay home and wait than to take risks with our lives.
I hope you are learning how to take online classes to improve your writing and to motivate you to write while you are home. With more time on our hands, we can polish up those manuscripts in our folders and submit them.
We would love to have our members contribute posts for this blog. Give us ten tips for writing poetry, fiction, short stories or creative nonfiction. You are accomplished writers, and I know you have things you can share with others.
If you have a list of prompts you could share, send them in and we will publish them. We don't get many comments but we have a large readership from all over the world. When you post here, we will also list your books, your website, etc. This site belongs to our members. Let us hear from you.
To make it easy, send to glendabeall@msn.com
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Comments on April Writers' Night Out on Zoom
Carroll S. Taylor comments on April Zoom meeting for Writers' Night Out
I’m so glad I attended last night. I need the connection with fellow poets and writers, and I think our gathering felt surprisingly intimate despite our distances apart. Poetry has the power to bring us all together. Thank you, Glenda and Karen, for organizing everything. Thank you, Rupert, for sharing your poetry.
WNO brought light to a dark night.
Carroll
Thursday, April 30, 2020
News from Netwest PC
On our latest membership list for NCWN-West, we have 116 members. Our members come from Henderson County down to Cherokee County, and we have twelve members from bordering counties in Georgia.
Most of our counties have one or two Netwest representatives, but we still need people in Transylvania County, Graham County and Cherokee County. We are able to reach more writers when we have a representative who makes himself or herself available to members, and who cares about those she represents. The best writers are generous writers, and I hope you will think about being generous in your county.
What can we do for others during a pandemic?
In this time of having to give up so much in our lives, I see our fellow writers lending a helping hand to others. I see people searching for ways to make their lives meaningful during this crisis.
I don't have money to give away, but I want to help our local food pantry which is feeding many, many people who can't work because their places of business are closed, who don't have a paycheck coming in and need to feed their children.
Estelle Rice, member and co-author of Paws, Claws, Hooves, Feathers and Fins, joined with me in offering all profit for the next month from sales of our book to the Clay County Food Pantry. This is done through City Lights Books in Sylva, NC where you can order online, and they will ship the books at a deep discount. I sent out a few emails and posted it on Facebook and my blogs, but hope you will help us spread the word. This helps our favorite bookstore as well as helping the food pantry.
I have been surprised at the response. One person thanked me for reminding her that she should send a check to the food pantry in her county. Another person who was once a member of NCWN-WEST simply sent a check for the Clay County Food Pantry. We all want to help when we can. Be creative. How can you use your talents to help others?
For four weeks in March, I taught a creative writing class for Tri-County Community College. We met once at the college, but three of the classes I taught online using Google Classroom. The students enjoyed it so much, I decided to teach another six weeks, but at no charge.
While we are home and looking for things to do, taking an online class is a way to keep motivated to write. It is good for me as well. I have learned a new skill and find that Zoom gives us a perfect way to stay connected. My students enjoy sending in a writing piece each week that we all read and offer helpful comments. I critique each individual story and send back to the author.
So, although I am self-quarantined, I am using this time to help others as well as myself.
On Friday evening, 7:00, May 8, we plan to hold another Writers' Night Out on Zoom. The April WNO was well-attended and enjoyed. I will host, and we will send out instructions on how to join us.
Rosemary Royston, our Netwest treasurer, wrote a post on her blog today that I want to share with you. https://theluxuryoftrees.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/the-art-of-losing/
NCWN will hold an online course on May 20, 7:00 PM.
Topic: "Revealing Character Through Dialogue" with Xhenet Aliu
Most of our counties have one or two Netwest representatives, but we still need people in Transylvania County, Graham County and Cherokee County. We are able to reach more writers when we have a representative who makes himself or herself available to members, and who cares about those she represents. The best writers are generous writers, and I hope you will think about being generous in your county.
What can we do for others during a pandemic?
In this time of having to give up so much in our lives, I see our fellow writers lending a helping hand to others. I see people searching for ways to make their lives meaningful during this crisis.
I don't have money to give away, but I want to help our local food pantry which is feeding many, many people who can't work because their places of business are closed, who don't have a paycheck coming in and need to feed their children.
Estelle Rice, member and co-author of Paws, Claws, Hooves, Feathers and Fins, joined with me in offering all profit for the next month from sales of our book to the Clay County Food Pantry. This is done through City Lights Books in Sylva, NC where you can order online, and they will ship the books at a deep discount. I sent out a few emails and posted it on Facebook and my blogs, but hope you will help us spread the word. This helps our favorite bookstore as well as helping the food pantry.
I have been surprised at the response. One person thanked me for reminding her that she should send a check to the food pantry in her county. Another person who was once a member of NCWN-WEST simply sent a check for the Clay County Food Pantry. We all want to help when we can. Be creative. How can you use your talents to help others?
For four weeks in March, I taught a creative writing class for Tri-County Community College. We met once at the college, but three of the classes I taught online using Google Classroom. The students enjoyed it so much, I decided to teach another six weeks, but at no charge.
While we are home and looking for things to do, taking an online class is a way to keep motivated to write. It is good for me as well. I have learned a new skill and find that Zoom gives us a perfect way to stay connected. My students enjoy sending in a writing piece each week that we all read and offer helpful comments. I critique each individual story and send back to the author.
So, although I am self-quarantined, I am using this time to help others as well as myself.
On Friday evening, 7:00, May 8, we plan to hold another Writers' Night Out on Zoom. The April WNO was well-attended and enjoyed. I will host, and we will send out instructions on how to join us.
Rosemary Royston, our Netwest treasurer, wrote a post on her blog today that I want to share with you. https://theluxuryoftrees.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/the-art-of-losing/
NCWN will hold an online course on May 20, 7:00 PM.
Topic: "Revealing Character Through Dialogue" with Xhenet Aliu
I have been teaching this subject, and I hope to learn some new tips to pass on to my students. I believe that dialogue is such an important part of writing and often the hardest part. It is a perfect way to reveal character. If you haven't received an email about this class, go to www.ncwriters.org and you can register.
What are you doing to help others while staying at home and being safe?
Email me, pcncwnwest@gmail.com or leave a comment on this site.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)