Charlotte Writers Club , April 20, 2021 Meeting Recap: |
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On Tuesday evening we celebrated National Poetry Month and the writers who play with words, line breaks and rhythms Boris "Bluz" Rogers, award winning Charlotte poet, performer and teacher told us and showed us how to bring our words from the page to the stage. And the top three poets in our 2021 Poetry Contest read their poems.
An exceptional evening of verse!
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President Caroline Kane Kenna kicked off the party for poetry during social time by asking: Who's your favorite poet?
Those present agreed sometimes that changes daily then filled the chat with names like: Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Emily Dickinson, Mary Oliver, Sharon Olds, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Louise Gluck, Shakespeare....and when the meeting convened, she welcomed 32 zoomers including Kevonna, Wayne and Noelia who were our guests.
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Co-Program Chair Angela Haigler introduced Bluz and his topic, Slam On! Useful Performance Poetry Techniques along with a powerful presentation and a sample slam he challenged us with two timed writing exercises. One got our pens moving and the other asked us to dig deeper.
Following the presentation Dave Collins, co-program chair, led a Q&A.
See the meeting recap for a summary of his talk and the link to series of workshops and public art initiative Rogers and fellow Charlotte poets Jay Ward and Jordan Bailey are hosting from Blumenthal Performing Arts “Of Earth and Sky”
Bonus: For a limited time, through the magic of Zoom, Rogers's presentation video is available for members to view. Contact Caroline for the link to our YouTube channel.
Darrell Horwitz, the co-contest chair, kept our focus on verse
He announced the results of our 2021 Poetry Contest and shared comments judge Ashley Lumpkin offered for the top three poems before each poet read.
Congratulations All!
Joyce Compton Brown, First Place for "Night Song,"
Michael Cox, Second Place for "Bank Fishing on the Tippecanoe"
David E. Poston, Third Place for "That Which Is Wanting Cannot Be Numbered”
Visit the Meeting Recap page for Ashley's comments and to see the poems she gave honorable mention.
Beth Badour invited us to her virtual book launch
for Never Say Never Living with Kidney Disease from victim to victorious, for more on her first book and to share your good publishing news Check out Members' Kudos.
Student Engagement Plan with CMS
Caroline thanked Axel, Darrell, Teresa, Adrian and Debra for their ideas and enthusiastic support of an outreach plan we are finalizing with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools for 2021-2022 that we hope will take our mission to the next generation of writers. Virtual office hours and a writing series are in the works. Volunteers are needed to staff the monthly virtual office space that will begin this summer. Students will be invited bring their writing projects to us if they need help and/or encouragement. Because this involves students, all volunteers must be vetted and cleared by CMS before we can work with the kids. If you are interested in participating and missed the email outlining those steps sent earlier this month, contact Axel for details.
Ask an Author a forum for student writers to ask experienced writers/authors questions about craft and career. This fall event will be held either virtually or in-person at Park Road Books. We will be reaching out to the club for panelists to field questions. A workshop or series of workshops for students will follow in early 2022 and in the spring we will offer a fiction contest to students in grades 5-8, and 9-12. and host a party to celebrate the winners.
In other business:
Caroline introduced the Executive Officers for 2021-2022:
Dave Collins, President Elect, Axel Dahlberg, VP of Membership, John McGillicuddy, Treasurer, Tiffany Grantham, Secretary, Caroline Kane Kenna, President and Debra S. Wallin, Immediate Past President. We will vote on and install this slate at the May general meeting. Their terms will begin July 1.
Open Advisory Board Positions:
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Co-coordinator of Workshops: partner with Anshu Gupta. She has been bringing quality presenters to us this year. If you see yourself in this role, have ideas and/or presenters you would like to bring via Zoom or to Charlotte (at some point in the future) please contact Anshu.
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Marketing/Publicity/Social Media team: If you know social media, have an Instagram account and/or live to post on Facebook we need your expertise. Please contact Caroline.
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Our Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 18, 2021
6:30 to 8:30 pm via Zoom
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Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Artist, Illustrator, Writer |
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Gordon C. James,
Fine Artist and Illustrator
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Panel: Childrens' Writers & Book Illustrators
Get the 411 on what it takes to be a successful children’s book writer and/or illustrator from the perspective of three creative individuals: Derrick Barnes, writer, Vanessa Brantley-Newton, artist, illustrator, writer and Gordon C. James, fine artist and illustrator all of whom have the distinction of having worked together on various projects at some point in their career. This program will explore how to get started and what's needed for children's book writing success.
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And Coming at the May Meeting: The Elizabeth Simpson Smith Short Story Contest Winners Will be Revealed
Adrian Calabrese, co-contest chair, will announce judge Abigail DeWitt's top picks for our most prestigious fiction contest. and we will celebrate those winning voices. The Elizabeth Simpson Smith is the most prestigious fiction contest CWC offers.
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Club Announcements:
Monday, May 10, 7-8:30 pm
Sign up for Tiffany's Social Writing Time: write to prompts provided by Tiffany Grantham. If you are a member you will receive an announcement and the zoom link. This is open to the public. Be our guest by clicking on this link to sign up.
Friday, May 21, 6:30 to 9 pm
Sign Up for our next Open Mic Night. You will receive the Zoom link in the event announcement. You must be a member and register ahead of time to read. Register Here.
Thursday, May 6, 2021: 7 pm
CWC North and Main Street Books are co-sponsoring a virtual book launch and Q&A for Celiac Mom by Ann Campanella. Visit the CWC North Calendar of Events page to learn more and to register for the Zoom link.
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Celebrate National Poetry Month
Thursday April 29, from 6 to 7 pm:
NC Humanities Presents A Night of Poetry & Conversation FREE!
This Is The Place: Place, Identity, and Community in North Carolina Poetry” featuring North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green, Carrboro Poet Laureate Fred Joiner, and Chapel Hill Poet Laureate CJ Suitt in a poetry showcase and moderated conversation about the themes of place, identity, and community in their work. NC Humanities Board Trustee and Appalachian State University Professor Todd Wright is the moderator. A Q&A will follow the discussion. This is a program of NC Humanities’ North Carolina Center for the Book, an affiliate of the National Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, and is made possible with support from the State Library of NC. Register Here for the Link.
Poetry Out Loud!
A virtual poetry reading to celebrate National Poetry Month. Charlotte Lit faculty members recorded themselves introducing and reading one of their published poems. Listen Here.
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Davidson Poetry Night, Wednesday, April 28, 2021, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Join guest writer and poet, Maurice Norman, for a night of poetry to share your work or to listen to the work of others. This event is the second of a two-part series for National Poetry Month. If you did not attend the first workshop, you are still welcome to attend this event and share your work! Writers of all levels are encouraged to join.
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Kakalak 2021:
Attention Poets & Artists: The submission period for Kakalak 2021 closes on May 23, 2021.
Guidelines and to submit your Poetry
Guidelines and entry instructions for your Art Here
Anne Kaylor, MoonShine Review Press, is now the publisher. Learn more about the anthology born in 2005 and how Kaylor's role has evolved at moonShinereviewpress.
Call for Personal Stories:
The theme is “Trouble— causing, avoiding, getting in, and getting out—with you in the middle.”
Up to 800 words. Deadline is June 30, 2021.
Visit Randell Jones to learn more about submitting to the Personal Story Publishing Project.
Also visit @personalstorypublishingproject or @6minutestories on Facebook.
Last Call for NC 10by10 Play Festival
Deadline is April 30th for your 10-minute plays. Submit Here
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Support CWC Members & Community Partners
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200 Episodes and Counting
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The party is going on now! Click on the fireworks to count the ways CWC member Landis Wade, host, and creator of Charlotte Readers Podcast, is celebrating the milestone.
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FEATURED LIT EVENT:
PEN TO PAPER
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Join on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. for a mini-lesson, writing prompt, writing time, and sharing. Free
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Check out the NC Quarantine Literary Tour a mountains-to-sea virtual journey to fictional places created by some of the state’s most accomplished authors. The Quarantine Tour features nine places created by NCLHOF inductees in and for fictional works: Here is Video from the February launch. |
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MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Charlotte Writers Club entitles you to participate in workshops, critique groups, contests, and guest speaker programs. The cost is a modest $35 per year for individuals and $20 for students.
We welcome all writers in all genres and forms to join our Charlotte-area literary community. Your membership in the Charlotte Writers' Club helps support writers, readers, and literacy at a critical time in our nation's and our city's history.
To Join or Renew click this Membership Link and follow the instructions.
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Charlotte Writers Club PO Box 220954, Charlotte NC 28222
Please "LIKE" our Facebook page to encourage discussion among fellow
writers and keep up with the club offerings.
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