The Philadelphia Writers' Conference
PWC Board Member David Wilson is a man of many hats – including Vice President of Special Projects for International Thriller Writers. Read his report of the 9th Annual ThrillerFest, held last week (July 8th through 12th). See what he has to say after the break!
{ 0 comments }
“All the arts are brothers; each one is a light to the others” – Voltaire
The Rhythm and Verse Salon is a literary, music and arts salon, a community, a gathering place where both featured guests and our participants share in a variety of voices, genres and styles of artistic expression. The Rhythm and Verse Salon welcomes lovers of literature, music, theater, art and conversation.
We have built Rhythm and Verse in the tradition of renowned cultural salons of the 17th through 20th centuries, we gather together for inspiration and conversation. Our salon is designed as a convivial forum for sharing your – our guests’ artistic creations – even your embryonic expressions within an intimate and welcoming atmosphere. And, if our guests would like, think Paris, 1920’s . . . Gertrude Stein’s living room. Entrez-vous, after the break!
{ 0 comments }
Multi-talented Philadelphia Writers’ Conference Board member Lisa Lutwyche talks about how she added playwright and director to her repertoire. Read more after the break!
{ 0 comments }
News from PWC il Presidente Eileen D’Angelo regarding upcoming Mad Poets Society events.
Check it out after the break!
{ 0 comments }
As I mentioned in last week’s post, I didn’t have the opportunity to hear William Lashner’s opening remarks and could only offer passing commentary. Luckily, fellow board member Ed Krizek was there for the whole thing. Ed was kind enough to put together a great summary that I’d like to share.
Opening speaker Bill Lashner discussed the path that led him to become a writer and about his passion for writing. Using The story of Herman Melville’ s life and the writing of ” Moby Dick,” Lashner spoke of how great works can be misunderstood when introduced to the reading public, but emphasized that this fact does not make them less important or great. He cautioned the crowd to separate the “business” of writing from one’s actual writing; urging everyone to do his/her best work regardless of commercial success. Lashner chose to be a writer because he loves writing. His message can be summed up as “write because you love it and always produce your best work”. Commercial success may or may not come but an author can find satisfaction and fulfillment in the act of writing nonetheless, and possibly produce a great piece of writing!
Thanks Ed for the great review. And thanks again all for your support of the PWC. Already looking ahead to 2015!
{ 0 comments }
Another PWC (our 66th!) is in the books. Lot’s happened this year, We saw many of our friends return, and made several new friends. Highlights, pictures, and more after the break!
{ 2 comments }
Gregory Frost is the author of eight novels (including Shadowbridge, Lord Tophet, Fitcher’s Brides) and well over fifty short stories of the fantastic, including dark thrillers, historical fantasy and science fiction. His novelette “No Others are Genuine” (Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine Oct/Nov 2013) is a current “Long Fiction” finalist for the Bram Stoker Award; and a collaborative novella with Jonathan Maberry, “T.Rhymer,” graces the anthology of dark fantasy collaborations, Dark Duets (HarperCollins, January 2014). He is a contributor to The Cambridge Companion to Fantasy Literature, edited by Edward James & Farah Mendlesohn (Cambridge University Press), and currently serves as Fiction Workshop Director at Swarthmore College.
Gregory will be teaching a workshop called “Writing a Compelling Short Story.” When describing the workshop, he writes, “Whether you write stories focused upon character illumination or upon event-driven escapades, you need to give readers a narrative that they cannot put down.” In the workshop, the class will examine the elements necessary to achieve this in their fiction, including everything from a “3-D” narrative structure to reversals and recognitions.
We had asked Greg to share his thoughts on the writers community, what inspires him, and what he hopes to find at this years Philadelphia Writers’ Conference. See what he had to say after the break.
{ 1 comment }
Author of Uncommon Geography and recipient of Pudding House’s “Greatest Hits Chapbook” award, Therese Halscheid has turned her attention to creative nonfiction in recent years. Her lyric essays have appeared in the Gettysburg Review, Tampa Review, Phoebe, Hotel America, South Loop, and New Delta Review, where she received 2nd in their Creative Nonfiction Contest. An itinerant writer, she lives on the road as a house-sitter to write in varied settings. She teaches for Atlantic Cape Community College, and offers creative writing workshops in different locations.
Therese will be leading a Saturday morning feature called “The Lyric Essay.” She describes the lyric essay as: “Part poem, part narrative…” In this session, Therese will leap past the construct of linear essays, to explore the artful features of this hybrid form. Structural elements such as imagery, rhythm fragmentation, and other creative devices will be the touchstone of discussion. The class will examine excerpts from notable lyric essayists before engaging in a writing exercise.
We asked Therese to share some thoughts on inspiration and being a writer. See what she had to say after the break!
{ 1 comment }
A.V. Christie is the author of “Nine Skies“, which won the National Poetry Series, and “The Housing,” winner of the McGovern Prize. Her poems have appeared in “Poetry”, “Commonweal“, “The Iowa Review“, “Crazyhorse“, and “Ploughshares“, among other journals. Christie has received grants from the National Endowment of Arts and from the Pennsylvania and Maryland State Arts Councils, and has been a visiting writer locally at Villanova, LaSalle, Bryn Mawr College, and Penn State Abington. She teaches private workshops and is Associate Director at the Chester County Art Association. Her newest chapbook: The Wonders (Seven Kitchens Press) will be coming out as part of the Editor’s Selection Series in the Summer of 2014.
A.V. will be leading a dedicated Master Class called “Poetry as a Field of Action” in which she will be teaching the concept of William Carlos Williams’ idea of the poem in action. The class will look and listen carefully to drafts of classmates’ poetry and find that they are already telling about the poem’s driving force and momentum. The poem is always giving hints about how it wants to be written, hints about how it wants to move. Using published examples as well as student work, A.V. will attempt to apprehend each poem’s action and leanings and explore ways to heighten the energy, whether by using provocative fragments, compelling juxtapositions, form, or dynamic and disparate imagery. Ultimately, the class will learn the ways in which the poem so often is telling you how it wants to behave.
We asked A.V. to share her feelings on inspiration and the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference. Read what she had to say after the break!
{ 0 comments }
Suzanne Kuhn has more than 25 years of book retailing experience and event sales, including traveling as part of Karen Kingsbury’s team. In 2010 Suzanne launched SuzyQ, a full-service promotion development firm that works with authors and public figures providing coaching, training and brand development as well as coordination of live events. Suzanne’s experience and knowledge give her an edge when coaching, facilitating tours and ensuring more successful and profitable events.
Suzanne will be leading a class that is part of our new Social Media Bootcamp. The class, called “Reaching your Audience through Social Media” will explore the basic “R”s of social media. Learn how to focus on engagement, build true fans and readers through a stress-free approach. Gain a strategy to keep social media manageable while reaching your target audience. As an added bonus, Suzanne will provide insights on live author events and bookstore engagement.
We asked Suzanne for her thoughts on the conference and what drives her. See what she had to share after the break.
{ 1 comment }
