Opportunities & Announcements: July 8, 2018

In this issue

Register now for the August 25 retreat lottery (and more)

Robin McLean and Friend

The deadline to enter the lottery for our next BWW summer retreat (Prose with Robin McLean) is coming up on July 28. Lotteries for the remaining sessions close one month before each event.

On August 25, Riki Moss’s idyllic spot on Grand Isle will be the setting for Prose with Robin McLean. Robin says, “In this workshop we are subversive. Using a variety of craft exercises, we attempt to turn our usual writing style upside down, find ourselves constructing lines we did not know we could write. In doing so, participants will go away from the day comfortable with new methods and techniques to stimulate and open their prose beyond our tried and true.”

Sign up now to take advantage of some of the best writers and teachers of previous workshops for these full-day sessions in some stunning locations this summer and fall, thanks to our hard-working and creative Retreat Committee.

Aug. 25: Studio of Riki Moss in Grand Isle—Prose with Robin McLean
Sept. 8: Adamant Music School in Adamant—Poetry with Baron Wormser
Nov. 11: Bishop Booth Center in Burlington—Creative Nonfiction with Jericho Parms

Visit our retreats page to learn more about the schedules and leaders. Learn more about BWW retreats >

Questions? Email retreats@burlingtonwritersworkshop.com

Seeking poetry readers for Mud Season Review

If you are a poet or a dedicated reader of poetry, consider joining the staff of Mud Season Review, the BWW’s literary journal. We’re looking for readers to review poetry submissions as they come into the journal and work with other journal readers and editors to select work for final publication. No prior experience or degree required.

Contact us if you’re interested in becoming an MSR poetry reader >

Deadline approaches for LVW “Writers Meet Agents”

There is still a little time left to register for the League of Vermont Writers’ June 21 Writers Meet Agents event. The registration deadline is Tuesday, July 10. If you’re looking for an agent or just want to learn more about getting published, this is a program for you. Get more information about this LVW event>

Improv workshop wows capacity crowd

Melissa Lourie sets up an improv

It was an experiment with great results on June 23 when actor and teacher Melissa Lourie led “Exploring Characters & Dialogue Through Drama Techniques,” an improv workshop designed to help writers develop their dialogue skills.

Participants said:

“For me, this workshop offered a new way into my writing brain.”

“This workshop was great fun! It was also a valuable exercise for demonstrating new ways to think about the creation of dialogue.”

“Thanks all! Loved this workshop.”

With lots in interest in doing more of this type of work, watch the BWW calendar for future sessions.

A big thanks to Margaret Grant for bringing Melissa and the idea to BWW, to the BCA for its support of this workshop and, of course, to Melissa Lourie for the inspiring session.

If your request goes astray…

Very occasionally, online requests to submit work may go astray. As we all know, when it comes to technology, there is many a blip twixt the byte and chip. Bad joke, but the point is, if you don’t get an acknowledgement within a few days of submission, please don’t hesitate to email schedule@burlingtonwritersworkshop.com directly to inquire.

And please, please, please use the online reservation system to secure a spot for getting your work reviewed. This lets other participants know whether a slot is available and avoids untold confusion.

A reminder to please support the programs you value

In case you missed our appeal last month, we can’t say it enough: If you enjoy the many fruits of the BWW, and do not currently financially support this program-rich nonprofit, we need your support today to make our very modest $25,000 budget for the current year.

Sustaining monthly donors in any amount make our programs possible, along with the generous one-time gifts of many friends. Please consider making a recurring or one-time gift. It’s tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the tax code.

Find out how to donate today >

Thanks & Congratulations

Thank you to Burlington City Arts for supporting a rich, varied and successful year of guest artist programs.

Thank you to our hard-working Retreat Committee for the tremendous opportunities available to members this summer and fall. Retreat committee members include Karin Ames, Wendy Andersen, Linda Ayer, Rose Eggert, Eva Gumprecht, Riki Moss, Jen Parsons, and Candelin Wahl.

Congrats to Cynthia Close on her recent publications: Cynthia says, “It was a pleasure writing about these two talented artists,Hannah Sessions and Bonnie Baird, for Vermont Woman Magazine.” Cynthia’s essay, “American Cab” was accepted for publication by the literary magazine Across the Margin. You can also read her work regularly in Professional Artist Magazine. The first of these contributions, “From Student to Professional,” has just been published.

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