Edwin M Church 2023 contest details and the 2022 winner!

 Edwin Church was an avid writer who believed that spirits were all around us. He had regular visitation from the other realm and spoke of them often. Edwin never published the majority of his work, but his spirit lives on in the Edwin Church Award for Local Writers. This award was established to act as an incentive for local writers to share their work and to take the next step towards getting published. The $500 cash prize is open to anyone 18 and over who lives, works, gathers, or plays in Swanton, Vermont.

Entries must be a 1000-3000 word original short story that tells the

tale of Morgan, who is under a deadline to finish writing an item that is personally important to them. Before they can finish, there is an interruption that involves a spirit.

It's up to the writer to tell us how Morgan reacts to this ghostly interruption or if the important piece of writing ever gets finished. The possibilities of your short story are unlimited, but you must include the phrase "seeing is believing" somewhere in the last paragraph.  Deadline for the entries has yet to be determined.  Projected early summer 2023.  Watch for the deadline in a future entry.  

Shannon Lucy won the 2022 contest.   Find her entry entitled "After You've Gone" can be found HERE

Meeting Minute February 16 2023

 Attendees: Ev Larsen, Don Lefebvre, Michelle Willard, Nancy Fuller, Eileen Williams, Judy Paxman, Heather Lavoie, Shannon Lucy, Becky Rupp

Congratulations to new group member  Shannon Lucy, winner of this year's Edwin Church Award.  I will be posting a separate blog entry containing a link to Shannon's story and details for the 2023 Edwin M Church contest.  The contest has been funded for two more years!

Events:

POEM TOWN, St. Johnsbury, VT, is looking for submissions of poems no longer than 28 lines (limit of two poems) on theme of "Embracing Change." Deadline is February 28. Find more information HERE.  Montpelier VT has a similar event entitled "Poem City" Submissions are now closed but more information about past events can be found HERE. 

POETRY SLAM will be held at the Swanton Library on Saturday, April 1, 5-7 PM. Email Becky or Judy for participation guidelines.  Our own Scott Martel will MC the event.  In conjunction with the SLAM and in the spirit of April being National Poetry month the writer's group would like to create their own version of the St. Johnsbury and Montpelier events.  We'd like to host a POEMS AROUND THE PARK. Poems should be submitted by March 20 and will be posted in windows around town. More details on where to submit and how will be available after the next writer's group meeting.  For now: get writing!

BOOKSTOCK LITERARY FESTIVAL 2023 will take place on June 23-25; keep an eye on their WEBSITE for schedule and details.

Resources:

League of Vermont Writers is hosting an online book discussion of Jeff Vandermeer's Wonderbook - the "definitive guide to writing science fiction and fantasy" - on Thursday, February 23, 7 PM. (The Swanton Library has a copy - check it out!) Or purchase HERE  If interested in attending, send an email to Shawn Anderson.

The Vermont Humanities Council hosts both online and in-person events throughout the state - see the long list HERE   Some interesting stuff for writers: a Zoom talk "The People's Tongue: Americans and the English Language" on March 1, and on March 15, Tracy Smith - a US Poet Laureate - will be doing a reading and talk at Middlebury College. 

The Poets & Writers website (companion to the print magazine) has tons of up-to-date info on writing contests, literary magazines, agents and editors, conferences and workshops, and more. More info HERE

Future plans:

We are planning to host a LOCAL WRITERS EVENT at the Swanton Library - possibly in early May - in which writers display/sell/sign their books and talk to the public. (What to call it? And who to invite? Please send your suggestions.)

Judy tells us that the SAC may be able to give us some financial support for these. (Thank you, Judy and the SAC!)

Writing prompts: a couple of people were interested in having these, and Michelle suggested we revisit the infamous Machine of Death project. Ev pointed out that Seven Days Vermont is a great source of inspiration - check out the legal section and the group meet-ups. (There's got to be a story in the Potato Intolerance group.)

Judy gave us a preview of the next Edwin Church challenge - which will involve ghosts and the phrase "Seeing is believing." How good is that? Stories will be due sometime this summer - details to be posted soon.

Who read what:

Nancy read "The Story of Sky" - an account of a lovable rescue dog with a traumatic past, now relegated to the isolation tank at the dog park for not playing well with others. (But there's hope for the future, due to a helpful  dog named Obi-wan Kenobe.) We're all pitching for Sky.

Eileen read a proposal for her latest memoir project, tentatively titled "The Builder's Wife," with themes of moving, dislocation, leaving vs. new beginnings, family, and the meaning of home.

Ev read "A Mindfile Named Otto," a terrific hybrid prose/poetry work with roots in Alan Ginsberg's Howl. (Complete text of Howl is at the Poetry Foundation: HERE

Ev's essay spawned a conversation about GPT technology vs living writers.  Pros and Cons and what it means for our future.  Helpful article on Wiki HERE

Next meeting:

Thursday, March 16, 6 PM at the Swanton Library.

Meeting minute for February 18, 2021

 We had six members who met via zoom. After about 30 minutes of catching up and news, we launched into a new format.  Writing to a word prompt for 20 minutes and then sharing the result.  For this meeting, we knew the prompt in advance.  Starting in March we will all bring a random prompt to the meeting and people can choose to use one or all of the prompts in a 20 minute free writing session, excluding their personal prompt.  

Becky reminded everyone to check the Facebook page for contest and resource ideas.  She posts them as she finds them.  

Book Recommendations

For those interested in books for middle grade readers (reccs courtesy of Becky)

"They Threw Us Away" by Daniel Kraus.

"Scary Stories for Young Foxes" by Christian McKay Heidicker

"Trigger Warning" by Neil Gaiman (recc courtesy of Renee)

Contests/Community Events

The artist response to "The Hate U Give" is due by April 1st, 2021.  Written responses must be 1,500 words or less.  The responses will be published in a zine available at the Swanton Library.  There will be a random drawing of all entries for a cash prize.   Contact Judy Paxham with questions EMAIL Get reading and get writing!

Don't forget the 2021 Edwin M. Church Award. Entries must contain a train element. The expected length is 1,500-3,000 words. Proposed deadline is August 1, 2021. The winner will be announced at the Swanton Arts Spectacular, which is traditionally the second Saturday in September.

Writing Prompts

This month "Lust", one of the seven deadly sins, was our writing prompt.  Judy floated the idea of publishing a monthly zine with our prompt responses.  A deadline would be imposed for authors to polish their free writing responses and submit.  Ev suggested we move to the surprise format as outlined above.  After 20 minutes all members shared their responses to Lust.  Ev shared a poem by another member, Becky shared her writing diagram/brain storming tool.  George, Judy, Renee and Michelle read their short pieces. 

Our next meeting via zoom is Thursday, March 18th at 6 pm.  All are welcome.  Follow the link below and enter the code when prompted.  Happy writing!

ZOOM LINK Code:  289902 

Meeting Minutes February 13, 2020

With thanks to Becky for these comprehensive notes as I was unable to attend.

Meeting Notes and comments – 2/13/2020


What is Poetry?

While not all by any means agreed, we discussed a lot of examples indicating that “poetry” is a large and inclusive tent.

Ev recommended blackout poetry by Austin Kleon. Find more info --> Newspaper Blackout.  Becky referenced Kenneth Goldsmith who writes controversial “conceptual poetry.” New Yorker article on the subject --> "Something Borrowed"


Writing suggestion: What if we sponsored a Blackout Poetry Contest?

The group also discussed: Translation, cursive handwriting, the English language, and the size of the universe. Becky referenced Planet Word, a new DC museum dedicated to language, scheduled to open in May 2020. More info HERE


Richard read his poem “Bliss,” his entry for the Emotion Speaks project. Scott read an introduction to his song “Thorns,” and the lyrics to “Thorns,” this last to appear on his upcoming CD. Discussion included possibility of Scott also writing an accompanying memoir in which the CD would be included as a related playlist. Ev read a short-short selection form Lydia Davis’s "Can’t and Won’t" Nancy read a wonderful notebook selection (beginning “on compassion and common courtesy”) that led to a discussion of commonplace books. Kylie discussed the revision process and future of her novel-in-progress.

Flash Fiction Contests

Hobbylark, info found HERE
Book Fox, info found HERE

Recommendation regarding flash fic: David Galef's "Brevity" Tips, techniques and samples

Group Recommendations: 

Ev recommended Literary Hub an excellent multifaceted literary site with tons of categorized info.

Nancy recommended The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry.

Suggestion: what if we each tried to offer a helpful recommendation for the group at each meeting – a book, website, meeting, workshop, project, etc.?

Next meeting: March 12, 2020, 6-7:30 pm, Swanton Public Library

Meeting Minutes February 21 2019

Meeting commenced at 6 pm.  There were 9 members present. Becky was absent so Michelle led the meeting.  We had a brief discussion of upcoming writing contests and events.

Events

Open mic night NorthWest Access TV February 22, 2019. 6:30-9. "Join Northwest Access TV and Lesley Nase for our first ever Storytelling Open Mic."

Scott's regular bimonthly performance at the Traveled Cup in St. Albans Vt. Next performance February 23.

April is National Poetry Month: The possibility of poetry readings at the Swanton library or possibly recorded at NorthWest Access TV was discussed.

Contests

Reminder: ONE week left to enter Hunger Mountain Contests.  Information found HERE

Booksie First Chapter contest.  Deadline June 14th.  Information found HERE

Announcements

Judy announced the limited publication of a booklet containing the winners of the 2018 Edwin M. Church Award as well as several of the contest entries. More details to follow.  Announcement for the 2019 adult contest should come in May. The deadline for the youth contest is April 1st.  Find the application HERE

Michelle mentioned the Itty Bitty Writing Space Anthology she will be published in.  The book is slated for a June release.

New member Harry G shared some of his past and present projects.  He has 2 Indie films on Amazon Prime: "Bridges" and "The Nightingale Chronicles". Both are filmed in Vermont. He is independently publishing a novel: 2 linked novellas. "The Green Mountain Sap Suckers". Currently creating a graphic novel/comic book based on the novel and adapting the text to a play manuscript.

Two requests for editing help were put forth by group members.  The first by new member Mike B for helping with his steamboat manuscript.  The second by Don on Becky's behalf.  A friend seeking help with editing/reviewing his 62,000 word manuscript on Street Rodding. Nancy and Kylie both offered to read portions of the latter. Nancy will read Mike's manuscript.

There was a discussion about meeting structure. Emmet suggested shorter opening remarks, announcements etc in order to leave more time for those who wished to read their work and receive feedback. Announcements, contests etc could be emailed separately. Kylie suggested sending work to group members in advance.  Giving them a chance to read and bring prepared feedback to the meetings. There was some conversation about interested group members holding meetings in between our regular monthly sessions.  Time, place TBD.

Writing prompts for March if you are interested. Phrase: "I lost sight of it two or three times." and/or the photo below.

The meeting concluded with readings by 4 group members. Nancy read her short memoir piece "The Disconnect and Long Way Home". Kylie read part of her novel "Homebound" Scott read a proposed memoir style piece which he might elaborate on. Emmet read part of one of his Dystopia novels in progress.

Next meeting is Thursday, March 21st. 6 pm at the Swanton Public Library.