Writing Pods, Lectures and Contests
The Writers Alliance of Gainesville
Additional Images
Photo by Albert Isaac
Kal Rosenberg (left) and Wendy Thornton (right) introduce award-winning author Joe Haldeman (center). Haldeman was invited by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville to talk about writing. He gave a presentation entitled, "One Way to Do It," or "How I Write Books and Why Nobody in His Right Mind Should Do It That Way," to a full house at the Tower Road Branch Library last May.
For wordsmiths of all skill levels, the Writers Alliance of Gainesville (WAG) offers a venue for North Central Florida writers.
WAG began a year ago September, to promote, encourage and support aspiring as well as experienced regional writers. The group is now 150 members-strong and continues to pick up one or two new members each month.
WAG is the brainchild of local writers Wendy Thornton and Kal Rosenberg, said Jani Sherrard, program chair and associate editor of the Bocopa, the group's literary journal."We started about one year ago now," Sherrard said. "Wendy Thornton and Kal Rosenberg, both very active writers and active in the Florida writing community, recognized there was no umbrella organization for central Florida [writers]."
"Kal originally came up with the idea," Wendy Thornton said. "There is a similar program in Ocala and he was familiar with it. We sat down and hashed out bylaws based on that program. We are very surprised that it has done as well as it has."
There are a number of people from Ocala participating as well, Sherrard said.
WAG was formed to support, educate and celebrate regional writers, but not to compete with any existing groups.
"This community, apart from UF, is extremely rich in writers," Sherrard said. "The origin was to fill a missing link, a gap for regional writers. And it seems to be happening."
The group accomplishes its goals through "monthly meetings, public readings, ongoing small critique groups, a literary journal, writers' contests and collaborations with schools and civic organizations to foster creative expression through the written word," states the Web site.
Meetings are typically held at the Tower Road Branch Library in Gainesville, but the group is anticipating a venue change in the near future. Monthly presentations are open to the general public, free of charge and offer a diverse group of speakers. In May, author Joe Haldeman gave a presentation entitled "One Way to Do It" or "How I Write Books and Why Nobody in His Right Mind Should Do It That Way." Haldeman's presentation drew an estimated 80 people to the library meeting room.
"In October we are featuring a speaker from the Hippodrome about writing for the theater," Sherrard said. "In November we will have a panel on effective critique across all the genres with a panel and Q & A."
Sherrard said being a member of WAG brings additional benefits for regional writers.
"One of the privileges of membership is that paying members can participate in pods," she said.
The writing pods are genre-specific critique groups consisting of no more than six people, led by a host.
"We can form as many pods as we need to, based on what people need," Thornton said. "And [the number of pods] can expand indefinitely, but they are limited to six participants."
"They pick their time, place, frequency of meetings and these then become ongoing writing communities," Sherrard said. "The pods are a wonderful opportunity for people to get help and feedback on their work, no matter how advanced they are in their writing."
Additionally, WAG is accepting submissions up until October 31 for the Bacopa 2010 Writing Contest. Members and non-members alike are encouraged to submit works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry for a chance to win $1,275 in prizes. This contest is open to all for a cost of $11 per entry, and WAG members are allowed one entry at no charge.
"Bacopa is the literary journal of the Writers Alliance of Gainesville," Sherrard said. "Senior Times readership has a chance to be a part of Gainesville's history by being published in Bacopa. We have had well over 100 submissions during the general submission period. If history is any indication, we can expect a flood of stories coming in at the end."
All submissions will be considered for publication, she said, but those that take first and second place or selected honorable mention will be published for certain. People may submit as many as three poems, not to exceed 50 lines per poem. All submissions must be sent electronically; no mailed, paper manuscripts will be accepted.
"The journal is currently being designed," Sherrard said, "and we would like to do a nice launch when it is available in the spring 2010."
The annual WAG membership fee is $36. Membership forms are available online and at the WAG monthly meetings.
"Social events are in the plans," Sherrard said, citing that there is not enough opportunity for members to mingle at the public presentations. There are plans for a potluck meal in early December, Sherrard said.
"It's been wonderful," Thornton said. "The interest that people have shown in the group is amazing. The library has opened its doors to us."
For contest guidelines visit www.bacopaonline.com. §
Albert Isaac is Editor-in-Chief at Tower Publications. He may be contacted at editor@towerpublications.com.
