For about 8 or 9 years (I’m bad about keeping track of stuff like that) our critique group, the North West Arkansas Writer’s Workshop, here in Fayetteville, Arkansas has held a free all-day writer’s conference or workshop. It fills both needs. It truly is free. If you want to eat that’ll be $7 for building your own sandwich, grabbing some chips, a drink and something sweet. Attendees are welcome to brown-bag it if they wish. We consider this the way we give back for all the help we’ve received along the way. What do they call that? Pay it forward?
At any rate, we’ve always asked speakers to donate their time to help out, but this year we decided to show off some of the talent within our own ranks. Many of our members are getting published, learning how to market and promote and work online. So this year our kick off speaker is Linda Apple, who is quickly growing famous around here as the Chicken Soup Lady. At last count she had 14 stories published in the Chicken Soup books and she’s going to share how you might do that. Then Patty Stith will show us all how to make our own book trailers for the Internet. I for one am looking forward to this one myself. Then Jeanie Horn will share how to find and get published in paying markets. Jeanie has been doing this successfully for several years.
After lunch, as usual Dusty Richards and I will share some of our acquired knowledge of the writing craft. I’ll lead off working with everyone on developing a sense of place, something beginning writers seem to have a lot of trouble with. Then Dusty will present Writing 101. He ought to know what he’s talking about, he’s on book #104. That’s published, folks, as well as written.
If we all counted all the books we’ve written, we still wouldn’t come close to that. But that’s a subject that needs touched upon, as well, for the more books we write the better writer we’re going to be, even if they are never published.
Back, now, to the subject of the free conference. It will be held at Ozarks Electric on Wedington Drive, one mile west of I 540 and Fayetteville on exit #64. It’s on your left. Park on the west side of the building, you’ll see the door to enter. We begin registering you at 8:30, a necessity because of the door prizes and paid lunch. The conference begins at 9 a.m. and will end about 4 or so.
Please email Dusty or I to let us know you’re coming so we’ll have some idea of the size of the crowd to expect. vebrotherton@gmail.com or dustyrichards@cox.net
Upcoming Event: My Spring Writer’s Workshop at Ozark Folkways, April 9 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. $25 Email me for a flyer. Preregistration required by mailing a check to Ozark Folkways, 22733 N. Highway 71, Winslow, AR 72959
Velda Brotherton 