Welcome to the first issue of the GWG Newsletter. This newsletter is a way for Greenbelt Writers Group members to keep in touch and also a way to alert the wider community of our existence. It also can provide a small space for local writers to network with one another, as well as to share information on books, writing events, etc. The newsletter will be published on a sporadic (almost-quarterly) basis and/or whenever there is news or events about which the membership should be notified.
The Greenbelt Writers Group was initiated in early 1995, with our first open reading held in March 1995. Generally, we meet once a month for open readings and socializing at the Greenbelt Police Station. The GWG seeks to offer support and encouragement to local writers. For other member benefits, see "Why Join the GWG?" on the back page.
Here are some of the regular features we hope to offer on a regular basis:
OTHER POSSIBLE FEATURES:
The GWG Newsletter will need your submissions for all of these items, especially for book reviews, Hot Tips, classifieds, profiles and "In Print". Please submit your pieces or ideas to: Beth Blevins, P.O. Box 221, Greenbelt, MD 20770. Email submissions are appreciated, especially for longer pieces. Email to: beblevins@aol.com
LITERARY EVENTS: "The Art and Craft of Genre Writing"
Founding GWG member Dorothy Sucher and guest authors will lead a
discussion on the mystery novel and science fiction/fantasy on two
Saturday afternoons at the Greenbelt Public Library. Sucher will serve
as moderator at both events. She is the author of Dead Men Don't Give
Seminars and Dead Men Don't Marry. She has worked as a psychotherapist
and is on the staff of the Greenbelt News Review.
The first program, "The Art and Craft of the Mystery Novel" will be held Saturday, January 27 at 2 p.m. Panelists will include Elaine Raco Chase, President-Elect of Sisters in Crime International and author of 12 best selling romance novels and several mysteries including Dangerous Places and Dark Corners; Barbara Lee, author of Death in Still Waters; and Louise Titchener, who has published more than 40 novels in the genre of mystery, science fiction/fantasy and romance, including Homebody and Mantrap, suspense novels set in Baltimore.
The second program, "The Art and Craft of Science Fiction and Fantasy" will be held Saturday, February 24 at 2 p.m. Panelists will include Anne Crispin, author of the bestselling The Eyes of the Beholder and other Star Trek books; Charles Sheffield, winner of the 1992 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novels for Brother to Dragons and the 1993 Hugo Award for best novelette for Georgia on My Mind; and Paula Volsky, author of the "Sorcerer" trilogy and other fantasy novels.
Ms. Sucher, who organized the events, said, "Since genre writing is among the most popular types of fiction published today, we thought we would give the fans and aspiring writers a chance to meet some mystery and science-fiction writers in person and ask them questions about how they write and where they get their ideas. These events promise to be great fun!"
The programs are free. Pre-registration is NOT required. Book signings and light refreshments will follow each program.
1996 FUND-RAISING IDEAS
It's not too early for the GWG to discuss what we might do for
fun(d)- and awareness-raising in 1996 . Last year, we sponsored an
information table for an afternoon at the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival.
This year, we also might want to consider a fund-raising activity at the
festival that could include selling GWG products -- such as
publications or books published by GWG members, with profits shared
between GWG and the writer. Or we might hold a spontaneous writing
booth, which we could take turns staffing an hour or two at a time.
This is where we would produce poems or short prose pieces on-demand,
using whatever theme, words, or imagery is given by each requester (we
would ask for a donation for our effort).
Also this year, we might want to produce a GWG chapbook with selections from members' writings; or, a calendar or literary cookbook. If you have any ideas or you would like to volunteer for any of these projects, please attend the next GWG meeting where we can begin to discuss them.
1996 GWG READINGS/
MEETINGS CALENDAR
Open readings are held once a month at 7:30 p.m., with reader
sign-up beginning at 7:15. Meetings of GWG members are held quarterly,
following one of the regularly scheduled open readings. All
readings/meetings will be held at the Greenbelt Police Station meeting
room (550 Crescent Rd.)
The public is invited to attend any of the open readings. However, those
who regularly attend the open readings and others interested in the
future of the GWG are urged to become members.
January through April [Open readings will be held the second Sat. of
the month]:
Sat., January 13 Sat., February 10 [MEETING]
Sat., March 9
Sat., April 13
May through November
[Open readings will be held the third Friday of the month]:
Friday, May 17 [MEETING]
Friday, June 21
Friday, July 19
Friday, August 16 [MEETING]
Friday, September 20
Friday, October 18
Friday, November 15 [MEETING]
In December, rather than hold an open reading, members (and their families) are invited to a potluck/holiday party.
GWG CLASSIFIEDS
SPONTANEOUS WRITING? I'd like to form a small group of GWG members
interested in doing spontaneous writing together based on ideas presented
in Writing Down the Bones and other works; we'd meet semi-regularly.
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP I'm also interested in forming a discussion
group where we'd look at the structure of individual novels -- how they
say what they say rather than just what they say. This might be a
springboard for a critique group for novel writers. If interested in
either of these ideas, please call Beth Blevins at 345-5879.
Greenbelt Writers Group Volunteers
Chair: Marsha Barrett
Treasurer: Charles Braun
Newsletter/Librarian: Beth Blevins
Publicity: Robert Levine
Meeting Coordinator: Jenifer Kirin
Mailings: Mary Moien
Steering Committee:
Marsha Barrett, Beth Blevins, Charles Braun, Sue Jordan, Jenifer Kirin,
Dorothy Sucher
[Members of the GWG Steering Committee meet on the Sundays
preceding membership (quarterly) meetings.]
If you have an item for the newsletter, please send it to B. Blevins by email: beblevins@aol.com or by mail (P.O. Box 221, Greenbelt, MD 20768) or, in a pinch, call her at 345-5879. If you have general questions about the GWG, please call Beth Blevins at 345-5879 or Dorothy Sucher at 345-9421.
WHY JOIN THE GWG?
Besides meeting and sharing your writing and/or love of writing
with other local writers, membership in the GWG offers these benefits:
Your member fees allow us to print and distribute our newsletter and other special GWG publications (such as critique group guidelines, etc.). They also allow us to plan special events, and to continue to obtain materials for a "library" of information pertinent to writers. The annual membership fee for 1996 is $7.50.
Copyright 1996, The Greenbelt Writers Group
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