We love sharing news like this!
Quickies! and Creative Writing I instructor Mary Hamilton has recently won the Rose Metal Press Fourth Annual Short Short Chapbook contest. The folks at Rose Metal wrote a nice blog about Mary and her submission. And of course, we’re supremely proud of her.
In addition to writing and teaching and working...Mary is also one of the founders of the Quickie! reading series. All the stories are four minutes or less. Amazing.
Congratulations to Mary!
Congratulations to Coaching and First Pages student Vicky Tesmer who has finished the first draft of her manuscript!
The semi-autobiographical piece, A Thousand Beautiful Things, addresses issues of science, faith, politics, world travel, and love. Vicky experimented with the prose, including poems alongside the stories. It was a fascinating process for this longtime visual artist, learning to turn her images into words.
Here’s what Vicky says: “When I walked into StoryStudio on January 12th last year I didn’t have a precise goal - I just knew I had a lot in me to say. It came out in a novel!
“I believe what I learned most about writing was that if you substitute paintbrushes, paints, a palette and a canvas for words, sentences, paragraphs and chapters you can ‘paint’ a novel. I feel my book is a painting - perhaps a ‘Pop Art’ painting - as if you stepped into an Andy Warhol canvas. It’s visual and surreal and current. Looking back on the past year, I don’t believe I could have stayed on track nor organized my thoughts and words without Paige [StoryStudio Chicago Instructor/Coach Alyson Paige Warren]. She helped me stay focused, giving meaningful insight and direction to the chapters, the characters and the overall ‘picture’ of the story.”
Congratulations and best wishes on your redrafting process, Vicky!
We can hardly keep up with all the successes of Ranjit Souri, one of our Personal Essay instructors. His latest accomplishment can be heard in the form of an essay on Cincinnati Public Radio. It’s a tribute to one of Ranjit’s favorite musicians, Adrian Belew.
Here’s the link to check it out.
Traditionally, this time of year is something of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I often find myself worn out from the relentless demands of the holidays—and from feeling turned out in a way that, while useful in getting a five-year-old boy through security at Midway on December 23 without losing your freaking mind, isn’t necessarily conducive to getting creative work done. Plus, it’s really cold outside.
On the other hand (the happy, well adjusted hand), a new year means new projects and goals, or perhaps a renewed dedication to old projects and goals.
I will admit (and hope that I’m not jinxing myself): I am off to a terrific start in 2010. I have rekindled an ongoing love affair with two of my favorite writers, Flannery O’Connor and Kurt Vonnegut; and I am working hard (and happily) each day, on my own fiction. It is, as any writer knows, always good to be working. So very, very good. Recently, I came across a sweet little article in the Wall Street Journal about how some authors are able to settle down and get to work.
As some of you already know, I am teaching Writing the Novel at StoryStudio Chicago for the spring term. The class begins on Tuesday, January 19, at 6:30. Jill and Molly always have a pot of fresh coffee brewing and I will have a fresh, new course packet with readings and topics that have captured my fancy in recent months. (So even if you’ve taken the class before, it will be new material.)
I can think of few ways I’d rather pass some of these cold winter nights than by gathering with friends and colleagues to share our collective wisdom and advice about each others’ work. I can think of no better way to keep the momentum going than by reading excerpts from great literature. And I can hardly wait to offer, and receive, the sort of encouragement and succor that a really good workshop offers. There are still some spaces available, so if you’ve been thinking about signing up for a class at Story Studio I hope you will consider my novel writing class.
As always, I promise to meet you where you are—at any stage of your writing process.
Here’s wishing you and yours a most happy and productive 2010. Or as I like to say to my dearest friends: “Happy New Year! (Fingers crossed!)”
Best wishes, Beth Wetmore
This announcement comes from SSC member Debbi Welch:
Join us for the 1st Annual Holiday Book Bash celebrating Chicago authors! Meet with more than 30 Chicago authors, including Nona Willis Aronowitz, Bill Ayers, StoryStudio teacher Elizabeth Bagby, Regina Harris Baiocchi, Kathi Baron, Bob Boone, Martha Biondi, Stephanie Bird, Timuel Black, Michelle Boyd, Elizabeth Brackett, Norm Cowie, Kate Devore, Brenda Ferber, Al Gini, Chris Green, Owen Hurd, Donna G. Humphrey ( Represented by Judge Joan Lefkow, her daughter), Esther Hershenhorn, Maggie Kast, Sally Sexton Kalmbach, Herb Kent, Stephanie Kuehnert, Cynthea Liu, Mike Leonard, Janice Metzger, James Shea, Erin Goseer Mitchell, Anne Elizabeth Moore, Mary J Peterson, Barbara Ransby, Mary Hutchings Reed, Darnell Thompson, Rita Coborn Whack, Sandi Wisenberg, & Shelomith Yisrael, all of whom will be discussing and signing copies of their books.
Friday December 4, 2009 – 6 to 9 PM
1 East Jackson Boulevard, Chicago (Concourse Level of DePaul University DePaul Center)
Ticket proceeds & a portion of book sales go to support Young Chicago Authors. Light hors d’oeuvres & wine will be served.
$50 General Admission, $15 Student Admission. Advance reservations are requested.
For questions & more info, contact Debbi Welch at:
