100 Thousand Poets and you?

    Come be part of an international literary event!

September 29 is an internationally special day for poets and writers. Many of you may have heard of the 100 Thousand Poets for Change initiative. Basically this is an international fellowship of poets and writers who are concerned about the state of our world and nations. If you are not aware of this movement, please visit the official website at   http://www.bigbridge.org/100thousandpoetsforchange/?page_id=13931

As of today, more than 700 communities worldwide have scheduled events on September 29, and more are added daily. So let's get together and have our own voices heard!

As part of this international event, FutureCycle Press (Robert S. King) and Writers Circle (Glenda Beall) have scheduled an open-mic reading on Saturday, September 29, 2012, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event will be held in the Grove Enterprises building located at 7540 Highway 64 West, Brasstown NC 28902. Brasstown is situated between Murphy and Hayesville NC and is about two hours from Atlanta or Knoxville. There is plenty of parking.

You are invited to come listen and/or read your original works of poetry or prose. Authors may also bring their books for sale at a table we provide. FutureCycle Press is particularly pleased to announce that it will have its new anthology, American Society: What Poets See, available for sale at the reading.

If you wish to read, please bring poems or prose pieces that do not exceed three minutes each. Depending on the number of readers, we may have time for more than one title per reader, so bring two or three of your works. Before the reading, please time your work to make sure it fits the allotted minutes.

We are not requiring that you read specifically on the subject of social issues, though you are encouraged to do so. It is more important that you show up and participate in whatever way you feel comfortable.

Please invite your friends and family as well. It would be helpful if you can let us know ahead of time if you plan to come and especially if you plan to read. An RSVP is not required, but having an idea of the numbers will help us plan the program. Please email Robert,rsking@futurecycle.org, if you plan to come. Also mention if you will bring books to sell.

We hope to see you there!

Robert S. King and Glenda Beall

_______________________

Directions to Venue:

From Murphy NC, take Highway 64 East toward Hayesville. Go 6+ miles and look for Grove Enterprises sign on left. Turn left at the driveway, go up the hill, turn left into the parking lot, and park on the side of the building facing highway 64. Once inside the building, please register at the front desk.

From Hayesville, NC, take Highway 64 West toward Murphy. Go 7+ miles and look for Grove Enterprises sign on right. Turn right in front of the sign, go up the hill and into the building's parking lot on the left. Park on the front side of the building facing Highway 64. Once inside the building, please register at the front desk.

Signs will be posted outside the building to help guide you.

Call for Submissions

Unteachable: An Anthology of Poets Outside the Academy

For the last fifty years teaching has become the default profession of poets in the United States. This anthology is to present the work of poets who do not teach. It is for bankers, carpenters, lawyers, taxi drivers, machinists, clerks, waiters, flight attendants, surgeons, musicians and anyone else who reads, writes and publishes outside of the academy.

Please submit 1-3 poems and a biographical statement to Mike James at williamdijames@aol.com. In the subject line, please type Anthology Submission. Poems may be on any subject and in any style. All submissions should be included in the body of the email, not as an attachment. Previously published are acceptable if the poet retains copyright. 

Payment will be one copy of the anthology. 

ARTICLE IN ASJA MONTHLY ON FUTURE OF AUTHORS AND ONLINE BOOKS

According to this article, What Does It Mean to Own a Book, by Minda Zetlin, writers need a heads up on the future of good old books on paper. When all the deals are made between Google and others like Google, with the publishers for books that can be bought and downloaded online, it is likely the writers who will be the losers. 

She compares the coming downloading of books to what happened in the music industry.

 Publishers have, for the most part, been remarkably slow and awkward in dealing with this new era when people read on mobile devices rather than paper. But sooner or later, 

Google or someone else will come along and negotiate a subscription-based deal with the big New York publishers.

And authors will likely be out in the cold, collecting the text equivalent of four tenths of a cent per song, unless we do something about it. 

This article on the site of the American Society of Journalists and Authors might be a forewarning of what is to come in the writing world. Read and tell us what you think.

The ASJA Monthly 

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF JOURNALISTS AND AUTHORS

I like Gary Carden's newest post on his trip to Lawyer College Ranch

Story teller, playwright, author, folklorist ,
GARY CARDEN

Gary Carden is a talented man, and his blog is full of interesting posts. His most recent is one I highly recommend.

Read it here.

Joseph Bathanti named new Poet Laureate for NC

Governor Beverly Purdue named Joseph Bathanti as new North Carolina Poet Laureate.

From a press release issued by the North Carolina Arts Council, Governor Purdue is quoted as saying, “Joseph Bathanti is an award-winning poet and novelist with a robust commitment to social causes. He first came to North Carolina to work in the VISTA program and has taught writing workshops in prisons for 35 years. As North Carolina’s new Poet Laureate, he plans to work with veterans to share their stories through poetry—a valuable and generous project.”

Writers Circle congratulates Joseph Bathanti.

Visit Press 53 to order a package of his poetry books along with one by the former Poet Laureate, Cathy Smith Bowers.

New Date and Time for Ronda Birtha's class

We want to bring to your attention the change in date and time for a class at Writers Circle that was planed in September but has been moved to Saturday afternoon, October 27.

Ronda Birtha's class last year was highly praised by those attending.  Students said she is knowledgeable and generous, taking time to answer questions and explain the "mysterious" Internet for those of us who still struggle to keep up with the fast pace of technology.

In the class in October she will discuss Amazon's CreateSpace where Print on Demand is made more accessible to writers. Mark this date on your calendar now.

We will have a more in depth description of the class in a week or two. Come back and click on Schedule to see the update.

Saturday
October 27, 1:00 - 4:00

Ronda Birtha –

Self-publishing Using Amazon's CreateSpace
We will discuss how and why it may be useful, how it has benefited authors, and how cost-effective it may be, as it has a "built-in" advertising infrastructure. Discussion on E-books.
$25.00 registration fee
We will begin taking registrations the last week in September.

The North Carolina Poetry Society recognizes health issues of members

The most heart-felt appreciation goes out to the editor and others in the North Carolina Poetry Society for their support of those of us who must deal with chemical fragrances in today’s society. In the most recent issue of Pine Whispers, the jam-packed informational newsletter of the poetry society, a small article titled  “Clearing the Air” requests those who attend meetings of NCPS refrain from using scented products.

Artificial scents in deodorant, aftershave, hair products, cologne, shampoo, laundry detergents or other personal care and cleaning products release chemicals into the air, causing breathing difficulty and other adverse reactions for some people. 

See www.ncpoetrysociety.org for more information on the contests sponsored by the North Carolina Poetry Society. 

Poets, Send It Out Now! Royston Class

August 
Rosemary Royston


Send it Out, Now!
Saturday, August 25, 10:00 – 1:00 PM,  2012

This class is for Intermediate to Advanced poets, or those who write poetry but have not had the courage to submit their work. 

What to Bring:

1) The print journal and/or a printout of your work in the online journal, web address included.

2) 3-5 poems that you are ready to submit.

3) Envelopes and stamps.

Purpose of the Class: You will leave with at least one new journal to which you can submit your finished poems, along with a resource list of journals and websites that are helpful to the publishing poet. The class facilitator will lead a discussion on how to ascertain what a particular journal is looking for, which contests are worthy of your time and money, and the in’s and out’s of good practice in submitting. This will be a discussion-based class, with time set aside to read at least one of your poems

Registration fee: $25.00

Contact Glenda: nightwriter0302@yahoo.com or call 828-389-4441 for mailing information.