We are a group of writers in the North Georgia College & State University community that gather to learn about writing and critique each other’s work. We are open to all genres and explore all types of work to include poetry, fiction, and non-fiction.

Archive for May, 2008


Georgia Literary Arts Symposium (GLAS 08)

This is coming up quickly!

We are now less than two weeks away from our second annual Georgia Literary Arts Symposium

(GLAS 08) and we are looking forward to seeing many of you on Thursday and Friday, June 5 and 6, 2008. The preliminary agenda is attached, so please note the varied sessions, many exceptional presenters, and activities for this year. At the conclusion of sessions and tours on Thursday, a reception and exhibit viewing is scheduled. Even if you cannot attend the entire two days, you are welcome to participate at any time, and to mingle with your peers at the Thursday evening reception. You will also note “Readings by Participants” in the Kennedy Theater at 6:15 pm Thursday. We invite all to bring an original piece or one by your favorite writer, to share with the group. Since some may wish to go to dinner after the reception, please choose something brief so everyone who wishes may participate.

As you know, the Georgia Literary Arts Symposium was convened last year by Georgia Council for the Arts, and the symposium was facilitated by the Literary Center at the Margaret Mitchell House. We were expecting greater participation this year, so scheduled GLAS 08 at the Atlanta History Center

(www.atlantahistorycenter.com). We have heard from many throughout the state and it appears it was a good choice to move to the History Center.

The purpose of the symposium is to build capacity and visibility for the literary arts in Georgia, by providing networking and professional development opportunities for the state’s literary arts professionals. We hope you will take advantage of this convening, and also that you will give us input and direction for the future.

PLEASE GIVE US AN INDICATION OF WHICH SESSIONS, TOURS AND MEALS YOU WILL LIKELY ATTEND. THIS WILL HELP US PLAN FOR SPACE AND QUANTITY OF FOOD. SIMPLY REPLY TO THIS EMAIL WITH YOUR INFORMATION MARKED, BY MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2008. THANKS.
Thursday, June 5
___Catered Lunch 12:20 pm
___The Future of the Book 1:20 pm
___The Changing Face of Media and Communication: Blogs, MySpace, Facebook,
Friendster, etc 2:45 pm
or
___Seeking Corporate Support 2.45 pm
___Swan House Tour 4:00 pm
___Tullie Smith Farm Tour 4:00 pm
___Archives Tour 4:30 pm
___Gardens Tour 4:30 pm
___Reception and Exhibit Viewing 5:30 pm
___Readings by Participants 6:15 pm
Friday, June 6
___Continental Breakfast 9:00 am
___Funding Opportunities for Literature/Roundtable Presentations/Discussions 9:40 am
or
___Maximizing Exposure: Publicity and News Coverage to Build Capacity 9:40 am
___Your Strongest Resource and Image in the Community: Employee Development,
Paid and Unpaid Staff 11:15 am
___Catered Lunch 12:45 pm
___Cultivating a Strong Board of Directors 2:00 pm
or
___Sharing Resources 2:00 pm
___Swan House 3:30
___Tullie Smith Farm 3:30
___Swan House 4:00
___Tullie Smith Farm 4:00

M. Diane Lewis
Executive Director | Margaret Mitchell House & Museum (AHC
)
990 Peachtree St.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
p | 404.814.2061 f | 404.249.9388.
e | diane.lewis@gwtw.org

Voted “Best Literary Salon 2005″ and “Best Literary Magnet 2007″ in Atlanta Magazine’s Best of Atlanta

Find out what’s new at MMH&M and The Literary Center by visiting www.gwtw.org.

John Arkwright Received an Honorable Mention!

Stonepile Writer John Arkwright received an honorable mention in the Writers of the Future Contest (http://www.writersofthefuture.com/) for his short story, Nirvana Cat.  His announcement and links to discussion of the story are on his blog (http://thearchoftime.blogspot.com/2008/05/contest.html).

Is It a Book?

A very interesting web site about the written word. Provided by Tommye Scanlin.

http://www.philobiblon.com/isitabook/

Exercise on Sense of Wonder

Provided by B.J. Robinson

20 Master Plots
http://web.mit.edu/mbarker/www/exercises/plot.html

13 Things to Do When You Run Out of Plot
http://matociquala.livejournal.com/1020402.html

Exercise:  after reviewing the material at the links above, jot down three or five plot possibilities.  Now infuse into these plot devices a sense of wonder. 

To help with this exercise, please refer to the following links:

Oxford University Speculative Fiction Group’s definition of a sense of wonder http://urchin.earth.li/cgi-bin/twic/wiki/view.pl?page=SenseOfWonder

Wikipedia’s definition of a sense of wonder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_of_wonder

Stephen Baxter on how he infuses his work with sense of wonder
http://www.sfwa.org/bulletin/articles/baxter.htm