» Friday February 3, First Fridays Art Opening for Robert Boucheron’s “The Imaginary City,” a series of pen and ink drawings of buildings, streets, and towns.  The scenes recall European and American cities of the nineteenth century and earlier, drawn freehand and to scale.

» Thursday, February 9, 7pm, “Making a Graphic Novel” with Caroline Preston, author of The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures. Author Caroline Preston will discuss how she created a graphic novel The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt and marketed it through social media and bloggers. This novel was on the list of best historical novels of 2011 by Kirkus reviews and the Boston Globe said “… its vintage graphics and sweet, sincere storytelling make it a pure pleasure.” Preston is the author of three previous novels: Jackie by Josie, Gatsby’s Girl , and Lucy Crocker 2.0

» Saturday, February 11, 9am-1pm, Seminar: Honest Writing–Finding Your Voice. How do we define honest writing in fictional narratives? How do we get to that place where we write honestly and truly? How useful are the labels we apply to different prose styles, and must we ultimately choose between Hemingway’s minimalism and Faulkner’s stream of consciousness? Short readings and in-class writing exercises will help us think more critically about these kinds of questions. We’ll also discuss when and how we should imitate other voices we love.

» Thursday, February 16, 7pm, Sci Fi/Fantasy/Speculative Fiction group reading. Come hear readings from the group that meets the first Tuesday of each month (see member events above). Great stories, fine (if strange) company, food & beverage — how can you go wrong? Come join us for a journey to other worlds and experiences.

» Saturday, March 10, 2-5pm, Writing From Home with author Meg Medina. In partnership with the Jefferson-Madison Regional Libraries, WriterHouse presents Latina children’s book author Meg Medina. Come to an afternoon of hands-on writing experiences to help you tap into your family roots for stories that bind readers together across generations and cultures. Register at bigread@jmrl.org. Free and open to the public.

» Join us on Wednesday, January 18th at 7PM for “The Art of Responsibility of Narrative Nonfiction Writing” with Jonathan Coleman. Coleman is the bestselling author of Exit the Rainmaker, At Mother’s Request and Long Way To Go and co-author of the New York Times bestseller West by West, with basketball legend Jerry West. This event is free and open to the public.

» Curious about how writing conferences work? On Sunday, February 5 at 2PM, WriterHouse will be hosting a panel discussion that features participants in veterens of events like Sewanee Writers’ Conference, Tin House, the Key West Literary Seminar and Juniper. They’ll provide you with an insider’s  view on preparing a winning application, what to expect at the event, and how to make the most of your conference experience!

Related articles

• Books of The Times: ‘West by West’ by Jerry West and Jonathan Coleman – Review (nytimes.com)
• The winter of Jerry West (laobserved.com)
• On WFAN: NBA Legend Jerry West Opens Up On Depression In Autobiography (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• In ‘West by West,’ Jerry West Looks Deep Into the Mirror (nytimes.com)
• NBA Legend Jerry West Opens Up In New Autobiography (entertainment.time.com)

Press Release: Deadline Nearing for SELC Nature Writing Contest

Writers and journalists have just over a week to send submissions for SELC’s 17th annual Phillip D. Reed Memorial Award for Outstanding Writing on the Southern Environment.  Submissions must be received by Friday, January 13, in our Charlottesville headquarters.

>> Contest requirements are below, and more information can be found on our website.

SELC welcomes three new judges panel this year. Silas House, an award-winning author of The Coal Tattoo and co-author of Something’s Rising: Appalachians Fighting Mountaintop Removal, Bruz Clark, president and treasurer of the Chattanooga-based Lyndhurst Foundation, and Paul Sloan, former Deputy Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

SELC’s writing contest two categories: Book, for non-fiction books (not self-published), and Journalism, for newspaper, magazine writing, and online writing that is published by a recognized institution (e.g., newspaper, university or non-profit organization) and is journalistic in nature.  Prizes of $1,000 are awarded to the winner in each category.

* Submissions must have been published during calendar year 2011, be at least 3,000 words, and relate to the natural environment in at least one of SELC’s six states: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Virginia.
* Send 16 copies to Reed Award, SELC, 201 W. Main Street, Ste. 14, Charlottesville, VA  22902. Include at least one copy in original format; Journalism entries must include a CD or email (dmoore@selcva.org) with text to verify word length. Submissions cannot be returned.

This year’s judges include:
Joel K. Bourne, Jr.-Contributing writer and former Senior Editor for the Environment at National Geographic.
Bruz Clark-President and treasurer of the Chattanooga-based Lyndhurst Foundation.
Jim Detjen-Director, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University.
Hannah Fries-Associate Editor and Poetry Editor of Orion magazine.
Nikki Giovanni-Grammy-nominated poet, University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech.
Silas House-Award-winning author Interim Director, Loyal Jones Appalachian Center; Berea College.
Janet Lembke-Author of Because the Cat Purrs  and almost 20 other nature books.
Bill McKibben-Author and journalist, co-founder “350.org,” scholar-in-residence at Middlebury College.
Deaderick Montague-Civic leader, teacher and writer, Vice President of SELC Board of Trustees.
Janisse Ray-Poet, activist, teacher and award-winning author of Ecology of a Cracker Childhood.
Charles Seabrook-Former environmental reporter for Atlanta Journal-Constitution; book author.
Paul Sloan-Former Deputy Commissioner Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Donovan Webster-Author and journalist, Deputy Editor of award-winning Virginia Quarterly Review.

Related articles

• SELC announces 17th Annual Nature Writing Contest (cvillewords.com)

From WriterHouse:

During 2011, WriterHouse completed its third year of operation. Hard to believe it’s been such a short time, considering all we’ve accomplished. Here’s a very brief bulleted list of 2011′s highlights:

• WriterHouse won the inaugural Emyl Jenkins Award for a “…Virginia individual or organization that…makes Virginia a better place for writers”
• A record number of our members and students, many with the direct encouragment of our instructors and other members, and many for the first time, had their poems, short stories, and essays published in magazines, nationally-respected literary journals, on the radio, and on the bus
• 27 multi-week workshops and 17 shorter seminars refined the craft of more than 200 beginning and experienced writers
• 14 authors came to Charlottesville from all over the US to share their writing experiences with audiences in free literary salons
• Our volunteers shared their writing expertise with kids at the Southwood trailer community and clients of the AIDS Services Group

We have just as much in store for 2012: more authors coming from around the country, more classes, more seminars, more outreach to underserved populations, more members being published, more chances for writers to meet and support each other in creating new works of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

In order to keep all this going, we need to raise money to pay our rent and utilities. That’s right. We have no paid staff and no other major expenses. The physical space that is a home away from home for Central Virginia’s writing community is our major expense. Keeping the doors open so we can provide all these resources depends on the generosity of donors like you. Even a small amount helps: $25 will pay utilities for a week, $83 the rent for one day, $175 a scholarship for one student for an eight-week class.

{donaterequest} Give by Mail:Mail checks or money orders made payable to WriterHouse, Inc. to:

P O Box 222

Charlottesville, VA 22902

Tuesday, November 29, 7:00pm–Charles J. Shields (Mockingbird; I Am Scout) has written what Publishers Weekly calls an “engrossing, definitive” biography of cultural icon Kurt Vonnegut. , And So It Goes has just been named a New York Times Notable Book for 2011. Join us at WriterHouse as Charles discusses his new book and the biographer’s art. Free and open to the public. Copies of And So It Goes will be available for purchase and signing.

Wednesday, November 30, 9:00pm–End of members’ early registration deadline for the winter writing class session that begins January 23.

Friday, December 2, 6:00-8:00pm–First Fridays Art Opening/Reception–Artist, Polly Lazaron, “Wind Dances Fire: Energy Drawings 2000-2010″–the art will be on display until January 14, 2012.

Online holiday shopping–if you do a lot of shopping online over the holidays, you can help WriterHouse by using our links to Amazon.com and GoodShop. Hundreds of your favorite online retailers participate in GoodShop. There is a link on our home page for both in the upper left column under “Donations and Shopping Links.”

Related articles

• And So It Goes: A Rare Glimpse of Kurt Vonnegut’s Tortured Soul (brainpickings.org)
• And So It Goes – Kurt Vonnegut: A Life – By Charles J. Shields – Book Review (nytimes.com)
• How It Went (3quarksdaily.com)
• And So It Goes (litkicks.com)
• Countdown to Launch: November 8th (writingkurtvonnegut.com)
• ‘And So It Goes’: Kurt Vonnegut, disenchanted genius (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Vonnegut in All His Complexity (3quarksdaily.com)

The Southern Environmental Law Center is now accepting submissions for the annual Phillip D. Reed Memorial Award for Outstanding Writing on the Southern Environment.  The award seeks to enhance public awareness of the value and vulnerability of the region’s natural heritage by giving special recognition to writers who most effectively tell the stories about the South’s environment.

SELC is delighted to welcome three outstanding conservationists to the judges panel this year. Bruz Clark is president and treasurer of the Chattanooga-based Lyndhurst Foundation and has been a leading environmental philanthropist in the South for many years.  Silas House is an award-winning author of such books as The Coal Tattoo and co-author of Something’s Rising: Appalachians Fighting Mountaintop Removal, and is associate professor of Appalachian Studies at Berea College. Paul Sloan is former Deputy Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and a  founding board member of Cumberland Region Tomorrow.

SELC’s annual Reed Environmental Writing Award has two categories: Book, for non-fiction books (not self-published), and Journalism, for newspaper, magazine, and online writing that is published by a recognized institution (e.g., newspaper, university or non-profit organization) and is journalistic in nature.  Prizes of $1,000 are awarded to the winner in each category; winners will be publicly announced at SELC’s special event during the Virginia Festival of the Book on March 24, 2012.

• All submissions must have been published during calendar year 2011, and must be received by January 13, 2012.  Nominations can be made by anyone, including the author or publisher.
• Submissions must relate to the natural environment in at least one of the following states: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Virginia.
• Send 16 copies to Reed Award, SELC, 201 W. Main Street, Ste. 14, Charlottesville, VA  22902. Submissions cannot be returned.  Include at least one copy in original format for proof of publication. Journalism entries must be at least 3,000 words; please provide a CD or email the text to dmoore@selcva.org to verify word length.
• Click here for more information.

Seminar: Unleash Your Inner Poet

Instructor: Mariflo Stephens

Cost: $55 WriterHouse Members | $60 Non-Members

Saturday, November 12, 2011 | 9:00am-1pm

A short poetry class for non-poets—the curiosity seeker, the timid versifier. If you’ve ever wanted to try writing poetry but don’t want to jump in the deep end, this seminar is for you.

Mariflo Stephens has read from her writing on Oprah and the Oxygen network. Her work is in Contemporary American Women Writers, The Barbie Chronicles, The Washington Post, and the Virginia Quarterly Review. The Virginia Commission for the Arts has awarded her two grants for fiction.

“Tayari Jones is fast defining middle-class black Atlanta the way Cheever did Westchester,” according to The Village Voice, while Judy Blume says this novel will “break your heart before you even know it.”

Ms Jones will read from her novel Silver Sparrow and take audience questions. Books will be available for purchase and signing.  This event is free and open to the public.

Not this guy.

This weekend at WriterHouse: Two events with John Warner (not the former senator)

John Warner, novelist, humorist, editor for McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and TMN’s Biblioracle, will be visiting all the way from Charleston Friday to discuss satire (and his new novel The Funny Man) and Saturday to give a seminar on writing funny. See the WriterHouse website for more details about both events. Want to know what to read next? As the Biblioracle, he’ll give you recommendations based on the last five books you’ve read.

Related articles

• Learn to write funny or scary at WriterHouse this fall (cvillewords.com)

Seminar: So You Want to Write Something Funny?

Instructor: John Warner
Cost: $55 Members | $60 Non-Members
Saturday, October 1, 2011 | 9:00am-1pm

It’s easy. Wait, no it isn’t. Yes it is, once you’ve completed this seminar with McSweeney’s Internet Tendency editor and author of The Funny Man John Warner. He’ll talk about theories of humor, why and how humor is such valuable tool within a larger context, techniques for generating humor, and tips on polishing those laughs from polite chuckles to true lol’s.

John Warner is editor-at-large for McSweeney’s Internet Tendency and the author of four books, including the definitive satire on writing advice, Fondling Your Muse: Infallible Advice from a Published Author to the Writerly Aspirant. His novel, The Funny Man, a satire of celebrity and America has been recently released by Soho Press. He serves as co-color commentator forThe Morning News’ Tournament of Books, and as a one-man book recommending service, The Biblioracle. After stints at the University of Illinois, Virginia Tech, and Clemson, he now teaches at College of Charleston.

Writing Suspense Fiction

Instructor: Meredith Cole
Cost: $158 Members | $175 Non-Members
7 Wednesdays, October 5-November 16, 2011 | 9:00am-1pm

Great suspense novels and thrillers have non-stop action, surprising twists and turns, and nail-biting tension. In this class, we’ll work on starting a thriller or suspense novel, and crafting stories that are real page turners. We’ll critique pages in class, and discuss pacing, creating great characters (heroes and villains), and story arcs. Students may either start a project or bring in works-in-progress.

Meredith Cole is the author of two mystery novels: Dead in the Water (St. Martin’s 2010), and Posed for Murder (St. Martin’s 2009), which won the St. Martin’s Press/Malice Domestic best traditional first mystery contest.

Related articles

• ‘The Funny Man’: The Perils of Comedic Stardom (theawl.com)