Held on the second Wednesday of every month, Writers Wednesdays is a casual meet and greet for both aspiring and published authors of every genre. We are currently meeting at Ardent Craft Ales in trendy Scott’s Addition, where we can mingle in a vibrant location that is easily accessible.
Spend some time with live characters, make connections, and find inspiration in a friendly, supportive environment.
Details
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m., second Wednesday of every month
Locations for 2015:
Ardent Craft Ales: 3200 West Leigh Street, Richmond, VA 23230 804-359-1605
Price: Free admission; just pay for your food and drinks
We do not write in isolation. The personal stories we tell can impact our community and add to the connected-ness of a wider society. In this guided writing session, discussion and Q&A, learn the story behind the stories of Writing Our Way Out, and of how the simple act of picking up a pen and putting down words can effect social change.
Speakers
David Coogan and co-authors of Writing Our Way Out: Memoirs from Jail
David Coogan is an associate professor of English at Virginia Commonwealth University where he teaches courses in writing and the teaching of writing. He is the founder and co-director of Open Minds: Shared Inquiries, Shared Hope, a program that enables college students and prisoners at the Richmond City Jail to take courses in the Humanities together. His essays on writing, teaching and social change have appeared in the journals College Composition and Communication, College English, and Community Literacy, and in the book, Active Voices, (edited by Patty Malesh and Sharon Stetson). He is the co-editor with John Ackerman of The Public Work of Rhetoric: Citizen Scholars and Civic Engagement. And he is a frequent speaker at the Conference on College Composition and Communication, the Rhetoric Society of America, and the National Communication Association.
Date and time
June 9, 2016 7:00 to 9:00 pm
This event is free. No ticket is required.
Location
Patrick Henry Pub & Grille 2300 E Broad St, Richmond, Virginia 23223 Admission is free.
About Literary Salons
James River Writers and The Poe Museum present
A new place to find inspiration this year
We’re bringing back the grand tradition of the literary salon, an intimate setting to meet & fraternize with local authors and artists, as they in turn guide you in your own writing practice. Whatever your genre, this is a great way to connect, to learn, and to philosophize.
Salons are organized by topic and are held on the second Thursday of every other month, February, April, June, August, and October. There is no cover charge for these events. We welcome writerly types of all experience levels and readers, thinkers, and artists of every sort. Be sure to bring your favorite writing implements.
James River Writers recognizes the writing talents and entrepreneurial skills of indie authors by continuing The Best Self-Published Novel Contest, which we started in 2014.
One first-prize winner will receive $500 and a ticket to the annual James River Writers Conference. The winner will be announced in October 2016 at the James River Writers Conference. Press releases will also recognize the winner.
Two finalists each receive $200.
Rules
To pay the $25 entry fee with a credit card, use the “Register Today” button below. Once you have submitted payment, you will receive a receipt via email. Print your receipt and follow the guidelines below to mail in your submission. To pay with a check, follow the guidelines below.
Contest is currently closed.
To submit an entry, the author must be a resident of Virginia, or a full-time student at a Virginia college or university, or a James River Writers member. (Out-of-state writers may enter the contest by becoming members. You may join at the same time as paying your entry fee by using the “Register Today” button above or by including an additional $40 in your check amount.)More
Editors and agents are looking for a book they can fall in love with. They want a character they care about and a story that makes them feel something. But how does an author accomplish that? May’s Writing Show is all about identifying important moments in your story and nailing them. We’ll talk about big issues like pacing and voice, and we’ll talk about zooming in on a scene and capitalizing on opportunities for surprise, humor, or emotional intensity. Published authors will share their secrets for tapping into emotions that will bring heart to any story.
SPEAKERS
Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm (Meet & Greet at 6:00; program starts at 6:45)
Location: Firehouse Theatre 1609 West Broad Street
Price: $12 – Members; $15 Non-members ($5 for students)
SPEAKERS’ BIOS
Anne Blankman may have been meant to be a writer because her parents named her for Anne of Green Gables. She grew up in an old house with gables (gray, unfortunately) in upstate New York. When she wasn’t writing or reading, she was rowing on the crew team, taking ballet lessons, fencing and swimming. She graduated from Union College with degrees in English and history, which comes in handy when she writes historical fiction. www.anneblankman.com
Sadeqa Johnson, a former public relations manager, spent several years working with well-known authors such as JK Rowling, Bebe Moore Campbell, Amy Tan and Bishop TD Jakes before becoming an author herself. Her debut novel, Love in a Carry-on Bag is the recipient of the 2013 Phillis Wheatley award for Best Fiction. Second House From the Corner is her second novel and was released on February 9th. She’s been living in Richmond for 11 months and so far she loves it, except when the schools close for an of inch of snow! www.sadeqajohnson.net
Ginger Moran is a teacher, published writer, and single mom of two boys. Her areas of expertise are in fiction and creative nonfiction writing, editing, and creative survival. With a Ph.D. in Literature and Creative Writing, Ginger teaches fiction and memoir writing at the university level and with private clients. She has published in Salon.com, Oxford American, The Virginia Quarterly Review, and Feminist Studies among other journals and magazines. Her first novel, The Algebra of Snow, was nominated for a Pushcart Editor’s Choice Award.
MODERATOR
Robin Farmer is a freelance professional writer, whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, TheRoot.com, College of William and Mary Alumni Magazine, Richmond Magazine, and Black MBA Magazine. She has written thousands of stories as a reporter for the Hartford Courant and The Richmond Times Dispatch. Her investigative projects and education coverage led to her selection as one of 12 American journalists chosen for a year of customized study and international travel as a Knight-Wallace Fellow at the University of Michigan. Robin has taught journalism and lectured at Virginia Commonwealth University, and a seasoned storyteller, she also enjoys writing screenplays and is a member of the Virginia Screenwriters Forum.