It’s common writing advice to ruthlessly cut any storyline, character, or sentence that doesn’t pull its weight, even if you love its beauty or wit. But how do you know when your writing is indulgent rather than propulsive? Can you go too far and sacrifice your voice? What if you really want to keep that beautiful phrase or witty piece of dialogue—is there any wiggle room? Our writing and editing experts will talk about when it’s necessary to lose your precious words and when you might be able to fix them.
Speakers: Soniah Kamal, Liz Long, and Zachary Steele
Moderator: Alethea McCollin
Date: Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Eastern Time
Location: ONLINE, via Zoom
Cost: $12 Members | $17 Non-members | $5 Students
Registration is required and closes at midnight on November 14
The Writing Show includes a social time from 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm. This portion of the evening is optional. If you choose to only attend the panel discussion, please sign in to Zoom by 6:40 pm to keep from interruping the panel discussion once it begins at 6:45pm.
SPEAKERS
SONIAH KAMAL is an award-winning novelist, essayist, and public speaker. Her recent novel, Unmarriageable, is a Financial Times Readers’ Best Book, a People’s magazine and NPR Code Switch pick, a “Book All Georgians Should Read” (according to the Georgia Center for the Book), and was shortlisted for the Townsend Prize for Fiction. Soniah’s TEDx talk is about second chances and ‘We are the Ink’, her U.S. Citizenship Oath Ceremony address, is about immigrants and the American Dream. Her work has been published in the New York Times, Guardian, Buzzfeed, Catapult, Normal School, Georgia Review and more.
LIZ LONG is the editor of The Roanoker and bridebook magazines, as well as the Virginia Travel Guide. She is a USA Today bestselling indie author of over 20 fantasy and romance titles, a freelance fiction editor, and the director of the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference held annually at Hollins University. She is grateful to call Roanoke home, and can often be found walking the greenway with her dog and supporting local businesses (especially the restaurants!).
Broadleaf Writers Association Founder & Executive Director ZACHARY STEELE is the author of four novels, including The Weight of Ashes and Perfectly Normal (July 2023). He has been featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Publisher’s Weekly, Writer’s Magazine, Shelf Awareness and City Lights with Lois Reitzes on NPR.
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MODERATOR
ALETHEA MCCOLLIN is a playwright, producer, director, and shoe addict. She has produced her work locally and has presented them at various theatre festivals nationally. Her most recent production of The Stilettos Monologue – a show that celebrates women – ran for three nights September 30 – October 01, 2022. Alethea is a member of the Dramatist Guild, and Virginia Screenwriters Forum, and also serves on several local boards. Alethea loves working out, is a passionate gardener, and loves to bake, though she says, she still hasn’t mastered either pastime.