After a lengthy hiatus, I'm back. I found that I was just too busy with preparing for speeches and conferences and such, that I had no time to blog. I have now reached a lull in the activities, and will try to post at least twice monthly.
I just returned from two very helpful conferences/conventions, and I am full of (among other things) information. The first weekend in June, I attended the Arkansas Writers' Conference, which focused mainly on fiction and nonfiction. Roland Mann from Oxford, MS, was the featured speaker, and he led the group in several outstanding discussions on fiction technique. Velda Brotherton gave a wonderful talk on finding your voice, and Marilyn Collins gave a presentation on writing for regional magazines. All were outstanding.
The following weekend, in Memphis, I was part of the NFSPS National Poetry Convention. Outstanding speakers, performers and seminars kept us busy all weekend. Among the highlights: Dr. Harding Stedler (Maumelle, AR) performing a dramatic rendition of Poe's "The Raven"; Dr. John Crawford (Arkadelphia, AR) presenting in word and song his "Music of Poetry"; Catherine Moran (Little Rock, AR) with helpful hints in her talk "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Poetry"; poetry readings by the awesome Lola Haskins (Fla.); and other fine presentations.
I'll be gathering my notes in the next few weeks, and this space will be used as a writers' seminar of sorts, using some borrowed ideas, some of my own. I'll also be posting my talk "How to Win Poetry Contests in Only 853 Steps".
I'll be posting every 2 weeks at the least, possibly more often as time allows. I still work full-time shift work. Until my next post, keep writing!
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