Village Writing School Presents Poetry of the Desert
International Sufi poet Tamam Kahn
Poetry Reading
Caribe Cantina - Eureka Springs
Sunday, September 13, 6:30
Tamam is the author of Untold: A History of the Wives of Prophet Muhammad, Monkfish Press, 2010, winner of an International Book Award, 2011.
Tamam was invited by the Royal Ministry of Morocco to read her poetry at their symposium in Marrakesh in 2009. She read at Poet’s House in New York City in July.
Tamam has studied Classical Arabic, has an MA in Eastern Art History from San Francisco State University, has attended Stanford University, and has a BA from Sarah Lawrence College. She is a poet and spoken word performer as well as an author. She is married to Shabda Kahn, the spiritual director (Pir) of the Sufi Ruhaniat International, and the Dances of Universal Peace, with outreach in 50 countries.
Tamam is collaborating with Islamic scholar Dr. Arthur Buehler on a biography of Fatima, daughter of Prophet Muhammad, and she has just completed a poetry manuscript of Fatima’s life stories —in poems.
Caribe Cantina - 309 West Van Buren in Eureka Springs.
There is no admission for the program and the public is warmly invited.
For more information call the Village Writing School at 479 292-3665.
Eureka Springs
Thursday, September 3
5:00 p.m. Village Writing School (177 Huntsville Road)
Steve Poynterwill perform a new song he has written!
Everyone else--bring something to read to the group.
Jessie will be creating a nacho bar with fresh garden veggies.
Rogers/Bentonville Tuesday, September 1 6:30 p.m. Panera Bread
1320 SE Walton Blvd, Bentonville
Local authors David and Ruth Bates will tell us about their writing and publishing journey that has resulted in his historical story and her children's books.
We will also discuss YOUR challenges and triumphs.
From the Director . . .
Marian Szczepanski, author of the literary novel Playing St. Barbara, will teach two workshops for us this fall. Because she has some interesting ideas for these workshops, I want to let her tell you about them.
Alison: You have created a workshop on Making the Most of a Moment. Tell me why this is so important?
Marian: We're going to focus on how to tell judiciously and slow down the pace in a way that enhances, rather than stalls, the narrative. Students who are writing page-turner thrillers or Battle of Thrones-like fantasy may think I'm totally out to lunch. But a book can't be one battle-scene or shoot-em-up after another, with nobody taking a breath or reloading, so I think writers can gain something from this technique.
Alison: That ability to control pacing is an important part of writing. How do you approach it?
Marian: \We look at four loosely-defined "categories"--character description (internal and external), scene-setting, memory/internal monologue (especially with charged emotional content), and events (both quiet and high-impact, in which time almost seems to stand still).
Alison: After the morning workshop, you offer an optional hands-on afternoon session. How will that work?
Marian: This will be a roundtable workshop of students' works-in-progress: five to ten pages. Writers should bring a segment they feel needs work with pacing. Or a passage in which something just doesn't feel quite right. When something just feels "off," it's often a question of a missed opportunity.
Alison: And then on September 26, you'll be teaching your Do-It-Yourself Promotion. You've been very successful promoting your book. What will this workshop cover?
Marian: I'll share what I learned about getting the word out about my book, both before and well after it was published. This will include:
How to write: a one-to-two-line description (and deliver it orally), one-paragraph synopsis, tip sheet, publicity flyer, press release, media query letter, book club discussion questions.
I'll discuss reviews, blog coverage, media coverage of any kind, post-publication prizes, travel or the traditional bookstore book tour, author-appearance options such as schools (from HS through universities), libraries, writing centers and organizations, book fairs, and nonprofit/service organizations.
I'll also talk briefly about publicists--how much they cost, how one might foot the bill, and what one can reasonably expect to gain from their services.
I'll distribute a handout with samples of my promotional writing (flyer, query letter, press release, etc.) that students can use as templates for their own needs.
Most of all, I encourage students to come with questions that pertain to their own books. My goal is for them to leave class with a clearer idea of what they are reasonably capable of accomplishing and, hopefully, a little less stressed about the whole endeavor.
In last week’s column, we explored how to use suspension points ( … ) to indicate omitted words in a person’s speech. The three-dot symbol is appropriate when a person’s speech is faltering or when his voice simply trails off, leaving an incomplete sentence.
But what happens when the speaker stops mid-sentence because of a sudden change of thought or because there is a sudden interruption that affects what he was about to say?
In such cases the em dash (—) is preferred over suspension points. The dash signals to your reader that the speaker is responding to some sort of surprise or to an abrupt change of mind.
Example: “Stop right here and I’ll— ” A black and white police car came barreling down the street. “Hell! It’s a trap, let’s get out of here!” (No period is needed after the dash in the speaker’s first sentence because it’s an incomplete sentence.)
The em dash can be created in several ways in Word. One way is to type two hyphens, hit the return key and then the delete key. The two hyphens should change to an em dash.
Some of the deadlines here are old,
but each entry has a link to the contest website.
Choose your contests and mark the new deadlines on your calendar
so you won't forget to enter!!
B o o k sOn WritingIn Our Library
Creating Characters that Build Story People by Dwight V. Swain
Of course you need a plot, but great characters keep your reader turning pages. Step-by-step ideas to help you create unforgettable characters.
-- Nancy Harris, VWS Librarian
W e bOn Writing
Two Tools for Word History
QUESTION: Can I use the word "Wow!" in my novel set in the 16th century?
ANSWER #1 Quick and Free: Online Etymology Dictionary wow (interj.) 1510s, Scottish, a natural expression of amazement. ANSWER #2: More in depth but requires subscription: Oxford English Dictionary Historical Thesaurus wow 1513 An exclamation, variously expressing aversion, surprise or admiration . . . .
(1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid vi. Prol. 19
Out on thir wanderand spiritis, wow! thow cryis.)
Q u o t e sOn Writing
The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.
--Terry Prachett
Meet a Village Writer - Jane Quinn
Jane Quinn's love of writing began when she edited her high school newspaper. Her summer job was as a proofreader for the major newspaper in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Through the years, Jane has focused on expressing her faith through writing Bible studies and presenting women's retreats. She currently facilitates a sharing meeting for grieving caregivers and hopes to write a book based on her material and her experiences with healing and sisterhood.
We first met Jane at our Tales from the South workshop on the train. Later, her story was selected for the program.
Eureka Springs
Maumelle/Little Rock
Rogers/Bentonville
Fayetteville
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Publisher: Alison Taylor-Brown
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