Welcome to the blog for the Maine Literary Festival. The Festival is a great opportunity to come together to talk about writing and reading, to meet professionals; editors, publishers, and writers, for instance, and this year, to consider the particular effect of the varied ethnic cultures in America on its literature. And, we accomplish all this in what is, for me, my own back yard; northern New England.
This year the Festival consists of events for readers spread throughout the year, all focusing on the literature of crosscultural experiences in America. It also includes a terrific workshop for writers, which promises not only information and advice, but a credible amount of face-to-face time with the professionals involved: editors and agents. The deadline for registration for the workshop is September 22, so get your thoughts together and sign up.
More information is available on the workshop info page, http://maineliteraryfestival.com/writersworkshop.htm.
When you look it all over, you will see that participants may submit content for the faculty to review. Actually, that is the purpose of the workshop. Although it is a scary prospect in some regards, the chance to have this level of discussion and advice about one’s own writing is invaluable. Sharing this experience with other writers adds its own bit of solidarity and usefulness. How do I know all this? I attended the workshop myself a couple of years ago, and it was great. I didn’t have a clue what to expect, but wanted to get advice about writing, and how to get published, and I wanted some encouragement in the form of meeting other people who had a dream about all this. All of that happened for me, and this year’s workshop has even more faculty to provide more time for each participant to consult with them.
So, get your work together. Read the information on the workshop, follow the guidelines, and remember, this is a low-risk but high-return opportunity to get guidance on your writing.
Scarlett K
October 15, 2009 at 7:39 pm |
Events such as this one leave an indelible imprint on participants and attendees alike. For me, sitting in the opera house with a notebook and listening to great voices in all areas of literary endeavor makes for a sense of energy and empowerment. I always “get” some new material about which to write later. It is a fertile field for a writer, and a place of inspiration for everyone there.
I look forward to this year’s format, a kick-off evening with a year of events in the Mid Coast. What a brilliant idea! This means we don’t have to “end” when the weekend does. We can stay connected and focused the year long!