Great River Writes 2021 Line Up
Written by MVWG Member Jess Witkins
Fall is a wonderful time of year for writers as it includes November’s National Novel Writing Month. All around the world, writers write their hearts out trying to reach 50,000 words in a month!
Here in the Mississippi Valley Writers Guild, we know not all our writers are working on novels. We have playwrights, poets, picture book writers, memoirists and more! So, wanting to create something inclusive, educational, and community oriented, we partnered up with local libraries, writing groups and arts organizations to create our very own Great River Writes fall writing series.
You’re invited! Events start up in October and run through most of November. With thanks to our Great River Writes committee members: MVWG, Winona Public Library, La Crosse Public Library, La Crosse Area Writers Group, River Arts Alliance, and University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.
Events are primarily in person this year with masks required and social distancing. All events are FREE to attend, but registration is required to assist with social distancing. We look forward to seeing you at this year’s 5th Annual Great River Writes workshop series!
Joy Harjo is coming!
Thursday, October 21st, 7pm @ UWL
Big news this year is our friends at Driftless Writing Center and UW-La Crosse are hosting U.S. Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo! This discussion and book signing is free and open to the public, it does not require registration.
Hearing Voices: Character Development with Author Christina Clancy
Sunday, October 24th, 1:00-3:00pm at La Crosse Public Library
Our guild is co-sponsor for this workshop on character development and setting with author Christina Clancy, happening Sunday, October 24th from 1:00-3:00pm at La Crosse Public Library. For more info and to register, visit our website.
Book Buying Bonus: Interested in purchasing Christina's books and supporting a local, independent bookstore at the same time? Birdy's Bookstore is partnering with Great River Writes to offer 15% off book purchases during the month of October with the code WRITERS. You can purchase Christina's books and more using the following order form.
Telling Stories About and For the Natural World
Saturday, November 6th, 12:30pm - 2:00pm, Holzinger Lodge, Winona, MN
In this workshop, two writers—Kim Alan Chapman, conservationist and ecologist, and Jim Armstrong, professor of English and Winona’s first poet laureate—will help you sharpen your approach to nature writing by deepening your understand of the human and natural history of a place you know and love, and telling that story. To register, visit this site.
Hope is the Thing Panel
Monday, November 15th, 6:30pm, Western Technical College
Two of our very own guild members are published in the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild and Wisconsin Historical Society's anthology, Hope is the Thing. Along with two other local poets, Amanda Zieba, Tracy Helixon, Matt Cashion, and Jodi Vandenberg-Daves will be sharing their poems and exercises for finding and writing with hope even during hard times. This event is free and open to the public. If registration is required, we will update you with that info.
Self Publishing: A Practical Guide
Is self-publishing the right path for your work? In this presentation, Terri Karsten will explain some of the different models for self-publishing and discuss the pros and cons. Using her own publishing experiences as examples, Terri will share information on how to navigate the self-publishing journey. Both Virtual and In-Person options are available.
La Crosse Public Library Zoom Event
Thursday, November 18th, 4:30-5:30pm
Registration is required for this event. Click here to register.
AND
Self Publishing: A Practical Guide (In Person)
Saturday, November 20th, 11:30am at Winona Public Library
To register for the in person event, do so here.
We hope you’ll join us for at least if not all of these fabulous events! No matter where you write and what you write about… we wish you the best.