Monthly Archives: July 2018

News Flash! I’m Offering a One-Night Workshop at the Northfield Arts Guild on Writing from Life Experience

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You just never know where life takes you–but it is always an interesting journey. A few weeks back, I had no idea that I would be asked to present a workshop on writing from life. Then, I thought about how this theme runs through my own work–my poetry, fiction, essays, blog posts, and a not-yet-finished memoir…and about how much I appreciate when other writers share, judiciously and artistically…and I agreed.

The course, Capturing Your Story, will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Northfield Arts Guild’s painting studio. It is being made possible by the Bruce Kramer Collaborative Foundation. Here’s a brief description:

How can you convey a sense of your life’s richness? How can your experience, observations, and personal wisdom be translated into written form? Where to start? This workshop introduces techniques for capturing and conveying an idea, an image, or a story in a concise and powerful way so it can be shared—now and in the future. Come with some a memory and leave with a first draft and a clear sense of where to go next. The workshop will include time to learn, practice writing techniques and an opportunity to share if you like. You’ll also go home with resources to continue working. 

Quite a lot of resources, actually. I am now preparing a wealth of materials (handily arranged in a three-ring binder) for participants to take home. Please join me if you can!

To register for this free, one-night-only workshop, send an email to megan@northfieldartsguild.org by 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 7, 2018.

Sharing Good News: Poet Ted Haaland & the Maria W. Faust Sonnet Celebration on August 4, 2018

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Ted Haaland: River Arts Alliance Member of the Month

Ted Haaland discovered his art later in life after losing his wife Maria W. Faust to cancer in 2011. Her deep appreciation for the art of poetry awakened his muse and he began writing poems every day.

With a collection of over 7,000 poems to his name, Ted is a strong believer in the New Formalists concepts of poetry, he admires rhyme and meter and their use in all poetic forms; he writes sonnets, of course, but also haiku, limericks, longer poetic forms and two-line “zingers.” Often amused by the strange twists of word definitions and usage, he ventures that he has never met a pun he didn’t like, which is to be expected, since the pun is the beginning of metaphor and metaphor is the foundation of poetry.

In 2012 Ted asked and received permission to direct the Great River Shakespeare Festival Sonnet Contest and renamed it the Maria W. Faust Sonnet Contest of the Great River Shakespeare Festival. He directs the contest today with the help of the three Winona Poets Laureate, who serve as judges, David Marshall, who organizes entries for the judges, and Heidi Bryant, who directs communications and manages the online entry process and website.

Ted has seen the Maria W. Faust Sonnet Contest grow to include not only sonnets from almost all of the United States and its territories and possessions, but also from nations around the world. The contest is now widely internationally known and highly rated in literary magazines and on the Internet.

 

 

Winners of the 2018 Sonnet Contest will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on Saturday, August 4th to coincide with the end of the GRSF season. The public is invited to meet in the Dorothy B. Magnus Black Box Theatre in the Performing Arts Center on the Winona State University Campus at 11:00 am to hear winning sonnets read (some by members of the GRSF acting company), meet some of the winning poets, and enjoy snacks and music by Flutistry starting at 10:30 am. All are welcomed to attend this free event.

This year, Tim and I are planning to attend the readings for the third time. From there, we’ll head across the river to Maiden Rock, Wisconsin to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Here is a photo of us on our anniversary last year, in our own garden, just before motoring off north to the American Swedish Institute for the day.

Peanut will be staying across the street, vying for Janet’s attention with half-sister, Sophie!

Wishing you all the late summer pleasures of these dog days!  LESLIE

News Flash! THIRD WEDNESDAY Publishes My Poem “Don’t Forget”

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Cover Art: “Umbrella Street, Anatalya, Turkey” by Lauren Tivey

Third Wednesday comes out twice a year, always packed with poetic and graphic interest. This summer, when it has been so rainy and hot here in Northfield, the cover is especially arresting to me!

Enjoy your summer!  LESLIE

Inside Umbrella, Winona Street