STEVES EMAILS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Steve's Email for the August 2024 Meeting
Bonjour, denizens of the poetic deep, and word crafters 'neath the muse-laden heavens. ...Hanging onto summer by our fingernails -- and thank goodness we yet have many a bright and warm day ahead. Ahhhh. ...And, while we're doing so, let us gather in our merry, creative masses, and have, by golly, another Riverside Writers monthly meeting! August 10th at the Salem Church Public Library, , 2607 Salem Church Road, Meeting Room #1, from 1:00 to 3:00pm.
For those attending remotely, please join us in this link for our meeting: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment
The ever-charming and generous Ummie Higgins will be providing refreshments. Miriam Pody is shopping for a speaker for September – and I'll have more news on Saturday on her proposed prospect.
Any anyhoo, as you may recall, this meeting will be joyfully devoted to the winners of the Tier One Golden Nib contest. Certificates and (hopefully) checks will be given out. ...We'll have a business meeting, refreshments, and then - best of the best, we'll have reads of the winning 3 entries in each of the three contest categories - Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction. All the entries were loverly, and our three judges had a difficult labor to winnow out any top preferences. Congrats to all who entered, and thanks most kindly for the concerted literary effort. What doesn't win ...can still go into the anthology!
As for said anthology, there are 25 days to go to submit your 15 pages. Previously published material is acceptable as long as the work is by you, the submitting author, and it hasn't been published before in a Riverside Writers publication (previous anthology).
One last plea thang. ...Your fellow writers will be proudly reading their personal work on Saturday. They deserve a full and kindly attentive audience - don'tcha think? Please come and be appreciative – writing and personal writing triumph is much of what we're all about. Render and share in their glory...
Thanks for listening, friends! Steven P. Pody President, Riverside Writers
Bonjour, denizens of the poetic deep, and word crafters 'neath the muse-laden heavens. ...Hanging onto summer by our fingernails -- and thank goodness we yet have many a bright and warm day ahead. Ahhhh. ...And, while we're doing so, let us gather in our merry, creative masses, and have, by golly, another Riverside Writers monthly meeting! August 10th at the Salem Church Public Library, , 2607 Salem Church Road, Meeting Room #1, from 1:00 to 3:00pm.
For those attending remotely, please join us in this link for our meeting: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment
The ever-charming and generous Ummie Higgins will be providing refreshments. Miriam Pody is shopping for a speaker for September – and I'll have more news on Saturday on her proposed prospect.
Any anyhoo, as you may recall, this meeting will be joyfully devoted to the winners of the Tier One Golden Nib contest. Certificates and (hopefully) checks will be given out. ...We'll have a business meeting, refreshments, and then - best of the best, we'll have reads of the winning 3 entries in each of the three contest categories - Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction. All the entries were loverly, and our three judges had a difficult labor to winnow out any top preferences. Congrats to all who entered, and thanks most kindly for the concerted literary effort. What doesn't win ...can still go into the anthology!
As for said anthology, there are 25 days to go to submit your 15 pages. Previously published material is acceptable as long as the work is by you, the submitting author, and it hasn't been published before in a Riverside Writers publication (previous anthology).
One last plea thang. ...Your fellow writers will be proudly reading their personal work on Saturday. They deserve a full and kindly attentive audience - don'tcha think? Please come and be appreciative – writing and personal writing triumph is much of what we're all about. Render and share in their glory...
Thanks for listening, friends! Steven P. Pody President, Riverside Writers
Steves Email July 15, 2024 Reminding us only 5 days left to enter Golden Nib contest
Hello, fellow authors and creators of delightful phrases, stanzas and impression. I hope that you are all well ! We've five days remaining for the triple-category Golden Nib contest. ...I thought that you should know and/or be reminded. Why? Am I trying to bother you? Nah. I'm being abusive for you, not for my own yuks.
-You've five days to be a part of something, and feel like you are a member of a larger effort motivating and mobilizing the whole State of literary Virginia.
-You've an opportunity to shine, participate and perhaps triumph amongst your like peers in temporary competitive mode.
-Plus, you've got the unusual chance to kill two birds with one bon mot - enter a contest, while at the same time submitting a personal work to an aborning Riverside Writers anthology.
What more could you wish? Creative laurels to you all! We have some 20 collective entries thus far, and if you haven't submitted, then you owe it to yourself to try. I ask on your own behalf, and am not personally begging for anything. The decision to create - and then do something about (or with) it - is entirely yours, friends. See prior emails for the rules and cover letter format, or visit www.virginiawritersclub.org , or email me for the info.
Paid membership is a requirement, but in this last week, if you'd like to both join the club officially AND submit pieces for competition, I will personally do the following for you:
Meet you at the Salem Church Public Library to take your cash, check or money order as entree to your email entry (at [email protected]) for the contest, AND, thereby, give you full Riverside Writers membership until the end of December 2025 -- that's 17 months of membership for $20. One week special only, good until the close of 20 July.
Do you wannabe, or do you want to be, my fellow writers? I offer no shame – I only wish, as my official charge as president of the club, to remind about promising literary events, or to present writing-related opportunities to club members and associates. "Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death." Auntie Mame
I hope not to have offended anyone, and I hope you are not offending your own talents and aspirations... Be happy, be well, be content ...and literary regards, Steve
Steven P. Pody President, Riverside Writers
Hello, fellow authors and creators of delightful phrases, stanzas and impression. I hope that you are all well ! We've five days remaining for the triple-category Golden Nib contest. ...I thought that you should know and/or be reminded. Why? Am I trying to bother you? Nah. I'm being abusive for you, not for my own yuks.
-You've five days to be a part of something, and feel like you are a member of a larger effort motivating and mobilizing the whole State of literary Virginia.
-You've an opportunity to shine, participate and perhaps triumph amongst your like peers in temporary competitive mode.
-Plus, you've got the unusual chance to kill two birds with one bon mot - enter a contest, while at the same time submitting a personal work to an aborning Riverside Writers anthology.
What more could you wish? Creative laurels to you all! We have some 20 collective entries thus far, and if you haven't submitted, then you owe it to yourself to try. I ask on your own behalf, and am not personally begging for anything. The decision to create - and then do something about (or with) it - is entirely yours, friends. See prior emails for the rules and cover letter format, or visit www.virginiawritersclub.org , or email me for the info.
Paid membership is a requirement, but in this last week, if you'd like to both join the club officially AND submit pieces for competition, I will personally do the following for you:
Meet you at the Salem Church Public Library to take your cash, check or money order as entree to your email entry (at [email protected]) for the contest, AND, thereby, give you full Riverside Writers membership until the end of December 2025 -- that's 17 months of membership for $20. One week special only, good until the close of 20 July.
Do you wannabe, or do you want to be, my fellow writers? I offer no shame – I only wish, as my official charge as president of the club, to remind about promising literary events, or to present writing-related opportunities to club members and associates. "Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death." Auntie Mame
I hope not to have offended anyone, and I hope you are not offending your own talents and aspirations... Be happy, be well, be content ...and literary regards, Steve
Steven P. Pody President, Riverside Writers
Steve's Email JULY 12 2024 Reminder and link to view speaker on line
Howdy, member and RW supporter folk. Just a last-minuto reminder that Martin Wilsey will be giving a presentation at our monthly Riverside Writers meeting tomorrow. Please come and honor a fellow club member, prolific writer, and best-selling author -- give an ear to considerable experience and take your loverly opportunity to ask questions. Martin is not only one of our more successful authors, but is also founder of his own active publishing house. I'm sure the kindly Mr. Wilsey has a lot of interesting schtuff to tell you all !
click here for his BIO and here for his blog
For those attending remotely, please join us in this link for our meeting: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment
I hope to see you all at the meeting. In-person is better for your viewing experience ...but however, please come.
Steve P. / President, Riverside Writers
Howdy, member and RW supporter folk. Just a last-minuto reminder that Martin Wilsey will be giving a presentation at our monthly Riverside Writers meeting tomorrow. Please come and honor a fellow club member, prolific writer, and best-selling author -- give an ear to considerable experience and take your loverly opportunity to ask questions. Martin is not only one of our more successful authors, but is also founder of his own active publishing house. I'm sure the kindly Mr. Wilsey has a lot of interesting schtuff to tell you all !
click here for his BIO and here for his blog
For those attending remotely, please join us in this link for our meeting: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment
I hope to see you all at the meeting. In-person is better for your viewing experience ...but however, please come.
Steve P. / President, Riverside Writers
Steve's Email JULY 8 2024 REGARDING OUT July 13th Meeting
Beautiful, vigorous and creative people of Riverside Writers -- famed near, and a little bit further than near ...greetings! I hope that you are all healthy, happy and made-in-some-cool-shade. For non-picnic-attending folk it has been a season and a long time since you've been to a RW meeting. We haven't had a library opportunity to see each other and interact for 63 days. Waaayy too long. ...Well, the clarion call resoundeth with crystal vibes that 'tis time to meet again! July 13th at the Salem Church Public Library, , 2607 Salem Church Road, Meeting Room #1, from 1:00 to 4:00pm.
For those attending remotely, please join us in this link for our meeting: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment
Kindly Mendie W. has offered to bring refreshments this time around. Thank you, Mendie!
We have a speaker scheduled, and his name is Martin Wilsey – prolific author, owner of his own publishing house, and bona fide phenom
Here is authors bio from his website. GUEST SPEAKER BIO https://www.martinwilsey.com/bio
After our speaker (1:10pm to 2:00pm-ish) and snacks, the business meeting will cover the latest in event doings, club finances, and the very freshest updates concerning the anthology and the Golden Nib. Afterwards, don't forget your double-spaced 5 to 10 copies for Stephenie Fellinger's adventure in self-revelation and thought-provoking enlightenment in her group critique session (3 to 4pm).
Also, remember that you have 12 days to get in your Golden Nib submissions before the 11:59pm, July 20 deadline. If you haven't submitted already, please read the rules -- sent out several times (and on the Virginia Writers Club website) -- and put "Golden Nib Submission" and the type of submission in the email subject line (Fiction, Non-Fiction or Poetry). One work per category allowed per author, and don't forget your cover letter form. Free, and open to all paid membership! Was the pathway to fame and creative glory ever more reasonable? Good luck! (RW Anthology submission: 1 July to 1 Sep.) Send all entries to [email protected]
I hope to see you all on Saturday to hobnob, have fun, and to give our speaker a rousing welcome!
Steven P. Pody, President, Riverside Writers
Beautiful, vigorous and creative people of Riverside Writers -- famed near, and a little bit further than near ...greetings! I hope that you are all healthy, happy and made-in-some-cool-shade. For non-picnic-attending folk it has been a season and a long time since you've been to a RW meeting. We haven't had a library opportunity to see each other and interact for 63 days. Waaayy too long. ...Well, the clarion call resoundeth with crystal vibes that 'tis time to meet again! July 13th at the Salem Church Public Library, , 2607 Salem Church Road, Meeting Room #1, from 1:00 to 4:00pm.
For those attending remotely, please join us in this link for our meeting: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment
Kindly Mendie W. has offered to bring refreshments this time around. Thank you, Mendie!
We have a speaker scheduled, and his name is Martin Wilsey – prolific author, owner of his own publishing house, and bona fide phenom
Here is authors bio from his website. GUEST SPEAKER BIO https://www.martinwilsey.com/bio
After our speaker (1:10pm to 2:00pm-ish) and snacks, the business meeting will cover the latest in event doings, club finances, and the very freshest updates concerning the anthology and the Golden Nib. Afterwards, don't forget your double-spaced 5 to 10 copies for Stephenie Fellinger's adventure in self-revelation and thought-provoking enlightenment in her group critique session (3 to 4pm).
Also, remember that you have 12 days to get in your Golden Nib submissions before the 11:59pm, July 20 deadline. If you haven't submitted already, please read the rules -- sent out several times (and on the Virginia Writers Club website) -- and put "Golden Nib Submission" and the type of submission in the email subject line (Fiction, Non-Fiction or Poetry). One work per category allowed per author, and don't forget your cover letter form. Free, and open to all paid membership! Was the pathway to fame and creative glory ever more reasonable? Good luck! (RW Anthology submission: 1 July to 1 Sep.) Send all entries to [email protected]
I hope to see you all on Saturday to hobnob, have fun, and to give our speaker a rousing welcome!
Steven P. Pody, President, Riverside Writers
STEVE'S EMAIL 7/7/2024
There was a loverly Poetry Society of Virginia poetry festival at the central library in Richmond on Saturday, June 29th.
Five Riverside Writer members were present (one virtually) and two read poetry during the proceedings. ...I thought perhaps you might wish to hear some good schtuff - if you are favorable to the subject. We had some big names in local poetry in attendance or reading (about 50 attendees altogether) – inclusive of some past State of Virginia Poet Laureates. Give a listen...
Here is the link to the Playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKQdSGjC4FUqhWHctti9ET61Z30O3xf-u
Poetic regards, friends,
Steven P. Pody President, Riverside Writers
Forward From
Kathleen Decker Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2024 3:41 PM
Subject: Re: Festival playlist
Hi, Poets,
It was wonderful to hear your poetry at the Summer Poetry Festival!
I have uploaded your videos. It is not public yet, so outsiders can't find them yet.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Here is the link to the Playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKQdSGjC4FUqhWHctti9ET61Z30O3xf-u
Best, Kathleen
There was a loverly Poetry Society of Virginia poetry festival at the central library in Richmond on Saturday, June 29th.
Five Riverside Writer members were present (one virtually) and two read poetry during the proceedings. ...I thought perhaps you might wish to hear some good schtuff - if you are favorable to the subject. We had some big names in local poetry in attendance or reading (about 50 attendees altogether) – inclusive of some past State of Virginia Poet Laureates. Give a listen...
Here is the link to the Playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKQdSGjC4FUqhWHctti9ET61Z30O3xf-u
Poetic regards, friends,
Steven P. Pody President, Riverside Writers
Forward From
Kathleen Decker Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2024 3:41 PM
Subject: Re: Festival playlist
Hi, Poets,
It was wonderful to hear your poetry at the Summer Poetry Festival!
I have uploaded your videos. It is not public yet, so outsiders can't find them yet.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Here is the link to the Playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKQdSGjC4FUqhWHctti9ET61Z30O3xf-u
Best, Kathleen
STEVES EMAIL FROM 7/3/2024
OK, Riverside Writers membership, we've 17 days to go for the Golden Nib. The contest closes at 11:59pm on July 20th. I'm sending a reprise of the rules for those still formulating their entries ...just as a reminder. These guidelines are on the Virginia Writers Club website. I may have strayed otherwise in some other announcement, but the font is 12 pt Times New Roman. We are, at the Chapter level, Tier One of the contest. In addition to our own oversight of proper format, the RW judges and I will review and (hopefully) ensure everything is proper in the entries and coversheets for those of you moving on to State Level (Tier Two). Thanks all, who are participating in this year's contest as judges and contestants!
Steve, P/RW
CONTEST RULES/GUIDELINES
Please read all rules carefully so your entry will be approved and not disqualified for any one of the reasons listed
Entries will be accepted on any subject the author or poet chooses in the categories of fiction, nonfiction and poetry.
· Manuscripts must be the original, unpublished work of the entrant, and must not have won a prize at any level in any other competition. The VWC State competition allows entries published in your personal blogs. Works published in blogs other than your own, on social network sites, or in an online publication are ineligible and should not be submitted.
· Entries written by Artificial Intelligence (AI) are NOT permitted!
Each entrant MUST include a statement at the end of each submission stating the entry did not use AI to compose the entry. Consider that AI does not have an issue with plagiarism!
· Entrants may submit only one entry per category of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
· Fiction and nonfiction entries should conform to the Chicago Manual of Style.
· Fiction and nonfiction entries must be no longer than 3,500 words, including any notes, bibliographies, or other supporting text. Poetry entries must be no longer than 50 lines. Please be aware that poetry that has excessively long lines may be reformatted without changing any words to fit onto the pages of the Journal. Submitting your entries implies acceptance of this possible reformatting. Reformatting in this case means a single line might be broken into two lines of type with no capital letter starting the second line of type, with an indention of the second line indicating the two lines are part of one line of the poem. An example follows:
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered,
weak and weary.
This would only occur when necessary to allow formatting the poem from an 8½ x 11 page to a 6 x 9 page for the book’s trim.
FORMATTING THE ENTRY
- A fillable cover sheet is available at this link: coversheet. The coversheet must be filled out in its entirety, including a mailing address, email address, and an author bio of no more than 200 words. This coversheet must be submitted with each entry.
- Submissions can be in doc, docx or rtf format.
- All pages must show contest category, word count (or line count for Poetry), and page number in the header.
- The first line of the text should be the title of the work, centered on the page. (see below)
The title of the story, article, or poem (the first line of the text)
The text of the story, article, or poem.
- If the author’s name or any identifying information appears on any page of the manuscript, the entry will be disqualified.
- Manuscripts must be in 12 point Times New Roman font. Page settings must be 8 ½ by 11-inch with one inch margins.
Other fonts and sizes will result in disqualification of the entry.
- Fiction and nonfiction manuscripts must be double-spaced, with a ragged right margin (not a justified, straight right margin).
- Poetry manuscripts must be single-spaced.
· All submissions not in accordance with format and other rules will be disqualified.
· No paper submissions will be accepted. All manuscripts and coversheets must be electronic.
This is a free-to-enter contest, requiring only membership. YOU MUST BE A DUES-PAID RIVERSIDE WRITERS CHAPTER MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE.
CHAPTER 'TIER ONE' AWARDS: There will be three winners - 1st, 2nd & 3rd place for each of the three categories - Fiction, Non-Fiction and Poetry. Each winner will receive a certificate, and prize money. First Place is $20, Second Place is $15 and Third Place is $10. Certificates and prize money will be awarded at the August 10th monthly meeting.
STATE VWC AWARDS: Only first-place winners from the chapters will be eligible for the state contest. Winners of the VWC Golden Nib Contest will be announced, and awards presented, at the VWC Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony in November. Awards for each category: First Place-$100; Second Place-$50; Third Place-$25.
A list of Golden Nib winners in each category will be published on the VWC Web site after the Annual Meeting, which takes place the first Saturday in November each year. All finalists will be published in the 2025 edition of the VWC Golden Nib and Teen Nib Journal. All rights remain the property of the author.
OK, Riverside Writers membership, we've 17 days to go for the Golden Nib. The contest closes at 11:59pm on July 20th. I'm sending a reprise of the rules for those still formulating their entries ...just as a reminder. These guidelines are on the Virginia Writers Club website. I may have strayed otherwise in some other announcement, but the font is 12 pt Times New Roman. We are, at the Chapter level, Tier One of the contest. In addition to our own oversight of proper format, the RW judges and I will review and (hopefully) ensure everything is proper in the entries and coversheets for those of you moving on to State Level (Tier Two). Thanks all, who are participating in this year's contest as judges and contestants!
Steve, P/RW
CONTEST RULES/GUIDELINES
Please read all rules carefully so your entry will be approved and not disqualified for any one of the reasons listed
Entries will be accepted on any subject the author or poet chooses in the categories of fiction, nonfiction and poetry.
· Manuscripts must be the original, unpublished work of the entrant, and must not have won a prize at any level in any other competition. The VWC State competition allows entries published in your personal blogs. Works published in blogs other than your own, on social network sites, or in an online publication are ineligible and should not be submitted.
· Entries written by Artificial Intelligence (AI) are NOT permitted!
Each entrant MUST include a statement at the end of each submission stating the entry did not use AI to compose the entry. Consider that AI does not have an issue with plagiarism!
· Entrants may submit only one entry per category of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
· Fiction and nonfiction entries should conform to the Chicago Manual of Style.
· Fiction and nonfiction entries must be no longer than 3,500 words, including any notes, bibliographies, or other supporting text. Poetry entries must be no longer than 50 lines. Please be aware that poetry that has excessively long lines may be reformatted without changing any words to fit onto the pages of the Journal. Submitting your entries implies acceptance of this possible reformatting. Reformatting in this case means a single line might be broken into two lines of type with no capital letter starting the second line of type, with an indention of the second line indicating the two lines are part of one line of the poem. An example follows:
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered,
weak and weary.
This would only occur when necessary to allow formatting the poem from an 8½ x 11 page to a 6 x 9 page for the book’s trim.
FORMATTING THE ENTRY
- A fillable cover sheet is available at this link: coversheet. The coversheet must be filled out in its entirety, including a mailing address, email address, and an author bio of no more than 200 words. This coversheet must be submitted with each entry.
- Submissions can be in doc, docx or rtf format.
- All pages must show contest category, word count (or line count for Poetry), and page number in the header.
- The first line of the text should be the title of the work, centered on the page. (see below)
The title of the story, article, or poem (the first line of the text)
The text of the story, article, or poem.
- If the author’s name or any identifying information appears on any page of the manuscript, the entry will be disqualified.
- Manuscripts must be in 12 point Times New Roman font. Page settings must be 8 ½ by 11-inch with one inch margins.
Other fonts and sizes will result in disqualification of the entry.
- Fiction and nonfiction manuscripts must be double-spaced, with a ragged right margin (not a justified, straight right margin).
- Poetry manuscripts must be single-spaced.
· All submissions not in accordance with format and other rules will be disqualified.
· No paper submissions will be accepted. All manuscripts and coversheets must be electronic.
This is a free-to-enter contest, requiring only membership. YOU MUST BE A DUES-PAID RIVERSIDE WRITERS CHAPTER MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE.
CHAPTER 'TIER ONE' AWARDS: There will be three winners - 1st, 2nd & 3rd place for each of the three categories - Fiction, Non-Fiction and Poetry. Each winner will receive a certificate, and prize money. First Place is $20, Second Place is $15 and Third Place is $10. Certificates and prize money will be awarded at the August 10th monthly meeting.
STATE VWC AWARDS: Only first-place winners from the chapters will be eligible for the state contest. Winners of the VWC Golden Nib Contest will be announced, and awards presented, at the VWC Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony in November. Awards for each category: First Place-$100; Second Place-$50; Third Place-$25.
A list of Golden Nib winners in each category will be published on the VWC Web site after the Annual Meeting, which takes place the first Saturday in November each year. All finalists will be published in the 2025 edition of the VWC Golden Nib and Teen Nib Journal. All rights remain the property of the author.
JUNE 30,2024 E Mail from STEVE Submit your creative effort to our Anthology
Dear Riverside Writers official membership, greetings upon you! It's been four years since the Riverside Writers' last anthology, and the time -- as previously discussed, has come for another edition. As of 12:01am, Monday July 1st, submissions will be accepted for inclusion in this impending monumental and stupendous work.
Send your personally crafted literary pieces to me at [email protected].
The submission period closes at 11:59pm on September 1st -- so you have two months to translate your glorious desires into glorious action.
The following goals and parameters are both precedents, observed in prior RW anthologies, and targets for our current guidelines.
This edition will be dedicated to Larry Turner, author and influential former president of the club, who died last October.
No doubt I've forgotten something, and feel free to ask questions. Have fun, and lets have a grand publishing experience together.
Steve
Steven P. Pody President, Riverside Writers
P.S. Send me your anthology title recommendations! Fun failed tries below...
River Sludge
Rich, Charming and ISBN Immortal in Central Virginia
The Quarter of a Century, Plus One, Club
Thoughts Before the Second Civil War
A Corner of Literary Virginny
A Hatful of Hopefuls and Gems
Words Matter/Hearts Speak
Give Me Your $9.95 ...Or Else!
Dear Riverside Writers official membership, greetings upon you! It's been four years since the Riverside Writers' last anthology, and the time -- as previously discussed, has come for another edition. As of 12:01am, Monday July 1st, submissions will be accepted for inclusion in this impending monumental and stupendous work.
Send your personally crafted literary pieces to me at [email protected].
The submission period closes at 11:59pm on September 1st -- so you have two months to translate your glorious desires into glorious action.
The following goals and parameters are both precedents, observed in prior RW anthologies, and targets for our current guidelines.
- The entire volume is projected at about 300 pages.
- Submissions must be the work of the submitting author (no A.I.), and previously published material is acceptable.
- Each item sent in must be submitted on a separate document. Single space and use Arial 12 font (please). One-inch margins on each page.
- A limit is set at 15 pages per author. Within that limit you may submit as much or as little as you wish, with as many articles, essays, poems -- plus accompanying photos, illustrations, etc., as you can fit. We had 18 authors in the 2020 edition. Note that we've possibly doubled our paid membership since that time -- so if many, many more contribute, we may have to reduce our maximum contribution size to 8 or 9 or 10 pages. Prioritize (to yourself) your submissions (if multiple) in case you have to make a decision later to shorten your contribution. We're in Big Guesstimate Country at the moment. Expansion exceptions on pages used may be made if there is final book space to do so.
- For those submitting to the Golden Nib (submission period June 8th to July 20) a separate resubmission to the anthology is necessary. Anthology editing will be made after local Golden Nib winners are sent to the State level (mid-August) so that you have a chance to both compete in the Golden Nib with your best work (which, in this case, must be unpublished work) and may be published in our anthology.
- All submitters for anthology publication must be in a 2024 dues-paid status. If you don't know your status, please ask.
- Write a short biography (100-200 words), appropriate to your creative grandness, and submit it on a separate document with your work.
This edition will be dedicated to Larry Turner, author and influential former president of the club, who died last October.
No doubt I've forgotten something, and feel free to ask questions. Have fun, and lets have a grand publishing experience together.
Steve
Steven P. Pody President, Riverside Writers
P.S. Send me your anthology title recommendations! Fun failed tries below...
River Sludge
Rich, Charming and ISBN Immortal in Central Virginia
The Quarter of a Century, Plus One, Club
Thoughts Before the Second Civil War
A Corner of Literary Virginny
A Hatful of Hopefuls and Gems
Words Matter/Hearts Speak
Give Me Your $9.95 ...Or Else!
THE GOLDEN NIB INFORMATION JUNE 2024
To all the hopefuls aspiring to Tier 1 and 2 of the Golden Nib contest, I'm reminded by RW member Rachel Young that the Virginia Writers Club requires a cover letter/sheet to accompany submissions. Riverside Writers is not particularly in need at the first level, but you should submit one with your poetry or story anyway, in case your wonderful work advances to the next level. The format for the cover to your entries is attached, and again, good luck to you. Form you need to submit with entry
Happy and inspired writing ! Steven P. Pody, President, Riverside Writers, Fredericksburg-area Chapter of the Virginia Writers Club
To all the hopefuls aspiring to Tier 1 and 2 of the Golden Nib contest, I'm reminded by RW member Rachel Young that the Virginia Writers Club requires a cover letter/sheet to accompany submissions. Riverside Writers is not particularly in need at the first level, but you should submit one with your poetry or story anyway, in case your wonderful work advances to the next level. The format for the cover to your entries is attached, and again, good luck to you. Form you need to submit with entry
Happy and inspired writing ! Steven P. Pody, President, Riverside Writers, Fredericksburg-area Chapter of the Virginia Writers Club
JUNE 3rd EMAIL FROM STEVE
Greetings to thee and thine! The ever-gracious Allita Irby has highlighted a member-attention-worthy event for June 15th at Montpelier (Jimmy Madison's house).
The fun is 'busting out all over' for June, with the RW picnic on the 8th, Flag Day on the 14th and Juneteenth on the 15th. Allita sends along a link for your consideration, friends. https://montpelierdescendants.org/juneteenth-2024/
Live life to the fullest – it makes good writing source-material !
Greetings to thee and thine! The ever-gracious Allita Irby has highlighted a member-attention-worthy event for June 15th at Montpelier (Jimmy Madison's house).
The fun is 'busting out all over' for June, with the RW picnic on the 8th, Flag Day on the 14th and Juneteenth on the 15th. Allita sends along a link for your consideration, friends. https://montpelierdescendants.org/juneteenth-2024/
Live life to the fullest – it makes good writing source-material !
Email for June from our President
The Presidents Emails (June 2024)
There will be no regular meeting instead we will have a picnic in June 2024 click here for details
Also, next week, along with maps, I will email and send out rules and particulars for both the Golden Nib 2-tier contest and the Riverside Writers Anthology.
June 1 to 20 July Tier-One Golden Nib submissions to RW judges (fiction/non-fiction/poetry). Final submission 20 July.
President Steves Email for June1 2024
Gracious Saints of the Written Form, Knights of Boldest Syntax, and Holistic Literary Masters -- to you, our semi-immortal 126 email recipients, on this day of waning May -- I greet and earnestly wish thee and thine well ! The remainder of the year is upon us in imminent fashion, and I wish to venture an accurate (for-the-moment) calendar to render the sum before your knowledge-thirsting eyes.
.
Current Calendar Year 2024 RW Rundown
June – 1st Week. Golden Nib Tier 1 Instructions on categories & where to submit + Anthology instructions + WTang map
June 8 Picnic at William Tang's (1440 Hartwood Road)
June 1 to 20 July Tier-One Golden Nib submissions to RW judges (fiction/non-fiction/poetry). Final submission 20 July.
July 1 to September 1. Begin submission of RW Anthology material. Must be current dues-paid member to submit.
July 13 RW monthly meeting w/speaker (Martin Wilsey) & critique session.
August 10 RW monthly meeting / presentation of GN winners w/open read of Tier 1 Winners & open read, all genres
September 1 Last day for RW Anthology submissions. (Anthology dedication to Larry Turner, past president, died Oct 15, 2023, age 86.) Last day, GN 2(State) submissions. (Must win GN 1 and be a VWC member).
September 14 RW monthly meeting w/speaker & critique session.
October 12 Monthly Meeting. Fredericksburg Festival of Books, Club meeting in Riverfront Park w/open public read, all genres
November 2 Parent organization Virginia Writers Club annual meeting & award of Tier 2 Golden Nib.
November 9 Salem Church Public Library Annual Writer's Conference
November 9 RW monthly meeting – elections (Treasurer/President) & book sale, w/open read, all genres (or attendance at conference).
December 14 Holiday Party.
Thank you all for your kind attention, and I hope this information was of some use to you. Tomorrow is 'Battle of Jutland' day. Use it wisely, have a great weekend, and I hope to see you all on (a hopefully dry) June 8th !
Warm regards, my friends !
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers
Fredericksburg-area Chapte of the Virginia Writers Club
The Presidents Emails (June 2024)
There will be no regular meeting instead we will have a picnic in June 2024 click here for details
Also, next week, along with maps, I will email and send out rules and particulars for both the Golden Nib 2-tier contest and the Riverside Writers Anthology.
June 1 to 20 July Tier-One Golden Nib submissions to RW judges (fiction/non-fiction/poetry). Final submission 20 July.
President Steves Email for June1 2024
Gracious Saints of the Written Form, Knights of Boldest Syntax, and Holistic Literary Masters -- to you, our semi-immortal 126 email recipients, on this day of waning May -- I greet and earnestly wish thee and thine well ! The remainder of the year is upon us in imminent fashion, and I wish to venture an accurate (for-the-moment) calendar to render the sum before your knowledge-thirsting eyes.
.
Current Calendar Year 2024 RW Rundown
June – 1st Week. Golden Nib Tier 1 Instructions on categories & where to submit + Anthology instructions + WTang map
June 8 Picnic at William Tang's (1440 Hartwood Road)
June 1 to 20 July Tier-One Golden Nib submissions to RW judges (fiction/non-fiction/poetry). Final submission 20 July.
July 1 to September 1. Begin submission of RW Anthology material. Must be current dues-paid member to submit.
July 13 RW monthly meeting w/speaker (Martin Wilsey) & critique session.
August 10 RW monthly meeting / presentation of GN winners w/open read of Tier 1 Winners & open read, all genres
September 1 Last day for RW Anthology submissions. (Anthology dedication to Larry Turner, past president, died Oct 15, 2023, age 86.) Last day, GN 2(State) submissions. (Must win GN 1 and be a VWC member).
September 14 RW monthly meeting w/speaker & critique session.
October 12 Monthly Meeting. Fredericksburg Festival of Books, Club meeting in Riverfront Park w/open public read, all genres
November 2 Parent organization Virginia Writers Club annual meeting & award of Tier 2 Golden Nib.
November 9 Salem Church Public Library Annual Writer's Conference
November 9 RW monthly meeting – elections (Treasurer/President) & book sale, w/open read, all genres (or attendance at conference).
December 14 Holiday Party.
Thank you all for your kind attention, and I hope this information was of some use to you. Tomorrow is 'Battle of Jutland' day. Use it wisely, have a great weekend, and I hope to see you all on (a hopefully dry) June 8th !
Warm regards, my friends !
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers
Fredericksburg-area Chapte of the Virginia Writers Club
June 3rd EMAIL
Greetings to thee and thine! The ever-gracious Allita Irby has highlighted a member-attention-worthy event for June 15th at Montpelier (Jimmy Madison's house). Allita sends along a link for your consideration, friends. https://montpelierdescendants.org/juneteenth-2024/
The fun is 'busting out all over' for June, with the RW picnic on the 8th, Flag Day on the 14th and Juneteenth on the 15th.
Live life to the fullest – it makes good writing source-material !
Steve's Email June 1 2024 Includes link to the Dahlgrentrail Newsletter if your seeking a nature experience.
Hello, Riverside Writers membership and associated amigos. Am reminded by the notice below of the spiritual and practical question -- what is writing without inspiration? A la Walden Pond, et al, nature is at the heart of the beautiful world around us. ...Which is another way to say that I'm sending you something interesting and local, but not directly club oriented. The relevance depends on you in these glorious June days. Reading is optional ...but so is life and many flavors of its quality.
P.S. Sign up in SignUpGenius, and we'll picnic in the woods together, next Saturday!
Riverside Writers: Refreshments (signupgenius.com)
Ever-cheers to you, my friends. Write well and often in these golden days...
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers
Here is a newsletter link for the Dahlgren Trail if you feel like escaping to nature
www.dahlgrentrail.org/newsletter.html
Greetings to thee and thine! The ever-gracious Allita Irby has highlighted a member-attention-worthy event for June 15th at Montpelier (Jimmy Madison's house). Allita sends along a link for your consideration, friends. https://montpelierdescendants.org/juneteenth-2024/
The fun is 'busting out all over' for June, with the RW picnic on the 8th, Flag Day on the 14th and Juneteenth on the 15th.
Live life to the fullest – it makes good writing source-material !
Steve's Email June 1 2024 Includes link to the Dahlgrentrail Newsletter if your seeking a nature experience.
Hello, Riverside Writers membership and associated amigos. Am reminded by the notice below of the spiritual and practical question -- what is writing without inspiration? A la Walden Pond, et al, nature is at the heart of the beautiful world around us. ...Which is another way to say that I'm sending you something interesting and local, but not directly club oriented. The relevance depends on you in these glorious June days. Reading is optional ...but so is life and many flavors of its quality.
P.S. Sign up in SignUpGenius, and we'll picnic in the woods together, next Saturday!
Riverside Writers: Refreshments (signupgenius.com)
Ever-cheers to you, my friends. Write well and often in these golden days...
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers
Here is a newsletter link for the Dahlgren Trail if you feel like escaping to nature
www.dahlgrentrail.org/newsletter.html
Steves Email June 1, 2024 ABOUT THE GOLDEN NIB WRITING CONTEST
( SUBMISSIONS FROM JUNE 1 TO JULY 20 2024)
Hello Literary Folk & Friends. Below is an excerpt from the Virginia Writers Club (VWC) defining the most Golden of Nibs...
The 2024 Golden Nib writing contest is officially open. The Golden Nib, started in 2005, is The Virginia Writers Club (VWC) annual writing competition in three categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry, with cash prizes for first, second, and third place finishers at the state level. The contest is run in two tiers: local Chapter (first tier) and State level (second tier). Each Chapter forwards its first-place winning entries for judging at the (second tier) State VWC level.
The place is here, the time is NOW(ish). I have attached the VWC official guidelines for this annual contest. Please adhere to all Golden Nib rules on formats and word/page limits.
For Riverside Writers the chapter timeline is submission of work from June 1st to July 20th. Send properly-formatted entries to me and I will forward them to the appropriate judge (fiction prose, non-fiction prose or poetry). One entry only per submitter for each category. Write, and chose wisely Grasshopper... Unacceptable formatting will be returned in a timely fashion for author correction and resubmission. Certificates and prize money will be awarded at the August 10th monthly meeting. For Tier One, First Place is $20, Second Place is $15 and Third Place is $10. This is a free-to-enter contest, requiring only membership. YOU MUST BE A DUES-PAID RIVERSIDE WRITERS CHAPTER MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE.
Again, only 1st place will be forwarded to the State level - and that person must be or become a paid-up official member of the VWC. As you can see on the attachment, for the State level (Tier Two) prizes are: First Place - $100, Second Place - $50, and Third Place - $25. State winners will be announced in early November. In addition, winners will be published in the Spring VWC journal. Please note that this is not just a contest involving two clubs with people who like to write. VWC was established in 1918, and has ten chapters and three sub-chapters covering the entire State. There's a lot of history, a lot of literary lineage and precedent, and a lot of literary prestige to win and be the very best in our very significant State. Our club/chapter has had winners before, and I wish you all the best of good fortune.
Send your entries to [email protected]. In the 'Subject' line write: Golden Nib 2024 Entry / Fiction (or non-fiction or poetry - whichever is appropriate). Remember to place the required 'Not Written By A.I.' statement at the bottom of your piece. ONCE YOUR WORK IS SUBMITTED, CORRECTIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. You are entering final works, not drafts.
Good luck and Talley-ho! Fame awaits, friends...
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers,
Fredericksburg-area Chapter
of the Virginia Writers Club
( SUBMISSIONS FROM JUNE 1 TO JULY 20 2024)
Hello Literary Folk & Friends. Below is an excerpt from the Virginia Writers Club (VWC) defining the most Golden of Nibs...
The 2024 Golden Nib writing contest is officially open. The Golden Nib, started in 2005, is The Virginia Writers Club (VWC) annual writing competition in three categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry, with cash prizes for first, second, and third place finishers at the state level. The contest is run in two tiers: local Chapter (first tier) and State level (second tier). Each Chapter forwards its first-place winning entries for judging at the (second tier) State VWC level.
The place is here, the time is NOW(ish). I have attached the VWC official guidelines for this annual contest. Please adhere to all Golden Nib rules on formats and word/page limits.
For Riverside Writers the chapter timeline is submission of work from June 1st to July 20th. Send properly-formatted entries to me and I will forward them to the appropriate judge (fiction prose, non-fiction prose or poetry). One entry only per submitter for each category. Write, and chose wisely Grasshopper... Unacceptable formatting will be returned in a timely fashion for author correction and resubmission. Certificates and prize money will be awarded at the August 10th monthly meeting. For Tier One, First Place is $20, Second Place is $15 and Third Place is $10. This is a free-to-enter contest, requiring only membership. YOU MUST BE A DUES-PAID RIVERSIDE WRITERS CHAPTER MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE.
Again, only 1st place will be forwarded to the State level - and that person must be or become a paid-up official member of the VWC. As you can see on the attachment, for the State level (Tier Two) prizes are: First Place - $100, Second Place - $50, and Third Place - $25. State winners will be announced in early November. In addition, winners will be published in the Spring VWC journal. Please note that this is not just a contest involving two clubs with people who like to write. VWC was established in 1918, and has ten chapters and three sub-chapters covering the entire State. There's a lot of history, a lot of literary lineage and precedent, and a lot of literary prestige to win and be the very best in our very significant State. Our club/chapter has had winners before, and I wish you all the best of good fortune.
Send your entries to [email protected]. In the 'Subject' line write: Golden Nib 2024 Entry / Fiction (or non-fiction or poetry - whichever is appropriate). Remember to place the required 'Not Written By A.I.' statement at the bottom of your piece. ONCE YOUR WORK IS SUBMITTED, CORRECTIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. You are entering final works, not drafts.
Good luck and Talley-ho! Fame awaits, friends...
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers,
Fredericksburg-area Chapter
of the Virginia Writers Club
MAY 2024 INFO
Steve's Email Regarding our May Monthly Meeting 2024
Ladies and Lords of the Riverside Writing Imperium, hail and greetings to thee and to thine! Thus far you've survived 'May the Fourth Be With You', immediately succeeded by a potent Cinco de Mayo, coupled with Orthodox Easter (very late in the calendar this year). Likewise passeth the ever-relevant triumph of 'right makes might' on the anniversary of Victory In Europe Day. ...And just before you crash splendiferously into Mother's Day, watch out, because here comes our monthly meeting:
The Prophesied One
The Expected One
It That Shall Be Named. Yes, Meeting Day, May 11th, is soon upon us -- and all friends and hallowed membership are invited!
April was a humdinger of a month (thanks Malanna, Beth, Dan and others!), full of great writing/reading events. Now, we come to May, with the mighty Helga Arndt just back from extensive travels to care and to bear unto us refreshments. Ellie Whitney is scheduled to expound upon interesting and informative hints of literary creation as our in-person live speaker. Glorious doings, and you won't want to miss a morsel or a word. Here, in partial revelation from Malanna, is the meter of the maid: Since the age of three, Ellie Whitney has loved reading and since age ten, writing, so a master’s degree to teach high school English seemed a natural fit. She graduated summa cum laude from Lindenwood University in Missouri and received a perfect score on the Praxis, the national teacher qualification exam, for literature, language, and composition. She taught high schoolers for over ten years and has spent the last eight as a writing tutor and freelance editor. Her work has appeared in various local, state, and national publications, and she’s been blessed to win a half dozen writing competitions. Her new love is teaching and mentoring at writing conferences, which she’s been doing since 2020. Currently, Ellie lives in Virginia with her wonderful family where she herds cats, teaches ESL, and eats chocolate, not necessarily in that order.
So... thusly informed, I have this to say about that: Here is a rare opportunity to have before us not only a writer of renown, but also a professional teacher of the craft. After she speaketh, it would behoove the curious to have questions ready, and to satisfy your curiosity on any number of topics of writing interest.
After our speaker and snacks, the business meeting will cover the latest in event doings, club finances, and the very freshest updates on our upcoming picnic, the Golden Nib, and our very own upcoming Riverside anthology. Afterwards, don't forget your double-spaced 5 to 10 copies for Stephenie Fellinger's insightful and thought-provoking critique session (3 to 4pm).
For those attending remotely, please join us in this link for our meeting: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment.
Sad to relate that we've still got three refreshment-volunteer slots left in the year – July, September and November -- which are still up for grabs on SignUpGenius. Kindly place your generous commitment at: Riverside Writers: Refreshments (signupgenius.com). If hesitant, perhaps joining with a partner will lighten the load to an acceptable level, my friends.
And, in sum: May 11th at the Salem Church Public Library, , 2607 Salem Church Road, Meeting Room #1, from 1:00 to 4:00pm. Won't it be great to see one another, and to learn together from another knowledgeable and dynamic speaker? I'll be there -- and in highest hopes of seeing you!
Tra-la for May and our special day! Be happy, be healthy!
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers
Ladies and Lords of the Riverside Writing Imperium, hail and greetings to thee and to thine! Thus far you've survived 'May the Fourth Be With You', immediately succeeded by a potent Cinco de Mayo, coupled with Orthodox Easter (very late in the calendar this year). Likewise passeth the ever-relevant triumph of 'right makes might' on the anniversary of Victory In Europe Day. ...And just before you crash splendiferously into Mother's Day, watch out, because here comes our monthly meeting:
The Prophesied One
The Expected One
It That Shall Be Named. Yes, Meeting Day, May 11th, is soon upon us -- and all friends and hallowed membership are invited!
April was a humdinger of a month (thanks Malanna, Beth, Dan and others!), full of great writing/reading events. Now, we come to May, with the mighty Helga Arndt just back from extensive travels to care and to bear unto us refreshments. Ellie Whitney is scheduled to expound upon interesting and informative hints of literary creation as our in-person live speaker. Glorious doings, and you won't want to miss a morsel or a word. Here, in partial revelation from Malanna, is the meter of the maid: Since the age of three, Ellie Whitney has loved reading and since age ten, writing, so a master’s degree to teach high school English seemed a natural fit. She graduated summa cum laude from Lindenwood University in Missouri and received a perfect score on the Praxis, the national teacher qualification exam, for literature, language, and composition. She taught high schoolers for over ten years and has spent the last eight as a writing tutor and freelance editor. Her work has appeared in various local, state, and national publications, and she’s been blessed to win a half dozen writing competitions. Her new love is teaching and mentoring at writing conferences, which she’s been doing since 2020. Currently, Ellie lives in Virginia with her wonderful family where she herds cats, teaches ESL, and eats chocolate, not necessarily in that order.
So... thusly informed, I have this to say about that: Here is a rare opportunity to have before us not only a writer of renown, but also a professional teacher of the craft. After she speaketh, it would behoove the curious to have questions ready, and to satisfy your curiosity on any number of topics of writing interest.
After our speaker and snacks, the business meeting will cover the latest in event doings, club finances, and the very freshest updates on our upcoming picnic, the Golden Nib, and our very own upcoming Riverside anthology. Afterwards, don't forget your double-spaced 5 to 10 copies for Stephenie Fellinger's insightful and thought-provoking critique session (3 to 4pm).
For those attending remotely, please join us in this link for our meeting: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment.
Sad to relate that we've still got three refreshment-volunteer slots left in the year – July, September and November -- which are still up for grabs on SignUpGenius. Kindly place your generous commitment at: Riverside Writers: Refreshments (signupgenius.com). If hesitant, perhaps joining with a partner will lighten the load to an acceptable level, my friends.
And, in sum: May 11th at the Salem Church Public Library, , 2607 Salem Church Road, Meeting Room #1, from 1:00 to 4:00pm. Won't it be great to see one another, and to learn together from another knowledgeable and dynamic speaker? I'll be there -- and in highest hopes of seeing you!
Tra-la for May and our special day! Be happy, be healthy!
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers
APRIL 2024
Riverside Writers After Meeting - Action Report from Steve 4/24/24
Hello, oh talented membership and associated fans of personal, local and world literature. I hope this e-message finds you all well and Spring-contented.
For those 18 attendees at our monthly meeting yesterday, I hope you had fun and appreciated the lively doings and Carol Horton's refreshments. ...What a magnificent poetry-workshop presentation by Beth Spragins and Dan Walker! Tanka and Villanelle will never be the same for me. Twas illuminating and a thrill of poetic revelation. Great job and major thanks for being such a highlight of National Poetry Month!
Alas, our webmaster could not join us, but everyone looked delighted that a beautiful photo (courtesy of Allita Irby) of last week's 'Celebration of Poetry' was posted. Another super contribution, freshly revealed, is a major new tab on our website dedicated to acknowledging RW-authored works (at the moment – books and contributions to printed anthologies). Excellent job, Barbara Beaumont, and also collective thanks for making a difference!
...And then there was the open read, with fully 9 readers presenting – half the attendees! Applause aplenty for everyone! The Extra-Mile Award goes to Vice Prez Malanna for singing the verse of her very own song! (It doesn't get much verse than that!) In truth, she was magnifico, and well-appreciated by all. In fact, everyone was splendid, and altogether I can think of no greater gesture as a tribute to the craft. Moments like that are way too infrequent, my creative peers and amigos...
For me, this rebirth-centric time of year is one of great reflection. As we occupy, here and now, this sacred ground -- ghosts abound in time and space. In former meadows and forests beneath our feet, here Native Americans built hundreds of generations of life stories, slaves toiled for centuries, and Confederate and Union soldiers fought numerous desperate uncivil engagements. And today... I am especially drawn to pause on this very day. Today we will be enjoying the Spring; a good meal; a precious moment with family. ...Tonight, at around 9:30, 159 years ago, Abraham Lincoln' story will begin its final 9-hour chapter. A long journey from Ford's Theater to a simple house across the street. ...Tonight at 11:40pm, 112 years ago, Royal Mail Steamer 'Titanic', dogged by tiny, critical turns of fate, will strike an iceberg. Her final chapter would end 2 hours and forty minutes later, along with the closing narrations on 1,500 mortal and doomed passengers -- taking their optimistic Age with them. Same time, different space. Same space, different time. We are all intertwined in this personal reality of ours. We take our lessons, try our best, pause to appreciate, reflect on fragility ...and if we are fortunate practitioners of sympathetic perception and sensitive empathy, we rejoice that we have times of peace, times of joy -- and friends such as each other.
Again, 'thank you' to those who attended yesterday. Also... 'thank you' to those reading this – and for being part of something special.
...Remember April 22, and happy Earth Day, all! Make the Earth happy ...and love her dearly.
...Remember April 25, and happy 26th birthday of Riverside Writers!
...Remember April 28 - and meet VP Malanna Henderson at the Poe Museum in Richmond (11am) for a great tour!
Poetic regards, and a continued-happy National Poetry Month, Steve Pody, President, Riverside Writers
Hello, oh talented membership and associated fans of personal, local and world literature. I hope this e-message finds you all well and Spring-contented.
For those 18 attendees at our monthly meeting yesterday, I hope you had fun and appreciated the lively doings and Carol Horton's refreshments. ...What a magnificent poetry-workshop presentation by Beth Spragins and Dan Walker! Tanka and Villanelle will never be the same for me. Twas illuminating and a thrill of poetic revelation. Great job and major thanks for being such a highlight of National Poetry Month!
Alas, our webmaster could not join us, but everyone looked delighted that a beautiful photo (courtesy of Allita Irby) of last week's 'Celebration of Poetry' was posted. Another super contribution, freshly revealed, is a major new tab on our website dedicated to acknowledging RW-authored works (at the moment – books and contributions to printed anthologies). Excellent job, Barbara Beaumont, and also collective thanks for making a difference!
...And then there was the open read, with fully 9 readers presenting – half the attendees! Applause aplenty for everyone! The Extra-Mile Award goes to Vice Prez Malanna for singing the verse of her very own song! (It doesn't get much verse than that!) In truth, she was magnifico, and well-appreciated by all. In fact, everyone was splendid, and altogether I can think of no greater gesture as a tribute to the craft. Moments like that are way too infrequent, my creative peers and amigos...
For me, this rebirth-centric time of year is one of great reflection. As we occupy, here and now, this sacred ground -- ghosts abound in time and space. In former meadows and forests beneath our feet, here Native Americans built hundreds of generations of life stories, slaves toiled for centuries, and Confederate and Union soldiers fought numerous desperate uncivil engagements. And today... I am especially drawn to pause on this very day. Today we will be enjoying the Spring; a good meal; a precious moment with family. ...Tonight, at around 9:30, 159 years ago, Abraham Lincoln' story will begin its final 9-hour chapter. A long journey from Ford's Theater to a simple house across the street. ...Tonight at 11:40pm, 112 years ago, Royal Mail Steamer 'Titanic', dogged by tiny, critical turns of fate, will strike an iceberg. Her final chapter would end 2 hours and forty minutes later, along with the closing narrations on 1,500 mortal and doomed passengers -- taking their optimistic Age with them. Same time, different space. Same space, different time. We are all intertwined in this personal reality of ours. We take our lessons, try our best, pause to appreciate, reflect on fragility ...and if we are fortunate practitioners of sympathetic perception and sensitive empathy, we rejoice that we have times of peace, times of joy -- and friends such as each other.
Again, 'thank you' to those who attended yesterday. Also... 'thank you' to those reading this – and for being part of something special.
...Remember April 22, and happy Earth Day, all! Make the Earth happy ...and love her dearly.
...Remember April 25, and happy 26th birthday of Riverside Writers!
...Remember April 28 - and meet VP Malanna Henderson at the Poe Museum in Richmond (11am) for a great tour!
Poetic regards, and a continued-happy National Poetry Month, Steve Pody, President, Riverside Writers
..April 13th 2024 MEETING
.A bit more information for your meeting-pleasure maximization.
Beth and Dan of the poetry workshop request that you bring a writing implement and some paper if you plan to actively participate.
There will be sign-up sheets for both the workshop and the open read. For the open read, we will present in sign-up-sheet order.
Usual rules are applicable for an open (poetry only) read - 5 minutes maximum for each reader.
After all readers have read, we will -- if we have time --begin the list order again for those wishing a second chance.
Participation in either or both events is in tribute to National Poetry Month, and the level of participation is, naturally, up to each member.
All are welcome! Make the most of your proactive and optimistically dynamic club!
Thank you for your attention, Steve
.A bit more information for your meeting-pleasure maximization.
Beth and Dan of the poetry workshop request that you bring a writing implement and some paper if you plan to actively participate.
There will be sign-up sheets for both the workshop and the open read. For the open read, we will present in sign-up-sheet order.
Usual rules are applicable for an open (poetry only) read - 5 minutes maximum for each reader.
After all readers have read, we will -- if we have time --begin the list order again for those wishing a second chance.
Participation in either or both events is in tribute to National Poetry Month, and the level of participation is, naturally, up to each member.
All are welcome! Make the most of your proactive and optimistically dynamic club!
Thank you for your attention, Steve
APRIL 13 2024 CONTINUED
Happy advancing Spring, y'all ! Handsome weather we're having, and isn't it a nice time of year. ...Except for that mysterious sun-disappearing thang a few days ago. Shocking -- but with quick-thinking, I sacrificed the neighbor's dogs to Galaxon, Divinity of the Intergalactic Void -- and the sun came right back! Whew, close one...! (P.S. You're welcome.)
Meeting time!
All hails and grateful yowls to Carol Horton, bringer of our refreshments this month.
We have a full and exciting meeting planned.
Our business portion will bring you up-to-date on our latest initiatives
Malanna Henderson's Sunday, April 28th Edgar Allen Poe Museum trip to Richmond;
webmaster Barbara Beaumont's posting of member books & anthologies;
the announcement of May's author/speaker.
After that, we will have our speaky tribute to National Poetry Month. Last week, the Howell branch of the public library system kicked the month-event off with an open poetry read.
This week it is the turn of Riverside Writers, in concert with our very own host library.
A poetry workshop will be held from 2:00 to 2:40 by Beth Spragins and Dan Walker (only the best for you, our membership!), and that segment will be followed until 4pm by an open read (open to the public) of poetry.
Anything can happen – and come hear the muses declaim with the finest poesy! (...
Perhaps later in the year we'll have an open read for only prose, just to keep a balance).
For those attending remotely, please join us in this link for our meeting:
https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment.
Due to late-in-the-meeting commitments, there will be no after-meeting critique session.
Remember, we've only three refreshment-volunteer slots left in the year – July, September and November -- which are still up for grabs on SignUpGenius. Kindly place your generous commitment at: Riverside Writers: Refreshments (signupgenius.com).
Anyhoo, much to do and discuss. I'll meet you on April 13th at the Salem Church Public Library, , 2607 Salem Church Road, Meeting Room #1, from 1:00 to 4:00pm. Be prepared to think, to care, to share and to celebrate the spoken word with friends, peers -- and some of the best imaginations of the Age!
Poetic regards (in honor of the month!),
Steven P. Pody President, Riverside Writer
Happy advancing Spring, y'all ! Handsome weather we're having, and isn't it a nice time of year. ...Except for that mysterious sun-disappearing thang a few days ago. Shocking -- but with quick-thinking, I sacrificed the neighbor's dogs to Galaxon, Divinity of the Intergalactic Void -- and the sun came right back! Whew, close one...! (P.S. You're welcome.)
Meeting time!
All hails and grateful yowls to Carol Horton, bringer of our refreshments this month.
We have a full and exciting meeting planned.
Our business portion will bring you up-to-date on our latest initiatives
Malanna Henderson's Sunday, April 28th Edgar Allen Poe Museum trip to Richmond;
webmaster Barbara Beaumont's posting of member books & anthologies;
the announcement of May's author/speaker.
After that, we will have our speaky tribute to National Poetry Month. Last week, the Howell branch of the public library system kicked the month-event off with an open poetry read.
This week it is the turn of Riverside Writers, in concert with our very own host library.
A poetry workshop will be held from 2:00 to 2:40 by Beth Spragins and Dan Walker (only the best for you, our membership!), and that segment will be followed until 4pm by an open read (open to the public) of poetry.
Anything can happen – and come hear the muses declaim with the finest poesy! (...
Perhaps later in the year we'll have an open read for only prose, just to keep a balance).
For those attending remotely, please join us in this link for our meeting:
https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment.
Due to late-in-the-meeting commitments, there will be no after-meeting critique session.
Remember, we've only three refreshment-volunteer slots left in the year – July, September and November -- which are still up for grabs on SignUpGenius. Kindly place your generous commitment at: Riverside Writers: Refreshments (signupgenius.com).
Anyhoo, much to do and discuss. I'll meet you on April 13th at the Salem Church Public Library, , 2607 Salem Church Road, Meeting Room #1, from 1:00 to 4:00pm. Be prepared to think, to care, to share and to celebrate the spoken word with friends, peers -- and some of the best imaginations of the Age!
Poetic regards (in honor of the month!),
Steven P. Pody President, Riverside Writer
RW 2024 Calendar Year Tentative Events for 2024
Friends, peers, paid members and non – here is how I see the year as currently shaping up for our wonderfully active club. Cited things may change, but below is a snapshot of what's envisioned for the rest of the Riverside Writer year. We are a mighty organization !
March 31 Five bold authors at AdventureBrewing/Eagle Village (1113 Emancipation Highway/Rt. 1) - Martin Wilsey, William Tang, Beth Spragins, Jim Gaines and Steven Pody … 3 to 6pm
April 6 Celebration of Poetry at Howell Library, 2 to 4pm. Open read w/pre sign-up
April 13 RW monthly meeting. Poetry workshop & poetry open read + Richmond $ to Malanna by this date ($10)
April 25 Congratulations, Riverside Writers. Your club is 26 years old !
April 28 (Sunday) Poe Museum trip, 1914 E. Main Street, Richmond. Tour starts at 11:30am
May 11 RW monthly meeting w/speaker (Ellie Whitney)
June 8 Picnic at William Tang's (1440 Hartwood Road)
June/July Tier One Golden Nib submission to RW judges
July 13 RW monthly meeting w/speaker
August 10 RW monthly meeting / presentation of GN winners w/open read of Tier 1 Winners & open read, all genres
September 1 Last day for RW Anthology submissions. Anthology dedication to Larry Turner, past president, died Oct 15, 2023, age 86
September 14 RW monthly meeting w/speaker
October 12 Fredericksburg Festival of Books, Club meeting in Riverfront Park w/open public read, all genres
November 2 Parent organization Virginia Writers Club annual meeting & award of Tier 2 Golden Nib
November 9 Salem Church Public Library Annual Writer's Conference
November 9 RW monthly meeting – elections (Treasurer/President) & book sale, w/open read, all genres
December 14 Holiday Party, followed by WW III. Have journals and very sharp pencils at the ready
...And that's the rough workup of the future for the moment. Any observations on missed subjects, or questions, kindly let me know.
Bold musings and happy writing to you all !
Steve
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers
March 31 Five bold authors at AdventureBrewing/Eagle Village (1113 Emancipation Highway/Rt. 1) - Martin Wilsey, William Tang, Beth Spragins, Jim Gaines and Steven Pody … 3 to 6pm
April 6 Celebration of Poetry at Howell Library, 2 to 4pm. Open read w/pre sign-up
April 13 RW monthly meeting. Poetry workshop & poetry open read + Richmond $ to Malanna by this date ($10)
April 25 Congratulations, Riverside Writers. Your club is 26 years old !
April 28 (Sunday) Poe Museum trip, 1914 E. Main Street, Richmond. Tour starts at 11:30am
May 11 RW monthly meeting w/speaker (Ellie Whitney)
June 8 Picnic at William Tang's (1440 Hartwood Road)
June/July Tier One Golden Nib submission to RW judges
July 13 RW monthly meeting w/speaker
August 10 RW monthly meeting / presentation of GN winners w/open read of Tier 1 Winners & open read, all genres
September 1 Last day for RW Anthology submissions. Anthology dedication to Larry Turner, past president, died Oct 15, 2023, age 86
September 14 RW monthly meeting w/speaker
October 12 Fredericksburg Festival of Books, Club meeting in Riverfront Park w/open public read, all genres
November 2 Parent organization Virginia Writers Club annual meeting & award of Tier 2 Golden Nib
November 9 Salem Church Public Library Annual Writer's Conference
November 9 RW monthly meeting – elections (Treasurer/President) & book sale, w/open read, all genres
December 14 Holiday Party, followed by WW III. Have journals and very sharp pencils at the ready
...And that's the rough workup of the future for the moment. Any observations on missed subjects, or questions, kindly let me know.
Bold musings and happy writing to you all !
Steve
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers
March 9, 2024 Meeting Message from our Leader Steve Pody
To the magnifico typing, scribbling and dreaming friends and members of Riverside Writers – greetings to ya'all ! I hope this message finds you well and happy. The calendar advanceth, and soon upon us is another monthly meeting. I hope to see you all on Saturday at Salem Church Public Library, Meeting Room #1 at 1 o'clock. Snacks will be provided, courtesy of the supremely kindly Dina Vales. (FYI, we've only three volunteer slots left in the year – July, September and November -- which are still up for grabs on SignUpGenius. Place your generous singular or friend-team commitment at: Riverside Writers: Refreshments (signupgenius.com).)
We again have our phone-in link for our Floridian member Madalin, our Texas member Jorge and anyone else tuning in remotely. The link for our meeting is: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment. Our ever-collective and continuing thanks to Bronwen for making this log-in available to us.
...And, to get right to it, we will have a business meeting to initially launch us - with news, future plans, accomplishments and general club status. Subjects for discussion: Adventure Brewing on March 31st -- featuring our own RW authors; April events such as open reads on April 6th & 13; the poetry workshop; Richmond with Poe; the upcoming, in-development RW Anthology: and, a review of the long-range calendar (critique sessions, speakers, Golden Nib, picnic, book festival). ...Creation and activity in the Information Age, and aren't we all lucky to be a part of the times !?! : )
Following refreshments, we will launch one of our periodic meetings that are dedicated to AUTHOR OPEN READS. Prose or poetry, please sign up to read your original work in front of the finest audience that ever drew a Virginia breath. We will go in order of the sign-up-sheet entries, and each reader will have FIVE MINUTES at the podium. (If you have much to read, I suggest you keep the chatty preambles to a minimum, friends.) There is no particular overall theme, but a few entries about Spring wouldn't be inappropriate. Bring your best, and we'd love to hear you !
After the close of the formal meeting at 3pm, we will have our hour-long critique session available for your further expression, feedback, and honing of your crafty craft, as conducted most skillfully by the ever patient, clever and charming Stephenie Fellinger.
The forecast looks to be rainy and chilly-ish, but t'is just the soft tears from the March lion, and a spritely fellowship of writers won't let that keep them down. We have nice meetings, we're a great group just oozing friendly creativity, and where the heck would anyone rather be? Bring your stories, bring your poems, practice elocution, and hob-knob with some mighty friends! See you on Saturday...
Cheers, and warm, lyric regards,
Steve
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers
We again have our phone-in link for our Floridian member Madalin, our Texas member Jorge and anyone else tuning in remotely. The link for our meeting is: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment. Our ever-collective and continuing thanks to Bronwen for making this log-in available to us.
...And, to get right to it, we will have a business meeting to initially launch us - with news, future plans, accomplishments and general club status. Subjects for discussion: Adventure Brewing on March 31st -- featuring our own RW authors; April events such as open reads on April 6th & 13; the poetry workshop; Richmond with Poe; the upcoming, in-development RW Anthology: and, a review of the long-range calendar (critique sessions, speakers, Golden Nib, picnic, book festival). ...Creation and activity in the Information Age, and aren't we all lucky to be a part of the times !?! : )
Following refreshments, we will launch one of our periodic meetings that are dedicated to AUTHOR OPEN READS. Prose or poetry, please sign up to read your original work in front of the finest audience that ever drew a Virginia breath. We will go in order of the sign-up-sheet entries, and each reader will have FIVE MINUTES at the podium. (If you have much to read, I suggest you keep the chatty preambles to a minimum, friends.) There is no particular overall theme, but a few entries about Spring wouldn't be inappropriate. Bring your best, and we'd love to hear you !
After the close of the formal meeting at 3pm, we will have our hour-long critique session available for your further expression, feedback, and honing of your crafty craft, as conducted most skillfully by the ever patient, clever and charming Stephenie Fellinger.
The forecast looks to be rainy and chilly-ish, but t'is just the soft tears from the March lion, and a spritely fellowship of writers won't let that keep them down. We have nice meetings, we're a great group just oozing friendly creativity, and where the heck would anyone rather be? Bring your stories, bring your poems, practice elocution, and hob-knob with some mighty friends! See you on Saturday...
Cheers, and warm, lyric regards,
Steve
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers
FEBRUARY 2024 MESSAGE FROM STEVE
Goodness + gracious, a lot is going on, dear membership. Lots of interesting things are happening, and we have much to see, hear and discuss at our upcoming meeting. We are going to have an amazing speaker, Goldeen Ogawa, calling in from Bend, Oregon, and will then follow on with a business meeting full of info of interest and vasty decisions of club course direction. Additionally, we will be having some loverly snacks. ...And as a reminder, two further months of the year are snack-claimed: August and October - so March, April, May, July, September and November are still up for grabs on SignUpGenius. Place your generous volunteer commitment at: Riverside Writers: Refreshments (signupgenius.com).
We again have our phone in link for our Floridian member Madalin, our Texas member Jorge and anyone else tuning in remotely. The link for our meeting is: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment. Our collective thanks to Bronwen for continuing to make this log-in available to us.
On the agenda for this Saturday at Salem Church Public Library, Meeting Room #1 at 1 o'clock, will be an internet presentation by Goldeen Ogawa, brought to you by our Social arranger, Miriam. Ms. Ogawa is "an author and illustrator of science fiction and fantasy whose works include the Professor Odd novellas, The Adventures of Bouragner Feipz short story collections, the fantasy novel Lucena in the House of Madgrin, the Driving Arcana series, and the webcomic Year of the God-Fox. Main subjects will be smashing writer's block, and how to create compelling and fantastical worlds. 'Twill be a rousing start to the meeting!
Following wanton consumption of snacks will be a business meeting with a lot of new business. We have the special April meeting to discuss, which will be a combination of poetry workshop and an open-to-the-public open poetry read (in celebration of National Poetry Month). VP Malanna would also like to discuss April as the likely time for a collective, fun trip to the Poe house in Richmond - at a date different from the monthly meeting on the 13th. Malanna has done some amazing groundwork, and April-oriented flyers produced by her will be coming your way soon. Perhaps she will also fill us in about a speaker that she has lined up for our May meeting. ...And, Barbara Beaumont would love to update everyone on her hard-earned website progress.
Discussion will also touch on Adventure Brewing, Eagle Village - on the Mary Washington University campus. They apparently host open readings themselves, with Lakeside Writers reading there on February 25th. We've been invited to be a good audience. ...Anyhoo, Riverside Writers has also received an invitation to take over an evening presentation, and volunteers will be solicited to represent the club. Hopefully I'll have more information by the time of our Saturday meeting.
In addition to working up an amazing April, and almost starting to sort of think about a June picnic, esteemed Texas member Jorge wants to broach the long-time-range topic of A NEW CLUB ANTHOLOGY. Riverside Writers produces a hard print anthology once every three or four years, and it is time to again think upon the subject. Have you a story, essay or poem that you think worthy of representing you and promoting the honor of your Club in a collective member-rich collection? If not, get yerself a'writin'! We are going to discuss parameters (a when-to-get your-work-in-by date, a prose and poetry size limit, a 'produce-by' date...) and seek out publishing experience among the membership ...and volunteers. This isn't a contest, per se, and while we'll have proofers, there will be no judges. Whatcha think, is it time?
Aaannnnnddd, finally, after the business meeting, we envision, from 3 to 4pm, holding a voluntary critique session. For at least this February get-together, the deeply respected Stephenie Fellinger will oversee operations. If you'd like to participate, she recommends 5 to 10 copies of your work, with a limit of 5 double-space pages. This session is complementary to the Books-A-Million group and the Cosner's Corners get-together, and if you'd like to see it work and become an after-meeting tradition (as it was of old), then join in!
Finally, a notice to our email list that a further membership dues appeal will be coming out soon. Our Secretary, Valerie Horton, and our Treasurer, William Tang, will both be unable to attend Saturday's meeting so, if not mailing, please give your $20 dues check to either VP Malanna or myself. ...And, William wanted me to give all of you finest wishes for a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year!
Wishing all a beautiful and lyric week. See ya'all for an amazing meeting!
Steven Pody
President, Riverside Writers
P.S. My apologies for an error about the Virginia maple syrup farms. I called them the southernmost maple syrup producers in my passed- along note of the spring festival to members. Dan Walker pointed out that my info is a tad old, as Fallingwater Farm – the only producer in all of North Carolina – now has that honor (commercially, since about 2006-2012).
Goodness + gracious, a lot is going on, dear membership. Lots of interesting things are happening, and we have much to see, hear and discuss at our upcoming meeting. We are going to have an amazing speaker, Goldeen Ogawa, calling in from Bend, Oregon, and will then follow on with a business meeting full of info of interest and vasty decisions of club course direction. Additionally, we will be having some loverly snacks. ...And as a reminder, two further months of the year are snack-claimed: August and October - so March, April, May, July, September and November are still up for grabs on SignUpGenius. Place your generous volunteer commitment at: Riverside Writers: Refreshments (signupgenius.com).
We again have our phone in link for our Floridian member Madalin, our Texas member Jorge and anyone else tuning in remotely. The link for our meeting is: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment. Our collective thanks to Bronwen for continuing to make this log-in available to us.
On the agenda for this Saturday at Salem Church Public Library, Meeting Room #1 at 1 o'clock, will be an internet presentation by Goldeen Ogawa, brought to you by our Social arranger, Miriam. Ms. Ogawa is "an author and illustrator of science fiction and fantasy whose works include the Professor Odd novellas, The Adventures of Bouragner Feipz short story collections, the fantasy novel Lucena in the House of Madgrin, the Driving Arcana series, and the webcomic Year of the God-Fox. Main subjects will be smashing writer's block, and how to create compelling and fantastical worlds. 'Twill be a rousing start to the meeting!
Following wanton consumption of snacks will be a business meeting with a lot of new business. We have the special April meeting to discuss, which will be a combination of poetry workshop and an open-to-the-public open poetry read (in celebration of National Poetry Month). VP Malanna would also like to discuss April as the likely time for a collective, fun trip to the Poe house in Richmond - at a date different from the monthly meeting on the 13th. Malanna has done some amazing groundwork, and April-oriented flyers produced by her will be coming your way soon. Perhaps she will also fill us in about a speaker that she has lined up for our May meeting. ...And, Barbara Beaumont would love to update everyone on her hard-earned website progress.
Discussion will also touch on Adventure Brewing, Eagle Village - on the Mary Washington University campus. They apparently host open readings themselves, with Lakeside Writers reading there on February 25th. We've been invited to be a good audience. ...Anyhoo, Riverside Writers has also received an invitation to take over an evening presentation, and volunteers will be solicited to represent the club. Hopefully I'll have more information by the time of our Saturday meeting.
In addition to working up an amazing April, and almost starting to sort of think about a June picnic, esteemed Texas member Jorge wants to broach the long-time-range topic of A NEW CLUB ANTHOLOGY. Riverside Writers produces a hard print anthology once every three or four years, and it is time to again think upon the subject. Have you a story, essay or poem that you think worthy of representing you and promoting the honor of your Club in a collective member-rich collection? If not, get yerself a'writin'! We are going to discuss parameters (a when-to-get your-work-in-by date, a prose and poetry size limit, a 'produce-by' date...) and seek out publishing experience among the membership ...and volunteers. This isn't a contest, per se, and while we'll have proofers, there will be no judges. Whatcha think, is it time?
Aaannnnnddd, finally, after the business meeting, we envision, from 3 to 4pm, holding a voluntary critique session. For at least this February get-together, the deeply respected Stephenie Fellinger will oversee operations. If you'd like to participate, she recommends 5 to 10 copies of your work, with a limit of 5 double-space pages. This session is complementary to the Books-A-Million group and the Cosner's Corners get-together, and if you'd like to see it work and become an after-meeting tradition (as it was of old), then join in!
Finally, a notice to our email list that a further membership dues appeal will be coming out soon. Our Secretary, Valerie Horton, and our Treasurer, William Tang, will both be unable to attend Saturday's meeting so, if not mailing, please give your $20 dues check to either VP Malanna or myself. ...And, William wanted me to give all of you finest wishes for a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year!
Wishing all a beautiful and lyric week. See ya'all for an amazing meeting!
Steven Pody
President, Riverside Writers
P.S. My apologies for an error about the Virginia maple syrup farms. I called them the southernmost maple syrup producers in my passed- along note of the spring festival to members. Dan Walker pointed out that my info is a tad old, as Fallingwater Farm – the only producer in all of North Carolina – now has that honor (commercially, since about 2006-2012).
January 2024 Steven Pody, President, Riverside Writers
P.S. The February 10th meeting agenda will be out in a week.
Poets & Writers Magazine Writing Contests, Grants & Awards January/March15th 2024 | Poets & Writers (pw.org) <click there to go to the site
Writing Contests, Grants & Awards The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.
Ask Steve by clicking here to email you a more detailed list.
P.S. The February 10th meeting agenda will be out in a week.
Poets & Writers Magazine Writing Contests, Grants & Awards January/March15th 2024 | Poets & Writers (pw.org) <click there to go to the site
Writing Contests, Grants & Awards The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.
Ask Steve by clicking here to email you a more detailed list.
Jan 19 2024 Email from Steve on Scholarships
From Jenn — I have exciting news:
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) is excited to announce that applications are now open for their 2024 Scholarships and Summer Internship programs! To read the rest of the article click here. Scholarships
From Jenn — I have exciting news:
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) is excited to announce that applications are now open for their 2024 Scholarships and Summer Internship programs! To read the rest of the article click here. Scholarships
Steve's Emails and Other Resources January 2024
Hello, young lovers, prose writers and poets, wherever you are. I hope your troubles are few ...to paraphrase a song line from the musical "The King And I". ...Another year of promise and turmoil friends, and may you all be having a fine time in the beauty of the breathing, living world. How many of you will be writing books or chapbooks this year? How many will make purposeful efforts to hone your writing skills and craft? Who is going to overeat at the annual picnic? Promise and greatness await – we just have to live long enough and triumph in the end. Simple !
Your treasurer William and I have spent a couple of months updating the massive and often conflicting data of our membership roster. I have sent out the results of our updated findings to ya'all in another email. Please read it, when you have the opportunity. In simple terms, membership is power. If we seek great speakers, or a significant place at the Virginia Writers Club table ...or any venue for that matter, 'tis better to cite a membership of mighty numbers and influence than it is to say that we are a well-intentioned band of a dozen or twenty indifferent souls. Likewise in the dues department – we do with money, and we don't with no money. Gather up your well-earned pride as a member of a meaningful professional and amateur writing association, continue to be part of something truly special ...and kindly do the right thing.
Our thanks to Malanna Henderson for volunteering to bring this month's snacks ! Bravo. According to SignUpGenius, two other months of the year are already spoken for, leaving only another seven months for people to vie for in their scramble to be outrageously generous (with 1 month for the picnic and 1 for our holiday party). Place your altruistic and tasty commitment at: Riverside Writers: Refreshments (signupgenius.com).
For Carol Horton, our Floridian Madalin, and anyone else tuning in remotely, the link for our meeting is: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment. Our collective thanks to Bronwen for continuing to make this log-in available to us. On the agenda for this Saturday at Salem Church Public Library, Meeting Room #1 at 1 o'clock, will be an internet presentation on how to construct a book using Microsoft Word. ...A lot of people assume it is just a matter of determined writing and of cobbling segments together, but it can be quite a challenge of formatting margins, chapters and pagination (page numbering). Even old hats at the game may learn a thing or two.
Barbara Beaumont has been toiling away heroically at our soon-to-be-published new website, and will have some updates to relate. ...And stay tuned for news of an unfolding and dynamic year to come. For instance, Goldeen Ogawa, an excellent Sci-Fi author, currently living in Oregon, will be with us as a Zoom guest in February, speaking about her work and how to come up with story ideas and create worlds. ...I believe we're going to have quite a club year ahead of us, and let's take the high road together, shall we?
See you on Saturday, and wishing you a fine week until then !
Steve
Steven Pody
President, Riverside Writers
Your treasurer William and I have spent a couple of months updating the massive and often conflicting data of our membership roster. I have sent out the results of our updated findings to ya'all in another email. Please read it, when you have the opportunity. In simple terms, membership is power. If we seek great speakers, or a significant place at the Virginia Writers Club table ...or any venue for that matter, 'tis better to cite a membership of mighty numbers and influence than it is to say that we are a well-intentioned band of a dozen or twenty indifferent souls. Likewise in the dues department – we do with money, and we don't with no money. Gather up your well-earned pride as a member of a meaningful professional and amateur writing association, continue to be part of something truly special ...and kindly do the right thing.
Our thanks to Malanna Henderson for volunteering to bring this month's snacks ! Bravo. According to SignUpGenius, two other months of the year are already spoken for, leaving only another seven months for people to vie for in their scramble to be outrageously generous (with 1 month for the picnic and 1 for our holiday party). Place your altruistic and tasty commitment at: Riverside Writers: Refreshments (signupgenius.com).
For Carol Horton, our Floridian Madalin, and anyone else tuning in remotely, the link for our meeting is: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment. Our collective thanks to Bronwen for continuing to make this log-in available to us. On the agenda for this Saturday at Salem Church Public Library, Meeting Room #1 at 1 o'clock, will be an internet presentation on how to construct a book using Microsoft Word. ...A lot of people assume it is just a matter of determined writing and of cobbling segments together, but it can be quite a challenge of formatting margins, chapters and pagination (page numbering). Even old hats at the game may learn a thing or two.
Barbara Beaumont has been toiling away heroically at our soon-to-be-published new website, and will have some updates to relate. ...And stay tuned for news of an unfolding and dynamic year to come. For instance, Goldeen Ogawa, an excellent Sci-Fi author, currently living in Oregon, will be with us as a Zoom guest in February, speaking about her work and how to come up with story ideas and create worlds. ...I believe we're going to have quite a club year ahead of us, and let's take the high road together, shall we?
See you on Saturday, and wishing you a fine week until then !
Steve
Steven Pody
President, Riverside Writers
Steve's Emails and Other Resources December 2023
December 10, 2023
Season's greetings, ye mighty writers! Yesterday, December 9th, was our annual RW holiday party.
A fine time was had, with great eats, drink and company. We had club business to discuss, and holiday or season-oriented readings to thrill or chortle over. 'Twas fun! Two vital of-the-moment decisions were voted upon and passed.
Relative to our email rolls -- of 106 writing and/or reading aficionados (35 of whom are paid members), we had a core of 17 high-spirited individuals attend the party and personally maketh a merry ensemble. Seventeen present, and 89 larking otherwise. Ergo, many missed out on a good thang. ...And let me remark on this about that: Seventeen fine and literate souls were quite adequate to reasonably, physically occupy a room, and mutually support each other's cheer of the season. We had a good time. ...But more than that, it felt to me that we were sufficient to accomplish something thoroughly formidable in this desperate day and age of antagonistic doings and dire news. Collectively, for a brief moment and in a small space, we managed to achieve something remarkable. In a room containing different religions, sexes, temperaments, backgrounds and races -- oblivious of any divisions between or amongst us, we found true camaraderie, happiness and peace. What the world and season aspire to cherish - we found in two hours of good food, fellowship and common cause. It might not have been a manger scene, or a pow-wow next to a burning bush my friends ...but it was enough. If hope of the future rested on finding at least ten worthy and good people in the Fredericksburg area (and who, additionally, had fun), then rejoice that the mark was surpassed, spontaneous eruptions of salt pillars avoided, and the future assured for the moment. On to 2024, and happy holidays wished to you all !
Steve
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers
Season's greetings, ye mighty writers! Yesterday, December 9th, was our annual RW holiday party.
A fine time was had, with great eats, drink and company. We had club business to discuss, and holiday or season-oriented readings to thrill or chortle over. 'Twas fun! Two vital of-the-moment decisions were voted upon and passed.
- As of January 1st 2024 annual dues will be $20 (about 5.46 cents a day). Postmarks before that date remain $15 (21 more days to go!)
Please send your annual dues check to our Treasurer, made payable to: Riverside Writers, C/O William Tang, Treasurer, 1440 Hartwood Road, Fredericksburg, VA, 22406, or you may present your Application and check at the next regular meeting you attend. - We will be funding ($144/yr) a new, more informative and more responsive website. Look for changes soon!
Relative to our email rolls -- of 106 writing and/or reading aficionados (35 of whom are paid members), we had a core of 17 high-spirited individuals attend the party and personally maketh a merry ensemble. Seventeen present, and 89 larking otherwise. Ergo, many missed out on a good thang. ...And let me remark on this about that: Seventeen fine and literate souls were quite adequate to reasonably, physically occupy a room, and mutually support each other's cheer of the season. We had a good time. ...But more than that, it felt to me that we were sufficient to accomplish something thoroughly formidable in this desperate day and age of antagonistic doings and dire news. Collectively, for a brief moment and in a small space, we managed to achieve something remarkable. In a room containing different religions, sexes, temperaments, backgrounds and races -- oblivious of any divisions between or amongst us, we found true camaraderie, happiness and peace. What the world and season aspire to cherish - we found in two hours of good food, fellowship and common cause. It might not have been a manger scene, or a pow-wow next to a burning bush my friends ...but it was enough. If hope of the future rested on finding at least ten worthy and good people in the Fredericksburg area (and who, additionally, had fun), then rejoice that the mark was surpassed, spontaneous eruptions of salt pillars avoided, and the future assured for the moment. On to 2024, and happy holidays wished to you all !
Steve
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers
12/1/2023
Greetings, oh dynamic RW membership! I hope you are all well and prospering in this holiday season... : )
The big deal this month is, of course, our holiday party. So far, three people have signed up in our potluck/signupgenius site to bring stuff to La Partay. We have a fruit platter, a cheese/salami tray, and Alaskan vegetarian baked beans coming soon to a belly near you. Holiday cookies, drinks or "other" would be nice, if some folk would care to additionally contribute. Place your kindly commitment at: Riverside Writers: Refreshments (signupgenius.com). (After you hit the 'sign up' button, scroll to the bottom of the page and hit the button there to proceed to the volunteer specifics page.) The party starts at 1pm at the Salem Church Public Library, Meeting Room #1, and continues until about 3:15ish. Bring your own holiday-oriented writings as, after a short business meeting, there will be opportunities to read -- and, if desired -- to sing!
By the way, the local chapter of the Poetry Society of Virginia has been invited to the party (some people are members of both the RW and the PSV) and some fresh faces might, therefore, be showing up to join in the holiday cheer.
As for that pesky alluded-to business segment of our meeting, we will have officer reports and then discuss two subjects of current importance -- committing to a paid homepage for the club, and the raising of dues. (To whit: A new website will cost the club some $144 per annum - which is the current annual dues of ten members - almost a third of the paying membership of the club all by itself. Our budget has other recurring obligations added to that.)
Again, I don't know if we'll have an internet connection for a meeting video connect, but if there is a demand we will try. The link for this is: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment
Also, December is a great month to bring in your 2024 annual dues. Easy to remember, and this might be your last chance to pay a bargain $15 to Treasurer William, before our potential dues hike. (Check made out to: Riverside Writers). People who joined in October, November or December 2023 are paid through 2024.
This will also be an opportunity to herald our changing of the guard and new officers, who take over in January.
(Of course 'goodbye' is just a departure from office. We hope everyone will stick around as we collectively write ourselves into the awesome future.)
In sum, I and your fellow writers would love to see you on Saturday to celebrate the holidays, another fine year together, and great writing within a fellowship of some quite remarkable people. Hope to see ya there, friends!
Steve
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers
Greetings, oh dynamic RW membership! I hope you are all well and prospering in this holiday season... : )
The big deal this month is, of course, our holiday party. So far, three people have signed up in our potluck/signupgenius site to bring stuff to La Partay. We have a fruit platter, a cheese/salami tray, and Alaskan vegetarian baked beans coming soon to a belly near you. Holiday cookies, drinks or "other" would be nice, if some folk would care to additionally contribute. Place your kindly commitment at: Riverside Writers: Refreshments (signupgenius.com). (After you hit the 'sign up' button, scroll to the bottom of the page and hit the button there to proceed to the volunteer specifics page.) The party starts at 1pm at the Salem Church Public Library, Meeting Room #1, and continues until about 3:15ish. Bring your own holiday-oriented writings as, after a short business meeting, there will be opportunities to read -- and, if desired -- to sing!
By the way, the local chapter of the Poetry Society of Virginia has been invited to the party (some people are members of both the RW and the PSV) and some fresh faces might, therefore, be showing up to join in the holiday cheer.
As for that pesky alluded-to business segment of our meeting, we will have officer reports and then discuss two subjects of current importance -- committing to a paid homepage for the club, and the raising of dues. (To whit: A new website will cost the club some $144 per annum - which is the current annual dues of ten members - almost a third of the paying membership of the club all by itself. Our budget has other recurring obligations added to that.)
Again, I don't know if we'll have an internet connection for a meeting video connect, but if there is a demand we will try. The link for this is: https://teenenrichmentnetwork.my.webex.com/meet/teenenrichment
Also, December is a great month to bring in your 2024 annual dues. Easy to remember, and this might be your last chance to pay a bargain $15 to Treasurer William, before our potential dues hike. (Check made out to: Riverside Writers). People who joined in October, November or December 2023 are paid through 2024.
This will also be an opportunity to herald our changing of the guard and new officers, who take over in January.
- Vice President: Goodbye and thanks to Bronwen Chisholm, and hello to Malanna Henderson
- Secretary: Goodbye and thanks to Carol Horton, and hello to Valerie Horton (neither of whom hear a Who)
- Web Master/Speaker Arranger: Goodbye and thanks to Nate Hoffelder, and hello to Barbara Beaumont and Miriam Pody
(Of course 'goodbye' is just a departure from office. We hope everyone will stick around as we collectively write ourselves into the awesome future.)
In sum, I and your fellow writers would love to see you on Saturday to celebrate the holidays, another fine year together, and great writing within a fellowship of some quite remarkable people. Hope to see ya there, friends!
Steve
Steven P. Pody
President, Riverside Writers