Writers Bring New Landscapes

This is when Jackson really starts looking exciting! Get your tickets – FREE – to meet the man named “the nation’s premiere nature writer” when the Teton County Library and Library Foundation present Page to the Podium: Barry Lopez on Thursday, December 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Center Theater, Center for the Arts.

Then this Memoir Writing Workshop with Debra Gwartney Co-presented by the Teton County Library and Jackson Hole Writers Conference

Writing Your Memoir: Writers Workshop with Debra Gwartney

Friday December 4 – 10am-noon

Teton County Library Auditorium

To register contact: odoherty@tclib.org or 733-2164 ext. 135

This workshop will include how to get started, how to develop an organizational structure, how to work with memories to craft them into a story rather than a chronological revisitation of the past, and how to focus on the emotional depth of memories.

Debra Gwartney is the author of the memoir, Live Through This, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in February 2009. The book is related to the story of her relationship with her daughters broadcast on This American Life in 2002. A member of the nonfiction writing faculty at Portland State University in Oregon, Debra is co-editor, with Barry Lopez, of Home Ground: Language for an American Landscape, published in 2006 by Trinity University Press. Her short stories, personal narratives, essays, and articles have appeared in numerous magazines and journals.

 

Redneck Satire

Tune in to 89.1 KHOL for Mike Bressler and his Saddles to Sushi

3pm, Wednesday, September 30

Bressler will read from and discuss his newish book Saddles to Sushi – based on a series of articles that appeared in his column, “Redneck Perspective,” in Planet Jackson Hole under the pen name of Clyde Thornhill. A Jackson Hole valley native, Mike doesn’t hesitate to tackle the tough topics: “Bagel, the New Age Bisquit”, or “Politics, Chicken, and Black Lace”, or “Beers, Babes, and Misunderstanding”, or  the “Redneck Retirement Plan”. 

In the forward to his book Susan Marsh calls him “a unique mix…He can spin a tale of the antics of a redneck MCP [male chauvinist pig] and leave an aging bra-burner like me laughing…he gets it right on as he observes the bizarre confluence of the Old West and the New.”

In the meantime, Mike kindly submitted this writing exercise to help you spice up your characters:

Writing in first or third person, have the character in your story prepare a meal. Using only description of the ingredients and cooking technique, let the reader know if he a homicidal maniac, a saint or an executioner. Who is she cooking for, a lover perhaps, maybe someone who betrayed her and for whom she is planning revenge? Metaphor is fine but no abstract ideals like love, hate despair, hope and the like. If the character is in love or hates show it though his cooking style and choice of ingredients. Be sure to use lots of garlic and please, no sushi!

 

An Evening with Don DeLillo

Don DeLillo’s books leave you with a feeling that you know too much, you’re just not sure exactly what it is you know. He takes you inside his characters and into the fabric of the places we think we know, only to surprise us ever-so quietly with insight and absurdity. This is a rare chance to be in the presence of a masterful writer.

To get a taste of his novel White Noise, listen to a book discussion that aired on the Lonely Stool at 89.1 fm KHOL.

To save you from googling around, Kansas State University has the works on DeLillo.

All of this is just the prep for:

 

Clubbing the Classics

We are teaming up with Teton County Library to offer a lively discussion of the classics. All are invited – whether you are well-read or just want to get a taste of some great literature. Don’t be shy! The more diverse the group the more we’ll get out of the discussion! We’ll be kicking it off with a mini-lecture to help place the book historically and within the context of literature and the author’s life. These novels are sure to spark some interesting dialogue since the themes are as relevant today as when they were written.

Here’s the scoop from the library:

Clubbing the Classics: The Gothic Novel. Explore classic gothic novels with local writer and bibliophile Nicole Burdick. Clubbing the Classics will meet the second Wednesday of the month for three months, 5:30-6:45 p.m., with free books for the first 10 participants who sign up for all three sessions.

Sept. 9: Frankenstein

Oct. 14: Wuthering Heights

Nov. 11: Picture of Dorian Gray

To reserve your spot and get free books, contact Adult Humanities Coordinator Oona Doherty at 733-2164 ext. 135 or odoherty@tclib.org

I know, I know – what about Poe? Don’t worry, I’m sure we won’t miss him. Hope to see you there!

 

We’re back – after a great 09 Conference.

You said it, and we thank you for it. The conference was an overwhelming success because of all of you who participated – both featured guests and writers. Those who critiqued manuscripts had many accolades to share about your submissions, so keep us up-to-date on your publishing successes!

Just like camp, we’re sure many of you are corresponding and perhaps even sharing some of your work. Isn’t it fun!

After a few weeks of down time we at the conference are back at it. The blog will be more active in the upcoming months, so keep an eye out. Most importantly, we’re busy putting together a 2010 line up worthy of your presence. If you have ideas or connections you want to share, we are all ears. It’s looking good so far…

We are also accepting donations at this time to support our 2010 programming. As a non-profit, based in Jackson Hole, this is our most critical fundraising time. Through the Community Foundation’s Old Bill’s Fun Run, all of the money we raise is matched. If you have an extra $20 to share we appreciate every contribution. If you can do more to support the literary arts and your writing community, by all means consider the Jackson Hole Writers Conference as a valuable resource for writers, readers and ideas. We run the conference on a tight budget so that you see your support where you want it most – interactive programming, workshops, and top-notch authors gracing the conference each year.

You’re about to hear a lot about Old Bill’s because it’s a powerful and innovative philanthropy opportunity which continues to have a weighty impact on this community and beyond. By donating here, you can smile each time you hear about Old Bill’s knowing you’ve already done your part.

 

Writing Contest for Conference Attendees

JH Writers Conference Story and Poetry Contest. Winners Wear Cloudveil

 
What: Story and Poetry Contest
Who: Jackson Hole Writers Conference Participants
Where: Jackson Hole and The Internet
Deadline: June 24
Prize: Cloudveil Gear

True inspiration traverses and connects cultures.

Cloudveil is partnering with the Jackson Hole Writers Conference to sponsor an online, reader-judged story and poetry contest. The contest is for Jackson Hole Writers Conference attendees only, but it will be judged publicly by the thousands of faithful and new readers of the wonderful The Mountain Culture blog who relish the inspired life. See full details and submission guidelines here.

The theme:  Inspiration – what moves us from essence to exultation, from source to summit, from muse to masterpiece

 

Flash Fiction Winner

Katherine E. Standefer for her story, “Stealthwalkers”. See more here.

Thank you all for your fantastic entries! We are moving quickly toward the Jackson Hole Writers Conference, June 25-28. While it would have been great to award all of you a scholarship to the Conference for your quality flash fiction, we hope that each and every one of you will join us this year for another rich, inspiring, and above all, fun weekend of words, dialogues, and compelling speakers. You will meet fellow writers, editors, agents, esteemed authors and the stunning Jackson Hole. Check out the exciting features and come be our guest.

 

Writing Practice

Some of us have habits, hats and superstitions to ensure our imaginative streams of brilliance will continue to pour out onto the page. Others of us are more methodical, sitting down like chess masters moving our protagonists and thoughts line by line into existence. Whatever your pleasure, this new blog page will provide you with a look at innovative and classic, and creative and practical, ways to get the pen moving. You’ll learn from pros and novices alike the games and exercises that keep us in motion.

The first exercise comes to us from William Haywood Henderson who will visit Jackson Hole in May for these two great literary opportunities:

Friday, May 1, 2009 – The Jackson Hole Writers Conference hosts William Haywood Henderson, at 7pm, at the Teton County Library for a reading dubbed: “From Obsession to Story”. Henderson has written three (working on number four) novels set primarily in Wyoming. His characters are often solitary figures facing tough odds in a daunting environment. Why does Henderson return to these landscapes and themes, and how does he keep from just telling the same story over and over? Henderson will read excerpts from his novels, talk about sources of inspiration, and try to show how writers’ obsessions inform and, ultimately, control the stories he tells. Free.

Saturday, May 2, 2009 – “Evoking Mood and Meaning”  at the Creative Writing Workshop, 9 am-noon. Jackson Hole Writers Conference and Teton County Library offer this free writing workshop at the Center for the Arts. It’s free; space is limited to 20. To register contact Tim Sandlin, 413-3331, tim@jacksonholewritersconference.com.

 

Tales from the Hole

Put in your two cents by contributing to the ongoing stories created by and for our writing community. Paragraph by paragraph is the approach. Every comment you make is a new paragraph in the stories that will evolve directly from your creative inputs.

Anyone and everyone is encouraged to continue these stories by submitting a paragraph in the comments section. We’re not sure how this will work yet, but we suggest you do not submit more than one paragraph (200 words or less) at a time as that would take away from the group fiction dynamic. We suggest that you respect the choices of those who came before by adding and not denying elements that have already become part of the story. You may end a story any time, with subjective fortitude, by simply posting “the end” in your comments. If you then submit a paragraph to start a new story you become a hero in this blog world.

Links to story and poetry threads are on the right. Join in wherever you like.