November 2023 Event

2023 MEETING DATES RESET

 ALL LISTED MEETING DATES ARE SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAYS FROM 2:00PM TO 4:00PM AND ARE HELD IN THE BASEMENT COMMITTEE ROOM AT THE WESTFIELD ATHENAEUM. THE COMMITTEE ROOM IS REACHED VIA THE FRONT ENTRANCE LOBBY. THERE IS A STAIRCASE ON THE LEFT. GO DOWN THE STAIRS, GO FORWARD, TURN LEFT INTO THE COMMITTEE ROOM. IF YOU NEED AN ELEVATOR PLEASE ASK FOR ASSISTANCE AT THE FRONT DESK AND THEY WILL HELP YOU. THE LIBRARY IS LOCATED IN WESTFIELD, MA ON THE CORNER OF ELM STREET AND COURT STREET DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE TOWN GREEN. THERE IS PARKING IN THE BACK.

MEETINGS DATES FOR APRIL THROUGH AUGUST 2023 ARE:

APRIL 29TH

MAY 20TH

JUNE 24TH

JULY 22ND

AUGUST 19TH

THE FIRST THREE DATES DIFFER FROM WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON THE WHIPCITY WORDSMITHS MEMBERS PAGE. KELLY AND I DISCOVERED SCHEDULING CONFLICTS SO WE HAD TO RESCHEDULE APRIL-JUNE.

ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL US AT whipcitywordsmiths@gmail.com

THE WHIPCITY WORDSMITHS IS A SOCIAL AND SUPPORT GROUP FOR ALL WRITERS. WE DO NOT WRITE TO PROMPTS. WE DO READ FROM OUR WORK AND OFFER ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE WHEN ASKED. WE ARE A RELAXED AND FRIENDLY GROUP OF LOCAL AUTHORS AND WRITERS WHO WELCOME WRITERS AT ALL LEVELS OF THE CRAFT. THE GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED IN JUNE OF 2017 AND WILL BE CELEBRATING IT'S 6TH YEAR IN 2023. 

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO ATTEND A MEETING TO SEE WHAT THIS GROUP IS ALL ABOUT. WE WELCOME GUESTS AND VISITORS BUT WE ASK THAT VISITORS NOT BE DISRUPTIVE OR THEY WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE. THESE ARE NOT FORMAL MEETINGS BT RATHER CASUAL GATHERINGS OF WRITERS/AUTHORS TO SHARE WRITING INSIGHTS, INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUTHORS TO SHOW THEIR BOOKS AT AREA EVENTS, SELF-PUBLISHING INSIGHTS, AND SO FORTH.

KELLY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT FUTURE MEETINGS!

KEEP WRITING!

About Artoberfest

 The date of Artworks of Westfield's Artoberfest has been changed to Saturday, October 22nd. I do not have a lot of information about the event but at the last board meeting I did express the authors concerns from last year's event when we felt so isolated on the green island surrounded by whizzing traffic and visited by maybe a quarter of the community members who browsed the art and watched the performances on stage while we watched the clouds and visited with one another on the Green. I also let them know that we don't want to be in one overwhelming cluster but interspersed among the artists so people aren't  overwhelmed and distracted by so many books in one place. Literature needs to be digested in small bites-especially in this short attention span society we live in.

Anyway-I am looking to sign up authors for the event that I am hoping will be a much better experience this year than it was last year for us. I'm not sure how many authors I'll be allowed so please contact me at whipcitywordsmiths@gmail.com ASAP (it's already the end of August!! How did that happen???) so I can add you to the list I've started.

I'll try to post more info in regards to the event as soon as it's available to me!

Don't forget to read the notice of date changes for the October-December 2022 WhipCity Wordsmiths' meetings in the previous post!

Where did summer go???

REVISED MEETING DATES SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2022

THIS IS IMPORTANT!!

Due to the change in date for Artoberfest in October from the 8th to the 22nd the meeting date had to be changed since many Wordsmiths participate in this event in Westfield. Also, I had been contacted by a Wordsmith who is available only every other Saturday and every Saturday I had chosen happened to fall on a workday for him. Therefore, I changed the last two meeting dates of the year to make them available to other Wordsmiths who have jobs. I just go by my availability when scheduling meetings, but I do not have to be at any particular meeting in order for the meeting to take place as five years into our group meetings and familiarity with one another I firmly believe the group members will do well even if I wasn't present. Kelly can run a meeting also if I'm unable to attend.

These are the REVISED MEETING DATES for the remainder of 2022:

September 10th

October 1st

November 12th

December 10th

I thank Becky Blackburn, our contact at the Westfield Athenaeum for her quick response to my email and how swiftly she revised the schedule on her end to make the revisions happen. She is amazing.

See you on September 10th at 2PM in the Committee Room for our next meeting!

August 2022 Meeting

Just a quick reminder that the WhipCity Wordsmiths will be meeting in the basement Committe Room at the Westfield Athenaeum (in the front entrance lobby facing into the library turn left and go down the staircase, go forward and then turn left to enter the Committee Room) on Saturday, August 13th, 2022 at 2PM to 4PM. 

Kelly and I are so pleased that the group continues to grow with the addition of new members!

Please bring something to read- it can be something you've written in the past or a piece from what you are currently working on, or even a memorable bit of wordsmithing by one of your favorite authors that still moves you when you read it today!

We welcome writers and authors at all levels of the craft and pride ourselves on being a true social and support group for all writers where we each bring our own unique personalities and characters to meetings as we share our writing styles and enjoy the pleasure of camaraderie among fellow wordsmiths.

Kelly and I hope you're enjoying what is turning out to be a scorcher of a summer!

July Meeting 2022

 The July WhipCity Wordsmiths meeting will be on Saturday, the 16th from 2PM to 4PM in the basement Committee Meeting Room at the Westfield Athenaeum on the corner of Elm and Court Streets in downtown Westfield (across from the green. Attendance is not mandatory. Summer is here so if you're on the boat, on vacation, or simply on some much need rest and relaxation time that's perfectly acceptable and wonderful! If you'd like to gather with fellow authors/writers/poets for some social time and to perhaps share something you've written feel free to drop by.

Our last two meetings have been very nice with several of our many poets sharing their work, and Jeff Vanouvenhove sharing a short piece from a new book he's currently working on. Robert Thompson read from his first novel written for an adult audience. Its theme is reincarnation. Very interesting! The simple joy of sitting and chatting with other writers cannot be beat. No one understands a writer better than another writer.

If you can make it to the meeting please come. The Athenaeum is a wonderful and very welcoming place. To reach the Committee Room enter via the front entrance and veer left down the staircase, go forward and then left into the committee room. From the rear entrance walk straight through the main floor toward the front entrance. Go down a few steps into the foyer area, then turn right and descend the staircase, go forward and then left into the Committee Room.

We celebrated our fifth anniversary as a writer's social and support group this past June! We have over a hundred members although many of them are quiet members. Over 70 of us are on the groups members only facebook page where we share writing insights and news about our work, and sometimes funny jokes about writers and so forth! There is also a public WhipCity Wordsmiths facebook page.

Have a safe and happy summer!  Susan

MEETING NOTES FROM MARCH 19, 2022

 

WhipCity Wordsmiths Meeting Minutes 3/19/2022

     The WhipCity Wordsmiths resumed in-person meetings on Saturday, March 19^th, 2022 at the Westfield Athenaeum. The meeting was held in the lower level Committee Room and was attended by Susan, Kelly, Glen, Jeff, Joe Vass, Lynnmarie, Kathy, Rhonda, Melissa, Lex, Heidi, James Homan.

     Susan updated the group on the upcoming Artworks sponsored Articulture event on May 7^th, 2022 at Amelia Park Arena on South Broad Street, Westfield, MA from 10AM to 5PM. Susan was allotted 24 tables to fill with authors, poets, and publishers. There is a $35 table fee which includes a 1-year Artworks membership which allows authors to participate in any upcoming 2022 events where authors can promote and sell their books without having to pay any additional fees. The fee is collected by going to the Artworks of Westfield website and clicking on the New Member box and paying the $35 fee. Cheryl Crowe has a list that Susan updates so she knows what authors, etc are participating and can keep track of who’s paid and who hasn’t. The other payment option is to mail a check to Cheryl Crowe, 40 New Broadway, Westfield, MA 01085 and note Articulture-Author on the note line of the check. There are 2 table spaces remaining if anyone is interested. Email Susan at whipcitywordsmiths@gmail.com. The Elm Street Butcher Block will be a food vendor at this event. Food is also available at the Big Y’s ready-made section directly across the street from the venue. The authors will be located just inside the venue off the main lobby in two large conference rooms that will have the retractable partition opened to create one huge space. Tables and chairs are provided, but authors can bring their own chairs if they’ll be more comfortable. The rooms have large windows looking out onto the lobby and the ice rink and concourse where the art portion of the event will be held. All authors will have great visibility this year.

     Susan spoke about her difficulty writing since the death of her husband, but how at the end of February she had a dream that sparked a new novel and she has been writing since March 1^st. The new book will be the fifth in a series of romance/suspense/crime novels set at or near bodies of water (Whisper Lake, Bolt’s Landing, Camden Lake and Dalton Cove are the first four books). She hopes to finish writing the book and to have it ready for Articulture. If not, she’ll have promotional materials in regards to the new book.

    Heidi Parker Colonna spoke about the response she’s been receiving to her recently published book Dear Gretchen, Letters to My Dog. She has downscaled her teaching. She is excited to have found an illustrator through SCVWI for her new middle grade book. People do judge a book by its cover. Heidi is now a full-time writer!

    Glen Ebisch spoke about his new series, a lighthearted-humorous series about a reluctant detective who looks like Superman but lives a quiet, reserved life running an inn and doing some acting. The Pretend Detective is the first in the Max Moran Fireside Inn Mysteries. We all wished Glen luck with the new series.

     Jeff Vanouvenhove has completed the fifth novel in his Dark Series. He mentioned that he has a side story that he can develop into a tie-in as a bonus story in the future. He also said that he has a dedicated time to write. Hs next project will most likely be a psychological/suspense/thriller.

    Joe Vass has been writing poetry for over 50 years. He has a 500 page manuscript full of vignettes, stories from his own family history and personal experiences that he’s been working on for close to a decade. He has done rewrites and the manuscript is getting closer to being more what he intended it to be. He was encouraged to keep writing, keep tinkering and editing, and that we hope to read his book in the future.

    Kelly is currently writing a short story. Her busy life hasn’t allowed her much time for writing lately, but she does maintain the groups facebook page and the author book gallery so if anyone publishes a new book please send her information so she can add the cover image with a link to ia sales page at whipcitywordsmiths@gmail.com

    Lynnmarie is writing 10-minute plays. She gave a copies of a holiday themed 10-minute play to Susan and Kelly for critiquing and feedback.

    Susan is working on a novel and art commissions as well as working on Articulture through Artworks where she was appointed secretary at the February strategic planning meeting and luncheon.

    Kathy has been writing new poetry. She has a notebook with about 80-something poems from which she is planning to select the best for a chapbook. Planning a book is new to her so she will meet in the near future with Susan to look over the poems and plan a bok. She read her lovely poem Spring to the group.

    Rhonda spoke about how the death of her husband devastated her and she came close to self-destruction via alcohol and drugs, but fortunately help arrived in the nick of time. It has been a long haul for her through rehab and recovering but she is working hard to get her life back on track. She is considering a book about all she has been through since last June and was encouraged to do so by the group. Readers are drawn to books about other people’s tragedies and how they’ve brought themselves back from the brink. It would be a tragic love story as well as a personal road to recovery story.

   James spoke about his books plus the new speculative fiction/sci-fi/satire novel that he’s writing. He described characters and the plot of the book and some scenarios in the book and made us laugh. He has a sharp sense of humor and a keen insight into the LGBTQ community. We wished him luck completing his book and hope to be able to read it soon.

   Melissa is in a creative respite. Lex mentioned that his mother needs a She Shed, a dedicated space to express her creativity in. She writes beautifully and shouldn’t let that talent wither away.

   A special visitor to the meeting today was Clinton who was celebrating his 13^th birthday. Susan met Clinton and his mother at Articulture 2019 when he came up to her table to speak with her. He was ten years old back then and a fan of Dav Pilkey, author of the Captain Underpants series. Clinton faces learning challenges and mentioned how Dav Pilkey was dyslexic and his teacher used to make him sit out in the hallway as he was disruptive in class, but still he managed to grow up to write and illustrate books for kids. Clinton said he’d like to do that when he’s older. He and his mother visited Susan at her home where he talked and told stories and drew pictures as he talked. Susan has been his mentor. They have twin werewolf plush, hers named Bonkers, his named Bruce. Clinton’s mother asked Susan to draw an axolotyl (amphibian) for him for his birthday. It’s important to encourage and foster creativity in children and to continue to do so through their adolescence. Susan will continue to be Clinton’s friend and mentor for many years to come and hopes one day to place his book(-s) on her WhipCity Wordsmiths bookcase.

  The April meeting is set for Saturday April 16^th from 2PM to 4PM in the Committee Room at the Westfield Athenaeum.

  The meeting was adjourned at 3:55PM.

 

 

April 2022 Meeting

 In case you didn't read through the March 2022 Meeting post I have scheduled the April 2022 meeting for Saturday, April 16th, 2022 from 2PM to 4PM in the Committee Room on the lower level (use stairs just inside the front entrance in the foyer). Put this on your calendar now because I most likely will not remember to write another post as a reminder!!

March 2022 Meeting

 The COVID restrictions have been lifted at Westfield Athenaeum and we will once more be able to have our monthly meetings in person in the basement (lower level) Committee Room! Our first in person meeting for 2022 will be Saturday, March 19th, from 2PM to 4PM. Masks are optional, however, if you have not been vaccinated, have only been partially vaccinated, or have been vaccinated but have health issues please consider wearing a mask for your safety as well as the safety of all members. The room is large and we are able to distance from one another by maneuvering tables around.

Susan will update everyone on news in regards to Articulture 2022 which was last held in 2019 at the Church of the Atonement. We were supposed to have Articulture 2020 in the new, larger venue at Amelia Park Arena with 24 authors lined up when the event was cancelled due to a resurgence of COVID-19, and was cancelled again in 2021 due to the Omicron variation running rampant through the region. We're excited to be bringing the event back, bigger and beter than ever (the event began being held annually in 2016 at the Women's Club, then moved to the next block at the Church of Atonement on two levels, and now we'll be in the even more spacious and handicapped accessible, not to mention beautiful, Amelia Park Arena.

A number of WhipCity Wordsmiths have been publishing new books since we last met in October or November last year, while others have new works in progress. It'll be catch-up on the news day. Bring something you've written to share if you'd like to. 

Kelly and I are looking forward to seeing as many members as are able to attend!

The April meeting has already been scheduled for the same location and times on Saturday, April 16th, so please put that on your calendar now because you all know how bad I am at finding time to update the blog!! Again, I apologize for this- I just wear too many hats at work and in the community and find myself with never enough time to manage everything I need to do!

See you on Saturday!!

ARTICULTURE 2022

 Articulture is back for 2022 in Westfield MA. Artworks of Westfield is currently seeking authors for the event with 24 tables available. Twenty tables have already been reserved but there is a call list available in case an author is unable to make it to the event which is scheduled for Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Amelia Park Arena on South Broad Street in Westfield, MA. The authors will be located in the two large conference rooms overlooking the ice rink (which will not yet have ice in it and will be where approximately 60 artists will be set up in 10'x10' spaces circling he arena with a children's art show going on down the center of the rink, and live music happening at various locations wthin the building. Please email Susan Buffum (WhipCity Wordsmiths co-founder) at whipcitywordsmiths@gmail.com if you are nterested in having a table at the author portion of the show. the show runs 10AM to 5PM. Artworks is arranging to have several food trucks on site and there is a Big Y with food available just across the street from the arena. Authors wishing to participate must go to the Artworks of Westfield website and pre-pay for a $35 membership which covers the table fee and allows any author with a membership to participate in future events where authors are welcome to sell their books throughout 2022 (there will be pop-up shows and on Saturday, October 8th, 2022, Artwork's second largest event, Artoberfest where again 20-24 authors will be able to promote and sell their books) without having to pay any further fees for table space. If interested in reserving a space please contact Susan prior to April 1st and go to the Artworks website to pay the $35 membership fee. Make a note that you want to be an author at Articulture so the Treasurer will let me know and I can keep my list updated. Also, emailing me your contact information is helpful as I send periodic updates up to the week of the event.

November 2021 WhipCity Wordsmiths Meeting

 Our next meeting is this coming Saturday, November 20th, 2021, from 2PM to 4PM at the Westfield Athenaeum on the corner of Elm and Court Streets in downtown Westfield across from the Green. This meeting will take place in the Whitney Study on the second floor as there will be fiddlers in the Lang Auditorium in the basement near the Committee Meeting Room that our last two meetings have been in- the scheduler felt it would be too noisy for writers and we wouldn't be able to hear one another. So, go up the staircase in the main room on the first floor, turn left and continue into the study which is above the children's library with windows overlooking Court Street. There is a long conference table and about 15-20 seats around it. In the downstairs room we've been sitting around three tables pushed together into a large square. There is only one table in the study. See you there!

November 2021 NaNoWriMo is nearly Half Over

 I have to admit that I've been struggling this year writing my NaNo novel. I'm writing the third book in the Amberton Paranormal Investigation Society series (The Fairlawn Investigation and The Victoria Wayfarer Investigation being the first and second books in the series). The new novel is titled The Lakeside Manor Investigation. I'd previously started writing this novel twice and got nowhere with it. The second attempt was better than the first. This version is creeping along at a snail's pace, for me anyway. I suppose it's because I am still recovering and working my way through the loss of my husband six months ago. I haven't felt much like writing or drawing because dealing with the aftermath of losing someone unexpectedly is confusing, anxiety inducing, and exhausting. 

I will get it finished because I hate to leave things incomplete, but at the near mid-point of NaNoWriMo I don't have my usual confidence that I can pull off a compete novel. 50,000 words of it will be written as I'm close to that goal now but I can't say for sure I have the same level of confidence in myself that I had prior to my world falling to pieces this past May. We'll just have to wait and see how it all goes.

This Hasn't Been An Easy Year

 This hasn't been an easy year for me since the beginning of My when I had emergency abdominal surgery on the 2nd and exactly a week later lost my husband of 37 years suddenly. It totally blew my life out of the water and I've been scrambling and struggling to find the new normal for me amid all the things that need to be done when you lose someone, while you're trying to recover from surgery, while you're trying to continue working full time and carry on. Kelly has been incredibly helpful, keeping the group's facebook updated, posting meeting notices, etc.

I appreciate Heidi's assistance with booking the Athenaeum's Committee Room for our September and October meetings as we resume in-person meetings. 

A few of us have experienced personal losses this year. We've all struggled with to mask-or not to mask, to vaccinate or not to get vaccinated, to get the booster shot or not....choices! We've seen this virus mutate and now affect children who have returned to school. We continue to see people in our communities pass away due to COVID. Yet, many of us have turned out some amazing new books and carried on attending meetings in the Zoom format and now in person. Life goes on.

I, for one, am so appreciative f all my author/writer friends.

This past weekend 18 authors set up tents and tables on the green in downtown Westfield for the Artworks of Westfield sponsored Artoberfest. It started out as a rather blustery, gloomy day with overcast skies and practically no attendance, but once the sun came through about 11:30Am foot traffic picked up and we had a decent attendance. I did mention that the location of the authors left us feeling somewhat isolated from the Elm Street art/music and creative aspects of the event, kind of placing us on a green island surrounded by heavy traffic, making leaving the green to seek nearby facilities and food rather a challenge. All feedback will be reviewed at the next Artworks meeting so if this event happens again next October there will be improvements. This was the first year doing this event separate from Westfield on Weekends' Pumpkinfest. 

Looking forward to seeing as many of you as can attend the October 30th meeting.

Welcome to new WhipCity Wordsmiths who have joined the group the past few months! 

If you need to reach me or Kelly please email us at whipcitywordsmiths@gmail.com

October Meeting 2021

 The WhipCity Wordsmiths will meet in the basement Committee Room at the Westfield Athenaeum on Saturday, October 30, 2021 from 2PM to 4PM. The Committee Room is accessed by going down the staircase just inside the front entrance (on the left as you enter the building, on the right if you have walked through the library from the back entrance). Go left when you reach the bottom of the staircase!

June 13th Live & In Person Meeting

 Our June meeting will be in person outdoors at my home in Westfield, MA. I have a large shady backyard. Please bring your own chair. The driveway and back walkway are paved, the lawn is sort of flat in the area we'll be using. If the weather is inclement, we'll be inside the house. There are stairs up to the deck that would need to be climbed- one flight. The house is sort of like a raised ranch in the back, but all one level inside. The meeting will run from 2PM-3:30PM-ish. I'll have bottled water available.

My home address is on the members only facebook page. Email me if you are a Wordsmith and want to attend but do not know my address in Westfield. Email me at whipcitywordsmiths@gmail.com My driveway can accommodate maybe 7 cars. There is plenty of on street parking in front.

We will talk about the recent WhipCity Wordsmiths Authors on the Green Book Show, our first loosening of pandemic restrictions outdoors event that was held May 23rd. Bring your ideas for a fall event and I will present them to Artworks of Westfield who co-hosted the book show. Maybe we can do something similar in the fall.

Also, bring something you're currently working on and we'll do brief readings, discuss new books recently released, new projects, and get back to the topic of motivation.

Hope to see you at the meeting. Masks are a personal choice- I'm the only person living in my home but I do work in a medical office, where I d wear a mask still, although my exposure to patients is low as I am a business office person, although my work station is in the open where patients pass by. I am also immune compromised due to medication I'm on and an auto-immune system disease. As far as masks go, wear one if you are not comfortable being around others without it. Hopefully it'll be a nice day and we'll be outside. Also, if we need to be indoors, I have two cats, so if you're allergic to cats it could be a problem for you.

Any questions-email me at the email address already provided in this post!

WhipCity Wordsmiths Book Show on the Green

 The WhipCity Wordsmiths Book Show on the Green will take place from 11Am to 3PM on the green in the center of Westfield (across from Blue Umbrella Books at 2 Main Street. Set up time for participating authors begins at 10AM. We have until 4PM to clean and clear the Green.

There are 21 authors signed up for this event. Four of these authors are also publishers. A sound system has been offered and accepted and will be available outside of the Gazebo for authors wishing to do Open Mic readings during the run of the vent, thanks to the generosity of Paul Richmond, author, Beat Poet Laureate, and publisher (Human Error Publishing). Another Beat Poet Laureate, Richard Wayne Horton will be sharing the inside of the gazebo with Paul at this event.

Familiar faces at literary events in Westfield will be Susan Buffum, Kelly Buffum, Katherine Anderson, Melissa Volker, Ryan McCarthy, Judith Foard-Giucastro, Glen Ebisch, Ayden Rogalski, Rhonda Boulette, Tom Deady, and Robert W. Thompson. Joining in the event will be new WhipCity Wordsmiths and published authors Grace Kuhn, Jeff Vanoudenhoven, Tenzi Moscato, Luis Manuel Torres, and Mimi Caban. And there'll be more new faces and offerings from Kinga Martin, Wallace Johnson, Elizabeth Macduffie, Richard Wayne Horton, and Paul Richmond.

The range of genres run from children's books to YA, middle grade, manga, mystery, paranormal, literary romance/suspense, horror, dark fantasy, short stories, poetry, lyrical prose, self help, faith, mysticism, history, and ghost stories.

Silver Street Media will have materials available at the WhipCity Wordsmiths table on how they can help new authors and existing authors format, design, publish and distribute their work.

Artworks of Westfield, the sponsor of this show in conjunction with the WhipCity Wordsmiths will also have a table at the event. Artworks is a driving force in the community working to bring the cultural arts to the attention of residents by hosting music, art, literary events, and working on art projects such as the Heroes Are Everywhere mural and the new larger scale mural project along the river, Westfield is Fantastic. Membership information will be available at the table and attendees can donate to help fund the new mural and other Artworks projects planned for 2021 and those we're looking ahead to organizing and hosting in 2022.

Support the the rich history of the Literary Arts in western MA by coming out to show your support of local authors, writers, and poets on May 23rd on the Green in Westfield!

April Meeting Postponed until May 1st

 The April meeting originally scheduled for April 24th has been rescheduled to May 1st. If you have sent your current email to whipcitywordsmiths@gmail.com to be included on the master list of Wordsmiths then you have already received your invitation to the Zoom meeting and the new email with the revised meeting date.

One of the topics to be discussed is Motivation. Since COVID struck and the world practically shut down, it's been difficult for many writers to focus on writing with so much else on their minds. Others of us have spent the downtime churning out new novels and finishing projects that have been languishing. Where does motivation come from and how can you spark something that feels dead and reignite your desire to write and create? We'll explore this during the meeting.

If you want to join the meeting and didn't receive an invite then please send us your email address so you can be included! It's as simple as that!

WRITERS SERIES: Thoughts on Memorial Day

 The next topic for writers who wish to contribute to the The Westfield News' Writers Series is Thoughts on Memorial Day. Word count is 600 words, but can be a little longer or shorter. If a photo is available to accompany the article please include it. Also include a brief author bio and photo is able. Contributions can be emailed to lori.szepelak@icloud.com. The deadline for this topic is May 14th.

All writers who wish to contribute are encouraged to do so. The Westfield News has given the WhipCity Wordsmiths a fabulous opportunity to show our talent to the community, and put our names and faces out there. (The WhipCity Wordsmiths are hosting a Book Show on the Green in downtown Westfield on Sunday, May 23rd21, from 11AM to 3PM. The permit is already in hand. Twenty-one authors (four of whom are also publishers) are onboard for this event sponsored by Artworks of Westfield. The community is getting excited about one of the first outdoor events of this size since the loosening of come SOVID restrictions.

It's possible we may have an opportunity this fall for another show or similar event, or event that combines artists and authors. Discussions are continuing during strategic planning meetings with Artworks. 

The Writers Series is free publicity and a chance to promote yourself and show off your talent, and it gives you a writing credit for your resume!

Come on writers! Do what you do best and write!

REMINDERS: Writers Series Deadline!

 The deadline for this first new topic in the Westfield News Writers Series, Lesson or Lessons Learned During the Pandemic  is Friday, April 9th. Length is 600 words max. If you are writing and submitting a piece please include a brief author bio and photo, or a photo t accompany your piece if one is available. Submissions should be emailed to Lori Szepelak at lori.szepelak@icloud.com  

Writing for this series is unpaid, but there are benefits for the authors/writers who participate in that you get newspaper writing credit you can use on your resume, your name is out there in the public, your bio can promote your books and may lead to sales, it keeps your writing muscle flexed. I've been enjoying writing short pieces, something I am definitely not good at! I've developed a new skill with my writing!

Thank you to all the Wordsmiths who have contributed pieces to the Westfield News for the various Writers Series topics since last fall. It's an honor to be asked to work with the local newspaper to help entertain the community as we receive vaccines, or wait to receive them and look forward to what the future brings.

Exclusive Mug Available for Members

 I revamped the original WhipCity Wordsmiths mug, giving it a face lift for 2021. It is available from Susan for $10 and comes with the updated business card fridge magnet and a WhipCity Wordsmiths postcard. The mug is only available to members. Contact Susan at whipcitywordsmiths@gmail.com for information on purchasing ne. Money collected will go toward assisting authors with table fees at future events, signage at events in which the group participates, and supporting young authors such as awards for a future young writers contest that has been discussed with Artworks of Westfield. I'll see if I can post a picture of the mug in a future post- it is white with a blue overlay wraparound design with the name of the group, the year it was established, our email address, and Authors/Writers printed on it.