Returning, Reigniting, Reuniting, Reestablishing
Writing Workshops around Mississippi
2024
All the 2024 workshops described below are free and open to the public. Still, registration is required to help facilitators plan for needed materials and space. Attend one or all of the workshops, but please register for each. To register, email the chapter heads at the designated email addresses below or the project coordinator at [email protected]. In your registration, please include NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, and WORKSHOP(S) YOU ARE ATTENDING.
Let us know if you are attending as a group, but please include the above information on each attendee.
Thank you for joining us, and we look forward to serving your writing needs and aspirations in 2024 and beyond!
Let us know if you are attending as a group, but please include the above information on each attendee.
Thank you for joining us, and we look forward to serving your writing needs and aspirations in 2024 and beyond!
This project is supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and in part from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
February, 2024
GulfportFebruary 21 4:00 pm Gulfport Arts Center 1300 24th Avenue (Located in the historic Carnegie Library) Facilitator - Author/Editor Richelle Putnam Chapter Head - John Dumoulin [email protected] |
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Join us for a two-hour workshop “Plotting with Purpose,” led by Richelle Putnam from Jackson. This hands-on session will help you structure intriguing stories and construct an effective plot. Richelle will talk about introducing a compelling lead, building tension, and creating story arcs that keep your reader turning the page. Whether you’re a “panster” (who writes by the seat of your pants) but needs help with structure or a “methodical planner” looking for tips on plotting techniques, this workshop will help you craft stories that resonate long after the final chapter.
Richelle Putnam holds a BS in Marketing Management and an MA in Creative Writing. She is the senior editor of The Bluegrass Standard Magazine, a Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) Teaching Artist, two-time MAC Literary Arts Fellow, and Mississippi Humanities Speaker. Her literary work has been published in Pif Magazine, Flashquake, The Copperfield Review, Birmingham Arts Journal, and several bestselling Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, anthologies. Her short memoirs and fiction have earned awards and recognition from major publications, including Writers Digest, Writers Forum (World Wide Writers), Fish Publishing, and New Millennium Writings. Among her six published books are a 2014 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards Silver Medalist and a 2017 Foreword Indies Book Awards Bronze Medal winner. Visit her website at www.richelleputnam.com
March 2024
HattiesburgMarch 2 University Baptist Church 3200 W Arlington Loop Hattiesburg, MS 39401 10 am -12 noon Facilitator - Melissa Carrigee, Publisher/Owner of Brother Mockingbird Publishing House Chapter Head - Jamie O-Quinn [email protected] |
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Writing/Publishing Industry Workshop. Dive into the heart of the publishing world in this workshop tailored for writers seeking to unravel the industry's complexities, from understanding current trends and perfecting your manuscript to navigating submission processes and mastering negotiation.
Melissa Carrigee is the owner of Brother Mockingbird, a small but progressive publishing house focusing on well-written stories and talented authors. Melissa began her publishing career as a literary agent. From there, she worked as a creative director on a children's book line for a publishing house. Combining the skills she gained in both positions, she launched Brother Mockingbird Publishing. Melissa's goal is to bridge the gap between publisher and author, forging a partnership beneficial to both parties. With a support staff created by publishing professionals she met throughout her career, Brother Mockingbird Publishing offers the author experience, professionalism, and integrity. https://www.brothermockingbird.net/
NatchezMarch 9 10:30 am Judge George W. Armstrong Library 220 S Commerce St Natchez, MS 39120 Facilitator - John Floyd Chapter Head - Mark LaFrancis [email protected] |
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Writing and Selling Short Fiction. Topics will include the basics and elements of short fiction (dialogue, characters, plot, setting, viewpoint) and how to sell what you've written (markets, submissions, cover letters, contracts, dealing with editors, and more).
John M. Floyd's work has appeared in more than 350 different publications, including Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Strand Magazine, The Saturday Evening Post, Best American Mystery Stories (2015, 2018, and 2020), Best Mystery Stories of the Year (2021), and Best Crime Stories of the Year (2021). A former Air Force captain and IBM systems engineer, John is an Edgar Award finalist, a Shamus Award winner, a five-time Derringer Award winner, a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, and the author of nine books. He is also the 2018 Short Mystery Fiction Society's Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. http://www.johnmfloyd.com/
OxfordMarch 23
Lafayette County Multi Purpose Arena classrooms 70 FD Buddy East Drive (Off Highway 6) Oxford, MS 2:00 - 5:00 pm Facilitator - Joe Lee Chapter Head - Elizabeth Tettleton Workshop Organizer - Wayne Andrews [email protected] |
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Conquer the Publishing World! In this workshop, Joe Lee discusses the best way to pitch an agent or editor, the critical nature of editing, and the publishing process from query to printing. He also covers planning for a book launch, preparing for unforeseen roadblocks, and how, when, and where to market your book and yourself as an author.
A graduate of Mississippi State University, Joe Lee has a background in radio, television, and journalism and was a radio disc jockey and a television weatherman before becoming a full-time author and publisher. He is the editor-in-chief of Dogwood Press, a small but traditional publishing house headquartered in central Mississippi. Resting Place is his ninth novel, the seventh volume of his critically acclaimed Oakdale suspense series. Dogwood Press: https://dogwoodpress.com/
April 2024
JacksonApril 6
Elsie E. Jergens Library 397 Hwy 51 Ridgeland, MS 1 - 3 pm Facilitator - John Floyd Chapter Head - Susan Marquez [email protected] |
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Writing and Selling Short Fiction. Topics will include the basics and elements of short fiction (dialogue, characters, plot, setting, viewpoint) and how to sell what you've written (markets, submissions, cover letters, contracts, dealing with editors, and more).
John M. Floyd's work has appeared in more than 350 different publications, including Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Strand Magazine, The Saturday Evening Post, Best American Mystery Stories (2015, 2018, and 2020), Best Mystery Stories of the Year (2021), and Best Crime Stories of the Year (2021). A former Air Force captain and IBM systems engineer, John is an Edgar Award finalist, a Shamus Award winner, a five-time Derringer Award winner, a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, and the author of nine books. He is also the 2018 recipient of the Short Mystery Fiction Society's lifetime achievement award. http://www.johnmfloyd.com/
May 2024
Olive BranchMay 4 1 pm BJ Chain Public Library 6619 - MS 305 Olive Branch, MS 38654 Facilitator - Susan Marquez Chapter Head - Patricia Carter [email protected] |
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Writing for Fun and Profit: The Art of Storytelling: includes writing exercises.
Susan Marquez has been writing since high school. She wrote concert reviews for her school newspaper. After a career in advertising and marketing, Susan began writing full-time in 2001. She has written over 3000 articles in local, regional, national and international publications, ranging from magazines, newspapers, and business journals to trade publications and online sources. She also writes newsletters, press releases, and website copy for select clients. "Having a curious nature and a desire to learn is what keeps me going as a writer. Everybody has a story, and I love to hear them and write about them." http://susanmarquezmedia.com/