Scholarship Entry Deadline for AWW 2011 Approaches

The deadline for all 2011 Antioch Writers' Workshop scholarship entry submissions is Friday, April 15, 2011. First place for each of the three annually awarded AWW scholarships receives a full waiver of registration and tuition for the Full Week experience ($735.00 value). Second place receives a half waiver of registration and tuition ($367.00 value). Any adult (over age 18) from anywhere in the United States is eligible.

Single parents who are committed to writing and who could not otherwise attend the workshop are eligible for the Betty Crumrine Scholarship. The scholarship was created by friends in memory of Betty Crumrine, who lived and wrote in Yellow Springs and participated in the Antioch Writers' Workshop from 1986 until 1990. As a full time member of the Miami Valley Arts Council and later at the Miami Literacy Council, Betty Crumrine raised three children and took care of her own mother while writing true confession stories and young adult novels. In March 1991, Crumrine died of cancer. In honor of her encouragement of new writers, the Antioch Writers' Workshop welcomes applications from beginning writers as well as those in mid-career. Applicants for the Betty Crumrine Scholarship must follow the general submission requirements and submit a one-page letter explaining writing experience and plans and need for financial aid.

The Judson Jerome Poetry Scholarship is named for poet, nonfiction writer, textbook author, professor, poetry editor, and co-founder of Antioch Writers' Workshop, Judson Jerome. Applicants for the Judson Jerome Poetry Scholarship must submit a poetry sample and conform to the general submission guidelines as wells as a brief (not longer than one page) bio.

Writers who are nominated by someone who can testify to his or her qualifications as both a writer and a community member are eligible for the Bill Baker Scholarship. Bill Baker was co-founder of the Antioch Writers' Workshop, as well as a writer of textbooks, journalist, and fiction author. To nominate a writer for the Bill Baker Scholarship, send the nominee's name, contact information, a short sample of the nominee's writing conforming to the general submission guidelines, and a 1-2 page essay illustrating the nominee's braver, innovation, or significant contribution to their community.

First and second place scholarship recipients must cover their own travel, lodging, food and other accommodations for the week. Manuscript critique, book purchases, and other expenses are not covered. Recipients must also agree to have their name and likeness used on the AWW web site, blog, email newsletter, press releases, and other publicity materials. All entries must be received by April 15, if mailing to Antioch Writers' Workshop, c/o Antioch University Midwest, 900 Dayton Street, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387, or sent by that date if submitting via email. Scholarship winners may not apply for the same scholarship in the subsequent year.

For complete guidelines, formatting, and submission requirements, as well as a listing of other scholarships that award Antioch Writers' Workshop tuition, please visit antiochwritersworkshop.com.

“Second Sunday Free Writers’ Workshop” on April 10 “Poetry Writing Techniques for Poets, Fiction Writers and All Kinds of Writers!”

BEAVERCREEK and YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio—Antioch Writers’ Workshop and Books & Co are offering the next free Second Sunday Free Writers’ Workshop on April 10, 2:00-3:30 p.m. at Books & Co at The Greene.  The topic will be “Poetry Writing Techniques for Poets, Fiction Writers and All Kinds of Writers!” presented by prose poet Jamey Dunham.

Jamey Dunham's award-winning prose poems have been published widely and appear in several anthologies including The Best American Poetry 2005 (Scribner, 2005). Jamey's poetry collection The Bible of Lost Pets (Salt Modern Poets, 2009) was the inaugural winner of the Crashaw Prize.  He is also the Co-Editor of the textbook anthology An Introduction to the Prose Poem (Firewheel Editions, 2009). Jamey is an Associate Professor of English at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio.

Dunham offers these three quick tips to writers:

·         If you feel you need publication to validate yourself as a writer, you will probably never find the validation you're looking for. Still, anyone can and will be published if they keep at it. It's simple, keep writing and never give up on yourself. If you write good work, it will find a home eventually.

·         Remember that contests, like publishing, are different animals from writing. Writing is art and what truly matters. Success in contests and publishing relies upon others and their own subjective decisions. Do not confuse success with talent.

·         Find your own voice first and foremost; however, if you are unwilling or unable to do so, steal your voice from the very best you can find. There is no excuse for plagiarizing mediocrity, swing for the fences!

For more insight on writing poetry, join Jamey Dunham at Books & Co at The Green on April 10 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.. No reservations are required for the Second Sunday Free Writers’ Workshop, but expressed intention to attend is appreciated. Call Books & Co at The Greene at 937- 429-6302.

For more information about Antioch Writers’ Workshop or the Second Sunday Free Writers’ Workshop, visit www.antiochwritersworkshop.com or email info@antiochwritersworkshop.com

The Antioch Writers’ Workshop will be held July 9-15, 2011 in partnership with Antioch University Midwest and with support from the Yellow Springs Community Foundation; Ohio Arts Council; The Frank Pace, Jr. Foundation; and WYSO (media sponsor).

Poetry Reading Preview: T.M. Göttl

Poet T.M. Göttl will join three other Ohio poets as a featured reader tomorrow, Saturday, March 26 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Antioch University Midwest. The poetry reading event is co-sponsored by the Ohio Poetry Association and the Antioch Writers' Workshop. The reading will be followed by an open microphone session, for which poets are encouraged to bring poems to share with the public. To read more about the event and featured readers T.M. Göttl, Jamey Dunham, Connie Willett Everett and Herbert Woodward Martin, click here.

The following video embedded from youtube.com provides a preview of just one of Saturday's featured readers, T.M. Göttl. The video was filmed during "Snoetry: A Winter Wordfest - a Lix and Kix production held on 16 January 2010 at the Last Wordsmith Book Shoppe in North East, Pennsylvania" (youtube.com).

Poetry Reading Preview: Herbert Woodward Martin

Acclaimed poet Herbert Woodward Martin will join three other Ohio poets as a featured reader on Saturday, March 26 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Antioch University Midwest. The poetry reading event is co-sponsored by the Ohio Poetry Association and the Antioch Writers' Workshop. The reading will be followed by an open microphone session, for which poets are encouraged to bring poems to share with the public. To read more about the event and featured readers Herbert Woodward Martin, Jamey Dunham, Connie Willett Everett and T.M. Göttl, click here.

The following video from the University of Dayton tells the incredible story of Herbert Woodward Martin and also gives a sneak peek of what's to come at the March 26th reading from 2 to 5 p.m. in Antioch University Midwest's auditorium.

It’s Not Too Late! Still Time to Enter Dayton Daily News/Antioch Writers' Workshop Creative Writing Competition

Entries for the Dayton Daily News/Antioch Writers' Workshop Creative Writing Competition must be postmarked by Friday, March 25, 2011. That means you still have time to enter.

The “best of show” entry will receive a full scholarship to AWW’s July 9-15 workshop. First place winners in the adult and teen categories will receive a scholarship to the workshop’s Saturday Seminar on July 9. The first place winner of the youth category will receive a gift certificate to Books & Co.

Winning stories will be published in the Dayton Daily News. Other top stories will be published at DaytonDailyNews.com and on the AWW’s website.

Be sure to also check out antiochwritersworkshop.com for Full Week and A La Carte workshop options.

Requirements for the Dayton Daily News/Antioch Writers’ Workshop Creative Writing Competition are as follows:

Short story requirements: Fiction only. No memoirs or essays.

Length: 1,800 words maximum.

Stories must be original and unpublished. Writers may submit only one story. Stories must be typed, double-spaced and stapled in the upper left corner. No binders.

Cover page: Each entry must have a cover page with: title(s), writer’s name, age, full address, e-mail address and daytime, evening and cell-phone numbers.

Age categories: Youth (12 years old and younger); Teen (13 to 18 years old); and Adult (19 and older). Entrants must live in the Dayton Daily News circulation area.

Deadline: Entries must be postmarked by March 25

Entry fees: None.

Manuscripts: Hard copy only; no electronic submissions. Manuscripts will not be returned. Because of the volume, we cannot confirm receipt of individual entries over the phone.

Mail entries to: Dayton Daily News/Antioch Writers’ Workshop Creative Writing Contest, c/o Antioch University Midwest, 900 Dayton Street, Yellow Springs, OH 45387.

Winners will be notified around May 1.

Ohio Poets Spring into National Poetry Month

Co-sponsors the Ohio Poetry Association and the Antioch Writers Workshop will usher in National Poetry Month with a reading by Ohio poets on Saturday, March 26 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Antioch University Midwest. Readings by featured poets Jamey Dunham, Connie Willett Everett, T.M. Göttl and Herbert Woodward Martin will be followed by an opportunity for poets to meet and share their work with the public. "We're delighted to not only bring these masterful poets to the stage, but delighted as well to encourage poets to bring several poems to read for up to five minutes during the open microphone reading," said Sharon Short, Director of AWW.

Prose poet Jamey Dunham of Cincinnati is an Assistant Professor of English at Sinclair Community College, where he edits the journal “Flights.” His poems have appeared in “Sentence,” “Fence” and “Boston Review” among other journals. His poem “An American Story” was included in the anthology “Great American Prose Poems: Poe to the Present.”

Columbus poet Connie Willett Everett is senior editor for Pudding House Publications, and she co-coordinates the Poetry Forum at Rumba Cafe in Columbus, Ohio. She received degrees from Ohio University and Bowling Green State University, including a MFA in creative writing. Everett served as fiction editor for “Heartlands Magazine” for 15 years, and she has presented several workshops in her community.

T.M. Göttl of Brunswick is Vice President of the Ohio Poetry Association and a member of the Buffalo ZEF Creative Community. Her work is online, in publications such as “Pudding Magazine” and “Verse Wisconsin” and has been heard on 91.3 WAPS Akron and 89.7 WOSU Columbus. She is the author of the full-length collection “Stretching the Window” and the chapbook “Angels and Copper.”

Herbert Woodward Martin of Dayton is an acclaimed poet, professor, and Paul Laurence Dunbar interpreter. His four books of poetry include “The Forms of Silence.” He has also written an opera, “Paul Laurence Dunbar: Common Ground.”

The event will take place Saturday, March 26, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Antioch University Midwest auditorium, 900 Dayton Street, Yellow Springs, Ohio. AWW’s Sharon Short will introduce the reading emceed by OPA’s Mark Sebastian Jordan. For more information, visit ohiopoetryassn.org or antiochwritersworkshop.com.

Tips from AWW Visiting Agent and Editor

We recently asked our AWW 2011 visiting agent and visting editor to share their top three writing tips.

Suzie Townsend, of Fine Print Literary, is actively looking for fiction and non-fiction: specifically Middle Grade and YA novels (all subgenres, but particularly literary projects), adult romance (historical and paranormal), and fantasy (urban fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, epic fantasy).

She says that her top three "quick tips" for aspiring writers are:

1. Tell a good story by starting where the story begins. (So many manuscripts I read actually start at chapter 3)
2. Good writing is not writing. Good writing is editing. (So get it all out on the page and then go back and really dive into the editing process)
3. Read. Read thousands of books in your genre.

Kevin Morgan Watson is founder of Press 53 and serves as the Short Fiction Editor. As a publisher, he has worked with writers ranging from first-time published authors to winners of the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize. His top three tips:

1. Pay attention to the details: Sloppy editing will kill a great story. Before you send your work out, make sure it looks nice.
2. Relax and tell your story: Pay attention to dialogue; make it natural. Engage the reader's senses. Rather than telling your story, allow the reader to walk alongside your characters and experienced the story.
3. Don't be in a big rush to publish: Once your work is out there, you can't take it back. Make sure you are happy with your story or poem, and then take the time to find the right home for it. Today, there are more places to publish than ever before. But having your story or poetry in a journal alongside average writing or sloppy editing will make you look just as average and sloppy. Take care and take time.

Learn more about Suzie and Kevin on our Faculty page.

And to learn more of their tips for great writing and successful publishing, register to attend the Full Week workshop or the Morning Only A La Carte program! Suzie and Kevin will speak during the morning "Professional Connections" class, and (for Full Week workshop participants ONLY) offer pitch sessions.

Don't Forget--Tomorrow's "Second Sunday Free Writers' Workshop"

Antioch Writers’ Workshop and Books & Co are offering the next Second Sunday Free Writers’ Workshop on March 13, 2:00-3:30 p.m. at Books & Co at The Greene. The topic will be “Are You Ready To Break In… To Publishing, That Is? How To Give Your Writing The Best Chance For Success!”

The session will feature how-tos, tips and techniques for querying agents and editors, for both short and book-length works, for writers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Attendees should bring writing materials for taking notes.

The March presenter will be Sharon Short, Director of the Antioch Writers’ Workshop and published author of nine mystery novels. Short is also a weekly columnist for the Dayton Daily News. She recently won a Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District literary artist fellowship for a novel-in-progress.

You don’t need a reservation, but it would help with planning if you would call in your intention to attend to Books & Co at The Greene at 937- 429-6302.

For more information about Antioch Writers’ Workshop or the Second Sunday Free Writers’ Workshop, visit www.antiochwritersworkshop.com or email info@antiochwritersworkshop.com

The Antioch Writers’ Workshop will be held July 9-15, 2011 in partnership with Antioch University Midwest and with support from the Yellow Springs Community Foundation; Ohio Arts Council; The Frank Pace, Jr. Foundation; and WYSO (media sponsor).

Calling Young Writers--Scholarships to AWW 2011!

Are you... or do you know... a Young Writer (those entering tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade in fall, 2011, or ages 15-18)?

Antioch Writers' Workshop offers a unique opportunity for young writers to attend the Full Week workshop July 9-15 with significant scholarship support! This opportunity is open only to Young Writers who live in the Ohio counties of Greene, Montgomery, Miami, Clark, Clinton, Fayette, Madison and Warren.

If you are a young writer who fits the above criteria, please seriously consider applying for this amazing opportunity to hone your writing craft.

If you know a young writer who fits the above criteria, please forward this information to him or her!

These Young Writers will:

•Attend Morning Classes with all Antioch Writers' Workshop participants.
•Attend the Young Writers' Afternoon Seminar, led by instructor Katrina Kittle.
•Have lunch between the classes and seminar together, with Ms. Kittle, and with one other Antioch Writers' Workshop faculty member, giving Young Writers a chance to chat with and ask questions of the other Antioch Writers' Workshop faculty members.

Please note: ALL Young Writers classes are held at Antioch University Midwest. All Young Writers participants must remain on the Antioch University Midwest campus from the beginning of Morning Classes, through lunch, and the end of the Afternoon Seminar.

Participation is limited to 12 students. Antioch Writers' Workshop is providing a Young Writers' Scholarship to each of the 12 selected students, which:

•Reduces the regular local registration/tuition fee from $675.00 to $300.00. (A reduction of $375.00)
•Covers instruction from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
•Includes lunches held at Antioch University Midwest, at no additional expense, thanks to support from the Dayton Daily News.

To be considered for this unique opportunity, students must apply by May 1, 2011, by submitting the following:

•A cover letter stating age, school attended, and reason for wishing to attend Antioch Writers' Workshop. Be sure to provide email, phone and home address contact information.
•A three page sample of writing of poetry, fiction, or non-fiction. (Poems must be complete and fit on all three pages; single or double-spaced. Fiction or non-fiction must be double-spaced, in Times New Roman 12 point, and may either be complete or an extract from a fuller work. Please number pages and include name and contact information in the top header of each page.)
•A one page letter of recommendation from a teacher of English, journalism or drama. (If home-schooled, please provide a letter of recommendation from a camp leader, preferably in the arts, or from another non-related adult, such as a music teacher or librarian.)

These materials may be e-mailed to info@antiochwritersworkshop.com as a PDF or WORD (.doc) file, with Young Writers in the Subject line or mailed to Antioch Writers Workshop, c/o Antioch University Midwest, 900 Dayton Street, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387.

Students accepted into this program will be notified shortly after May 1, 2011.

AWW and the Ohio Poetry Association Co-Sponsoring March 26 Poetry Reading to Kick Off National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month. If you are a poet, poetry reader/fan, or simply interested in experiencing fantastic poetry, treat yourself to a Poetry Reading/Open Mic co-sponsored by AWW and the Ohio Poetry Association!


This event will be held Saturday, March 26, 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Antioch University Midwest (900 Dayton Street, Yellow Springs, Ohio.)


Four fabulous featured readers will get the event started:
•T.M. Gottl--current Vice President of the Ohio Poetry Association and member of the Buffalo ZEF Creative Community. Her work has been found online and in print, in many publications and in her full-length collection Stretching the Window and chapbook Angels and Copper.


•Jamey Dunham is a prose poet and an Assistant Professor of English at Sinclair Community College, where he edits the journal Flights. His poems have appeared in many journals and his poem "An American Story" was included in the anthology Great American Prose Poems: Poe to the Present. Jamey is teaching the afternoon seminar on poetry writing at this year's AWW Full Week Workshop.


•Connie Willett Everett received degrees from Ohio University and Bowling Green State University, including an MFA in creative writing. For fifteen years, she was fiction editor for Heartlands Magazine (Bottom Dog Press), and she is a senior editor for Pudding House Publications.

•Herbert Woodward Martin is an acclaimed poet, professor, and Paul Laurence Dunbar interpreter. His four books of poetry include The Forms of Silence. He has also written an opera, Paul Laurence Dunbar: Common Ground. He has taught many times at past Antioch Writers' Workshops.
Following these readings will be an open mic for any poets who wish to participate! (Open mic poets may read 2 pieces or for up to 5 minutes.) Please plan to arrive about 15 minutes early (at 1:45 p.m.) to sign up for the open mic.

After the readings and open mic, please plan to stay for refreshments and socializing!

Second Sunday Free Writers' Workshop on March 13--How To Break In To Publishing!

Antioch Writers’ Workshop and Books & Co are offering the next Second Sunday Free Writers’ Workshop on March 13, 2:00-3:30 p.m. at Books & Co at The Greene. The topic will be “Are You Ready To Break In… To Publishing, That Is? How To Give Your Writing The Best Chance For Success!”

The session will feature how-tos, tips and techniques for querying agents and editors, for both short and book-length works, for writers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Attendees should bring writing materials for taking notes.

The March presenter will be Sharon Short, Director of the Antioch Writers’ Workshop and published author of nine mystery novels. Short is also a weekly columnist for the Dayton Daily News. She recently won a Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District literary artist fellowship for a novel-in-progress.

You don’t need a reservation, but it would help with planning if you would call in your intention to attend to Books & Co at The Greene at 937- 429-6302.

For more information about Antioch Writers’ Workshop or the Second Sunday Free Writers’ Workshop, visit www.antiochwritersworkshop.com or email info@antiochwritersworkshop.com

The Antioch Writers’ Workshop will be held July 9-15, 2011 in partnership with Antioch University Midwest and with support from the Yellow Springs Community Foundation; Ohio Arts Council; The Frank Pace, Jr. Foundation; and WYSO (media sponsor).