SCWA / The Quill / March 2024
A Newsletter of the South Carolina Writers Association
March 2024
Message from the President
IT'S A MARATHON
On Feb. 24, I did what I've been doing for the past four years - failing at running a marathon. I have a love-hate relationship with running, and four years ago I was going to train and complete a marathon to help with some things going on with life. My first year I made it 16 miles and the years after that were 10 to six to eight miles this year. I keep going back because it's not about finishing to me but rather making the attempt and not giving up.
Writing to me is the same as running a marathon. In our own arena, we have our own version of marathon: National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Some years I make it; others not so much.
An important part of writing and running is training. While I'm working on the training for running, I'm finding my training in writing is thriving with SCWA. The Author's Toolbox gives me tips and pointers to try in my own writing. SCWA open mic nights gave me the courage needed to share my work with others, much like running races shows my progress to others.
Storyfest brings together other like-minded individuals to learn together and to celebrate our writing and the act of writing. There's a sense of coming home when around so many people attempting the same as you for whatever their reason.
What keeps me coming back and keeps me going is knowing I really do love writing. Both of these activities are considered solo sports, but when in these communities there's so much support from each other and family and friends who may not understand why you're doing what you're doing but know how profound it is that you're making the attempt.
Be proud of every word you write and know even if it takes years, you'll make it to that finish line. Just taking that first step or writing that first word puts you ahead of all the others who wouldn't even dare begin.
Ash Smith
President
president@myscwa.org
Events & Education
NEW 2024 STORYFEST DATES: SEPT. 27-29
SCWA's 2024 Storyfest's dates have been changed to Sept. 27 through 29, due to our venue having overbooked the original October dates. Mark your calendars!
We'll have an all-star line-up, with the return of conference favorites, including masterclasses, Slushfest, Queryfest, critiques, speed-pitch, open mic and more.
The Doubletree by Hilton on Bush River Road in Columbia will be the site of 2024 Storyfest. Rooms are less expensive this year, and the hotel will offer other amenities, such as a restaurant and bar, all in one location.
More details, including registration details and hotel booking information, will be provided soon. We're so excited to tell you more! Stay tuned!
UPCOMING AUTHOR'S TOOLBOX SESSIONS
Our first Author's Toolbox session with mystery writer and senior agent (Talcott Notch Lit) Paula Munier, was a smashing, record-breaking attendance success. Her talk on "How to Hook Readers, Agents, and Publishers with a Memorable Opening" provided great information for all levels of writers. Our remaining Author's Toolbox sessions, all from 7 to 8 p.m. via Zoom, are:
March 28: Holly Goddard Jones, "How to Write Memorable Short Stories and Novels"
April 10: Arthur Turfa, "Writing Poems about Family without Anyone Getting Upset"
April 18: Robert Maynor, "First Novels and the South"
May 16: Andrew Geyer, "The Petigru Review 2024"
June 27: Synithia Williams, "Writing Romance Novels"
July 18: Stephen Hundley, "Adding Fantasy and Science Fiction to Traditional Southern Tales"
Aug. 22: Alex Rath, "Writing With Anxiety"
September: 2024 Storyfest (no Author's Toolbox)
Oct. 17: Brenda Gardner and Lisa Harrison, creators of the Friends And Fiction Official Book Club site with more than 30,000 members and who assist with the Friends and Fiction website with more than 200,000 members (authors Kristin Hannah, Mary Kay Andrews, Patti Callahan and Kristy Woodson Harvey). Find out how they did it and how it can help authors.
Nov. 21: Anthea Sharp, "Kickstarter for Authors: How Writers Can Find New Readers and Flourish With Crowdfunding"
December: No Author's Toolbox
Register at SCWA Events. Author's Toolbox sessions are free to SCWA members; $25 for nonmembers.
Pat Brandon
VP/Events & Education
pgaddisbrandon@gmail.com
Publications
TPR SUBMISSIONS OPEN MARCH 15
The 2024 issue of The Petigru Review welcomes submissions of original fiction, nonfiction, and poetry beginning on March 15 and closing on Aug. 23. The 2024 issue will be a themed issue focusing on place and/or voice. Submissions need not be set in South Carolina, nor need they be written by South Carolina authors. However, preference will be given to pieces set in the Greater South (SC, NC, GA, FL, VA, AL, MS, LA, TX, OK, MO, AR, TN, KY, WV).
All submissions must be made via Submittable. The link will open March 15 for submissions. No submissions will be accepted via email or snail mail.
There will be a $3 fee for each submission.
Files for all submissions must be uploaded in either a .doc, .docx or .pdf format.
Prose: Please submit only one piece of short fiction or nonfiction. Prose narratives must not exceed 5,000 words in length. All prose submissions should be double-spaced.
Poetry: Please submit no more than five poems. All poems MUST be uploaded in a single file.
For questions about the issue or about submissions, please direct your inquiries to the following
TPR staff:
Managing Editor/Fiction Editor: Andrew Geyer (ageyer@usca.edu)
Assistant Editor/Nonfiction Editor: Sara Sobota (ssobota@coastal.edu)
Poetry Editor: Sydney Bollinger (sydneyjo95@gmail.com)
Andrew Geyer
Managing Editor/The Petigru Review
ageyer@usca.edu
Marketing
HELP US PROMOTE SCWA
How would you like to help market and promote the South Carolina Writers Association?
Join the Marketing Committee and be part of telling the story of everything going on with the organization, from the benefits of membership to monthly events and the annual SCWA conference, 2024 Storyfest. Plus, you'll have the chance to learn marketing tactics and strategies that could help you promote your own work.
It's not required, but we'd love to find some folks who've worked in marketing or have experience running social media accounts for organizations. Or, maybe you're a graphic designer. You don't need these skill sets, but they definitely help!
If you're interested or want to know more, email marketing@myscwa.org.
FOLLOW SCWA ON INSTAGRAM
Head over to Instagram and follow the SCWA account for more great content on writing, events and more! You can follow us @myscwa.
Ben Culbreth
VP/Marketing
marketing@myscwa.org
Membership
SCWA CHAPTERS ARE HERE FOR YOU
Welcome to March! It's time to throw open the windows and let the cold air of winter out of the house. Springtime is just a few weeks away, new growth is pushing up through the ground and the trees are beginning to leaf out. Soon the birds will be singing and the bees will be busy looking for plants to pollinate. It's the season of renewal, St. Patrick's Day and the end of winter. Like trees putting out new buds, it's time to let warm days and gauzy clouds inspire your creativity!
Speaking of creativity, I want to take this time to spotlight Terresa Cooper Haskew of the Chapin Chapter. Formerly a writer of poetry, she let an idea germinate in the creative centers of her mind, take root and burst forth onto paper. Haskew is now a published new author, and she did it the old-school way: by querying small presses. Her book Winston’s Book of Souls was published by TouchPoint Press and is available on Amazon.
So as the cold days wane and the sun stays longer in the skies, let the excitement of nature's renewal breathe new life into your writing projects. Find inspiration from leprechauns, NCAA March Madness or walks through woods. Inhale deeply. Your next novel, poem or short story is but a stroll, a manic basketball game or a tiny sprite flittering through the woods away.
TWO MEMBERS ELIGIBLE FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP WITH RENEWAL
We're giving away free memberships for 2024-25 to two members who renew by April 1.
All you have to do to be eligible is renew and pay your dues by the midnight April 1 deadline. On April 2, we will do a random drawing and pull two names from those who have paid on or prior to April 1. If you're one of the two lucky winners, we'll issue a refund for your dues and you'll have free membership until April 2025.
Jay Sauls
VP/Membership
membership@myscwa.org
Have comments or questions about your SCWA membership?
Contact us at membership@myscwa.org. We'd love to hear from you.